Bessette liberates Wachovia Liberty Classic
- By VeloNews.com
- Published Jun. 8, 2003
Like all streaks, it had to come to an end sometime. Since 1997, German Petra Rossner has held a virtual monopoly on the Wachovia Liberty Classic, the 56 mile former World Cup run concurrently with the USPRO men’s championship in Philadelphia. This year, it was not to be, as Rossner, riding for Equipe Nürnberger this year after five years with Saturn, faced stiff competition from her former team as well as the all-American T-Mobile squad. After a year away from the Saturn squad, Lynne Bessette returned home to end her former teammate’s reign and continued Saturn’s, jumping away from three breakaway companions to take her first Liberty Classic win.
Saturn put the pressure on early, putting Katie Mactier and Jessica Phillips in a five woman move that formed when T-Mobile’s Dotsie Cowden went for Queen of the Mountains points on the first ascent of the Manayunk Wall. Cowden brought teammate Kristin Armstrong with her to balance Saturn with two riders each, while Nürnberger’s Austrian Margaret Helmsley covered the move for Rossner. The group powered away to a 25 second gap, and spent the majority of the second lap out front before being brought back into the fold by a Nürnberger and Diet Rite led chase.
Saturn and T-Mobile continued to string the group out along the flat Kelly Drive stretch and through the Logan Circle start-finish area. As the pace shed riders off the back, Saturn hit out again at the front, as Rona transplant Manon Jutras (Saturn) went away alone on the third ascent of the Wall and soloed to a 20 second gap, forcing T-Mobile to work on the front of the main bunch. Jutras held on long enough to lead the group into the final lap but was caught just before the Manayunk climb on the far end of the course.
Though the attack didn’t stick, Jutras paved the way for Bessette, who stomped away on Manayunk’s slopes, ultimately bringing Anderson, German champion Judith Arndt (Nürnberger), and upstart Lynne Gaggioli (Team Fuji) with her. Once clear and off the wall, Gaggioli attacked the group, staying away only briefly.
“I’m not sure how long I was out there, maybe a minute,” said Gaggioli, “I just wanted to keep it going. I wanted to be caught, then sit on and sprint.”
True to Gaggioli’s plan, the power trio reeled her in and she drifted to last wheel, safely a part of the first breakaway finish at the Liberty since the dawn of the Rossner era. The hammer fell again when the break hit Lemon Hill, the Liberty’s final climb, where Bessette jumped away to small but sufficient gap. The Canadian held off the break by a safe 9 seconds to keep the Saturn alive, while Gaggioli’s tactics paid off, allowing her to hold off the charging field and come around Arndt and Anderson for a surprise second place. Rossner showed she can still take any field sprint in Philly, hanging in for fifth place.
Wachovia Liberty Classic, June 8, 2003
Philadelphia, PA
Full results to come
1. Lynne Bessette (Can), Saturn, 56 miles in 2:23:16 (23.45mph)
2. Lynn Gaggioli, Team Fuji, at :09
3. Judith Arndt, Equipe Nürnberger
4. Kim Anderson, T-Mobile
5. Petra Rossner, Equipe Nürnberger
6. Kimberly Bruckner, T-Mobile
7. Karen Bockel, Rona-Esker
8. Ina Teutenberg, Saturn
9. Tina Mayolo-Pic, Diet Rite
10. Elizabeth Begosh, Snow Valley Cycling, all s.t.Miji Reoch Best Young US Rider: Lauren Franges, Victory Brewing Amoroso
Subaru Queen of the Mountains Winner: Dorothy Cowden, T-Mobile
Team: Saturn
Photo Gallery
Results
1. Lynn Bessette, Saturn, 2:23:16
2. Lynn Gaggioli, TFI
3. Judith Arndt, Nurenburger
4. Kim Anderson, T-Mobile
5. Petra Rossner, Nurenburger
6. Kimberly Bruckner, T-Mobile
7. Karen Bockel, Equipe Cycliste Rona – Esker
8. Ina Teutenberg, Saturn
9. Mayola-pic Tina, DietRite
10. Elizabeth Begosh, SVC
11. Lauren Franges, VB
12. Andrea Hannos, Equipe Cycliste Rona – Esker
13. Melissa Holt, Equipe Cycliste Rona – Esker
14. Miho Oki, JAP
15. Anne Samplonius, JAP
16. Erinne Willock, Equipe Cycliste Rona – Esker
17. Megan Long, FFC
18. Mari Holden, T-Mobile
19. Katie Mactier, Saturn
20. Dorothy Cowden, T-Mobile
21. Rebec Mcclintock, CB
22. Candice Blickem, GEN
23. Maher Katherine R., RSB
24. Kiesanowski Joan, DietRite
25. Nicole Freedman, RSB
26. Laura Van Gilder, Saturn
27. Leigh Valetti, GEN
28. Demet-barry Dierdre, T-Mobile
29. Tany Duff Miller, DietRite
30. Julie Hutsebaut, CAN
31. Nicole Demars, VB
32. Gina Grain, VB
33. Christy Underwood, TFI
34. Jennifer Leonard, TSV
35. Helen Kelly, JAP
36. Catherine Powers, SBC
37. Sandra Kolb, LGB
38. Katheryn Curi, LGB
39. Kori Kelly, DietRite
40. Amy Jarvis Moore, Saturn
41. Brooke O’Connor, CB
42. Melissa Sanborn, NCV
43. Catherine Bearce, VW
44. Shawn Heidgen, JAP
45. Laura Schmidt, LSV
46. Charmain Breon, DietRite
47. Shanno Hutchison, CB
48. Caroli L’Heureux, CAN
49. Kri Scheffnacker, SVC
50. Hulser Jessica K, NCV
51. Alicia Genest, RSB
52. Vanessa Guyton, SVC
53. Hiroko Shimada, JAP
54. Neben Amber Team, T-Mobile
55. Kristen Armstrong, T-Mobile
56. Miller Ann Marie, VW
57. Grace Fleury, GEN
58. Megan Elliott, Saturn
59. Katrina Davis, RSB
60. Cybil Diguistini, DietRite
61. Sandy Espeseth, VB
62. Emma Rickards, FFC
63. Heather Albert, RSB
64. Julia Hawley, TSV
65. Ashley Kimmet, CB
66. Myoko Karami, JAP
67. Alisha Little, TFI
68. Manon Jutras, Saturn
69. Manderson Leeann, FFC
70. Erin Hanna, LGB
71. Leah Goldstein, VB
72. Jessica Phillips, Saturn
73. Trixi Worrack, Nurenburger1:04
74. Madelei Lindberg, Nurenburger2:05
75. Tracy Sproule, CB, 2:17
76. Sherri Stedji, LGB
77. Frances Harrison, CRC
78. Ayumu Otsuka, JAP
79. Stacy Peters, T-Mobile, 2:34
80. Margaret Helmsley, EQ, 2:42
81. Esther Davis, CRC, 3:25
82. Palmer-komar Sue, GEN, 4:59
83. Jenette Williams, LSV
84. Soph Jacques, VB, 6:19
85. Larssyn Staley, GEN, 9:44
86. Susan Duff, TSV
87. Lauren Gaffney, RSB, 11:27
88. Heidi Wollever, SV, 13:09
89. Carrie Tuck, Equipe Cycliste Rona – Esker, 13:44
90. Sheba Farrin, LSV
91. Susan Hefler, LSV
92. Skelly Kuntsbeck, LSV
FILED UNDER: Race Report / Race Result / Road