Anthony, Bessette win round 2 at Gloucester GP

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• Results

By Wendy Booher

Bessette burning it up

Photo: www.chrismilliman.com

Anthony scores a home-turf win

Photo: www.chrismilliman.com

Lyne Bessette (Cyclocrossworld.com) again outpaced her competition during day two of the Gloucester Grand Prix of Cyclocross on Sunday, while Jesse Anthony (Jamis) came back to claim a win that eluded him the day before.

The second round in the 2007 Verge New England Championship Cyclocross Series saw racers battling windier conditions and fatigue left over from Saturday’s fierce pace.

Fueled by a frustrating opening day, Anthony bore down on the elite men’s field with enough pressure to shuck all but a stunningly strong Chris Jones (Nerac).

“I was super motivated today just to come back and try it again because I felt great; I had the strength to win and I was smart enough on this course,” said Anthony.

First to go was Tim Johnson (Cannondale-Leer-Cyclocrossworld.com), who crashed in an early U-turn and bent his handlebars, which sent him sprinting to the pits for a bike swap. Next out were Matt Shriver (Jittery Joe’s-Sonic) and Davide Frattini (Colavita-Sutter Home) with only Multe Urban (Focus) clinging to the charging duo. Urban lasted another lap before letting go.

From there, Anthony and Jones repeatedly swapped the lead, with Anthony overtaking Jones at the barriers and Jones pushing past Anthony on the flat sections.

“He was working really well,” said Anthony. “I think he was definitely a little stronger than me for a while, but I think he attacked too early with three laps to go and I just didn’t let him have any space – I kept it as close as possible. Those last few laps the crowd was totally pushing me on, saying, ‘You can do it!’ and me responding, ‘I don’t know if I can!'”

Meanwhile, Johnson worked his way up to third place by the final lap, to within 10 bike lengths of Jones. Feeling the heat, Jones jumped, hit a rock and pinch-flatted with a half lap to go. With the Nerac rider headed into the pits, Johnson rode into second place, seven seconds behind Anthony, who collected his first UCI win on home turf in Gloucester and took the series lead for good measure.

“This is the first UCI ‘cross race I’ve ever won and for it to be Gloucester with all my friends and family watching, it’s just fantastic!” said Anthony.

Tuning up, then tearing it up
Once again, Bessette joined the Cat 2-3 men’s field to prepare for the elite women’s race immediately following. Racing her fourth race in two days, she matched pace with Anna Milkowski (Velo Bella-Kona) until halfway through the second lap, then took off, leaving Milkowski, Natasha Elliott (Stevens), Sally Annis (NEBC), Megan Monroe (BMC-Sports Garage) and Maureen Bruno-Roy (IF-Wheelworks).

Milkowski and Elliott proved the best of the rest, with the Velo Bella rider scoring the runner-up spot by only four seconds.

“Yesterday I kind of went above my limit,” said Milkowski. “I’d hoped to stick with Lyne after a good start, but instead I found myself in traffic and I tried to bridge up. It’s not really that advisable because it involves going faster than Lyne. It’s one thing to try and hang for as long as possible — it’s another to bridge up.”

Bessette credits her remarkable results to good genes and hard work.

“My parents were so good to me,” she said. “I have my dad’s legs – he’s tall and slim. I think my mom has a really competitive mind and I think I got that from her. You know, I think I’m just very lucky. I train hard; I’m not a slacker. When my coach writes down a training program, I do it all. I may be able to push myself harder than others, and that could be what separates me from my competition.”

Gloucester Grand Prix of Cyclocross
Elite men
1. Jesse Anthony, Jamis, 57:38
2. Tim Johnson, Cannondale-Leer-Cyclocrossworld.com, at 0:05
3. Christopher Jones, Nerac, at 0:22
4. Malte Urban (G), Focus, at 1:14
5. Davide Frattini (I), Colavita-Sutter Home, at 1:16
6. Matt Shriver, Jittery Joe’s, at 1:22
7. Matt White, Fiordifruitta, at 1:39
8. Mark McCormack, Clif Bar, at 1:44
9. Jeremy Powers, Cyclocrossworld.com, at 1:50
10. Troy Wells, GT, at 2:26

Elite women
1. Lyne Bessette (Can), Cyclocrossworld.com, 40:10
2. Anna Milkowski, Velo Bella-Kona, at 0:36
3. Natasha Elliott (Can), DeSalvo, at 0:40
4. Sally Annis, NEBC-Cycleloft, at 1:03
5. Megan Monroe, BMC-Sports Garage, at 1:04
6. Maureen Bruno-Roy, IF-Wheelworks, at 1:07
7. Megan Elliott, at 1:31
8. Rebecca Wellons, Ridley Factory Team, at 1:34
9. Amy Wallace, RGM Watches-Richard Sachs, at 1:52
10. Christina Vardaros, Vanderkitten, at 1:52

Photo Gallery

Results

Gloucester Grand Prix of Cyclocross
Elite men
1. Jesse Anthony, Jamis, 57:38
2. Tim Johnson, Cannondale-Leer-Cyclocrossworld.com, at 0:05
3. Christopher Jones, Nerac, at 0:22
4. Malte Urban (G), Focus, at 1:14
5. Davide Frattini (I), Colavita-Sutter Home, at 1:16
6. Matt Shriver, Jittery Joe’s, at 1:22
7. Matt White, Fiordifruitta, at 1:39
8. Mark McCormack, Clif Bar, at 1:44
9. Jeremy Powers, Cyclocrossworld.com, at 1:50
10. Troy Wells, GT, at 2:26

Elite women
1. Lyne Bessette (Can), Cyclocrossworld.com, 40:10
2. Anna Milkowski, Velo Bella-Kona, at 0:36
3. Natasha Elliott (Can), DeSalvo, at 0:40
4. Sally Annis, NEBC-Cycleloft, at 1:03
5. Megan Monroe, BMC-Sports Garage, at 1:04
6. Maureen Bruno-Roy, IF-Wheelworks, at 1:07
7. Megan Elliott, at 1:31
8. Rebecca Wellons, Ridley Factory Team, at 1:34
9. Amy Wallace, RGM Watches-Richard Sachs, at 1:52
10. Christina Vardaros, Vanderkitten, at 1:52