Bessette and Johnson Conquer Gloucester Blizzard

In a surprise October snow storm, the husband-wife duo of Tim Johnson and Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com- Louis Garneau) won Saturday's Michelob ULTRA Grand Prix of Gloucester, race three in the 2005 Crank Brothers U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross. A steady snow battered the seaside Stage Fort Park throughout the day, with accumulations nearing three inches as the Elite Men toed the line for the final race of the day. While the New England weather proved a total surprise, Johnson's homecoming, to the race he'd won on twice before, proved a welcome bonus to local 'cross fans.

Johnson led the men's race from lap one, getting a fast start in conditions that favored racers who could take a clean shot at the muddy corners. With U.S. Gran Prix Series leader Ryan Trebon (Kona) having a difficult time due to a crash and some bike problems, the race was wide open for Johnson. Local Massachusetts rider Matt Kraus (Alan) stormed after Johnson, just one of several riders to try, and fail, in pursuit of the former national champion. The top-10 proved a fluid environment, with riders surging up and fading back as the conditions worsened. In the race's waning laps Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF) surged into second, but had he looked behind him he would have seen a fast closing Adam Craig (Giant). Craig, whose start was ruined after getting caught behind a crash, passed dozens of riders on his way back to the front, passing Wells on the final lap for an unlikely second-place finish. Johnson's win, combined with Trebon's DNF, gave him the series leader's jersey. He also won the FOCUS First Lap Competition.

Bessette's race started with a thud, an off-camber corner sending the series leader into the ground a few hundred meters into the race. The combination of mud and snow made the going slippery but Bessette stayed upright for the rest of the race, which proved bad news for the others in the Elite Women's field. Wendy Simms (Kona) and Barbara Howe (Velo Bella) sprang after Bessette on lap three, but it was too late, the Canadian champion was on course for her third straight U.S. Gran Prix win. Howe and Simms went nearly pedal stroke for pedal stroke the rest of the race, with Howe making the best of the last lap at Simms' expense.

In the tightest race of the day. Danny Summerhill (TIAA-CREF) outsprinted Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory) by less than a wheel in the Junior Men's finale. Summerhill, Selander, and Alex Howes (TIAA-CREF) raced as the lead trio for much of the race, as the snow started to come down and make the race that much harder. With Selander doing much of the work, trying to keep the TIAA-CREF dui from attacking, the defending Junior National Champion managed to shed Howes with two laps to go but the downhill sprint and Summerhill's finishing speed proved too much. The Masters race proved only slightly less thrilling, with long-time New England Elite rider Chris Peck (Fior di Frutta) dropping Dale Knapp (Kona) and Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo) less than two laps from the finish.

The U.S. Gran Prix of Cyclocross continues on Sunday with race two of the Michelob ULTRA Grand Prix of Gloucester.

Elite Men
1. Tim Johnson (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau)
2. Adam Craig (Giant)
3. Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF)

Elite Women
1. Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com-Louis Garneau)
2. Barbara Howe (Velo Bella)
3. Wendy Simms (Kona)

Under-23 Men
1. Troy Wells (TIAA-CREF)
2. Jesse Anthony (Team Clif Bar)
3. Jamie Driscoll

Junior Men
1. Danny Summerhill (TIAA-CREF)
2. Bjorn Selander (Alan Factory)
3. Alex Howes (TIAA-CREF)

Masters Men
1. Chris Peck (Fior di Frutta)
2. Roger Aspholm (Westwood Velo)
3. Dale Knapp (Kona)