October 6, 2006 (Montreal, QC) - Lyne Bessette, one of Canada's most successful road cyclists, announced yesterday that she will now focus on individual pursuit track cycling.

A member of the National Road Cycling Team since 1996, the Knowltown (QC) cyclist had announced her retirement from competitive road cycling on May 24, 2006, explaining that she will take part in cyclo-cross races, as she is doing at the moment. Cycling is more than a sport to Lyne, it is a way of living.

Over the last weeks, Bessette and CCA coach Éric Van den Eynde, her coach for over 10 years now, decided to get back on the track, focusing on individual pursuit training. While she is not a track specialist, Lyne already took part in several track competitions, such as the 1999 Winnipeg Pan American Games and the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games. At this occasion, she had set a time of 3mn 47sec.

"Lyne has not given up with cycling yet, and she is willing to take new challenges up. She will have the opportunity to train in individual pursuit specifically, without the burden of an overloaded road cycling calendar, as it was the case in the past. It will be a first for her to focus her training on a timed competition," said Eric Van den Eynde.

Reached on the phone from Boston while she was cooking, her second passion, Bessette was looking forward to take the new challenge up: "I cannot wait to take part in my first individual pursuit race. I found myself in a pretty good position on the rare occasions when I experienced it, and I am curious to see what I can achieve with a specific training."

As the women’s team pursuit was recently added to the programme of the Track World Championships, Lyne Bessette’s addition to the track field will certainly contribute to boost the practise of track cycling among other Québec and Canadian riders in the coming years.

Source : FQSC and CCA

FQSC
Louis Barbeau, Executive director
Fédération québécoise des sports cyclistes
(514) 252-3071 x 3523

CCA
Florence Bourg, Communications Manager
Canadian Cycling Association
Tel: +1-418-824-9207
Cell: +1-418-558-4559
florence.bourg@canadian-cycling.com