For 16 of the 17 laps in Friday’s women’s circuit race at the Laguna Seca Raceway it seemed that the winner would emerge from the lumbering pack. But after a disappointing ride in yesterday’s prologue, Lyne Bessette (Quark) decided that leaving her fortunes to a field sprint was a bad idea. So with less than a lap to go, Bessette launched a go-for-broke attack on the course’s main climb. And it worked.

“I wanted to take one shot,” said Bessette. “I didn’t want to do two attacks at 80 percent, I wanted to do one at 100 percent. I knew it wasn’t going to come down to a field sprint, because for me a field sprint is not good. It worked out perfectly.”

Bessette’s winning attack was actually a counter to an attack launched by Kristen Thorburn (Webcor), Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile), and Tina Pic (Genesis Scuba).

... and the gamble pays off

Photo: Casey B. Gibson

“They didn’t even see me,” said Bessette, “so I got that gap, put my head down and went all out.” Bessette’s gap went up to 20 seconds before Armstrong went to the front of the trailing trio in an effort to chase her down. But it was too late.

Pic outsprinted Thorburn to take second and stayed in second on GC, though this time behind Bessette rather than Armstrong, who dropped to third on GC.

“It was all about timing today,” said a discouraged Armstrong after losing her leader’s jersey to Bessette. “Lyne went at the right time and the other two girls didn’t help me chase her down.”

While not conceding overall GC for the weekend, Pic admitted that Saturday’s 100-mile road race suited Bessette’s skills perfectly.

Good luck for Jones, Klasna (better for Klasna)

Mike Jones and Trent Klasna could hardly believe their good luck. After being part of an early-race breakaway that spent the better part of 50 miles off the front, Klasna (Sierra Nevada) and Jones (Health Net) had made the decisive move on the final lap, getting an advantage that brought them into the finishing straight for a two-man sprint. It was youth versus experience, and in the end, Klasna, 34, proved too savvy for Jones, 26.

Klasna’s win came from the break that included three of his Sierra Nevada teammates, but also included two Health Nets and two Webcors. As the laps wore on and the break’s gap opened up to more than two minutes, it seemed certain that the winner would come from the riders off the front. And while the chase group closed the gap to within a minute, with Webcor riding a false tempo at the front, the remaining breakaway riders had a selection to make. Klasna waited until the final lap to throw his full weight into a last-ditch move. With Jones bridging up in short order, the winning duo was away.

... and Klasna finishes him off

Photo: Chris Milliman

“It happened so quick,” said Klasna. “I attacked first, then (Eric) Wohlberg (Sierra Nevada) came across and a couple more guys came up. Next thing I know we had four guys up there and it kind of reminded me of our team [Saturn] from last year. I tried to attack to set up Eric. I was off the back and caught back on and went straight through, then Jones came up to me and we went.”

“I don’t even remember exactly what happened,” said an overwhelmed Jones. “I just know Trent and I got a little gap and just drilled it. I knew that the little group behind us would do a little cat-and-mouse back there.”

Klasna sat on Jones’s wheel into the final 150 meters and jumped around just in time to squeak ahead at the line.

“I’m not 100 percent what to do in a place like that,” admitted Jones, “and I knew I’d end up on the front. A guy like Trent has been racing for years, but I tried my best. I’m still happy with second.”

Klasna’s win and its time bonus put him in the leader’s jersey heading into tomorrow’s 110-mile road race. But Klasna has his own ideas about who will be the man to watch: former teammate Chris Horner (Webcor), who is sitting in 11th overall, just 40 seconds back.

“Horner’s been at my house for three months training with me, and I know that he’s riding phenomenal,” said Klasna. “He’s going to be a threat.”

Sea Otter Classic Road Race - Stage 2
Circuit Race
Women

1. Lyne Bessette, Quark, 37mi in 1:44:12
2. Tina Pic, Genesis Scuba, 1:44:15
3. Christine Thorburn, Webcor, same time
4. Kristin Armstrong, T-Mobile, s.t.
5. Laura Van Gilder, Genesis Scuba, 1:44:38
6. Meredith Miller, Team SATS, s.t.
7. Erin Mirabella, Red 5, s.t.
8. Lara Kroepsch, T-Mobile, s.t.
9. Jenny Eyerman, Red 5, s.t.
10. Audrey Lemieux, Quark, s.t.

Overall (after 2 stages)
1, Bessette, 1:47:14
2. Pic, at 0:02
3. Armstrong, at 0:03
4. Thorburn, at 0:22
5. Stacey Peters, T-Mobile, at 0:32
6. Van Gilder, at 0:33
7. Lauren Franges, Victory Brewing, at 0:34
8. Melissa Sanborn, Wells Fargo, at 0:35
9. Mari Holden, T-Mobile, at 0:36
10. Catherine Powers, La Grange, at 0:37

Men
1. Trent Klasna, Sierra Nevada, 60mi in 2:27:18
2. Mike Jones, Health Net, same time
3. Eric Wohlberg, Sierra Nevada, 2:27:26
4. Dominique Perras, Canadian National Team, s.t.
5. Charles Dionne, Webcor, s.t.
6. Daniel Ramsey, Seasilver, s.t.
7. Jason Lokkesmoe, Health Net, s.t.
8. Davide Fratini, Monex, s.t.
9. Cory Lange, Canadian National Team, s.t.
10. Imanol Aytestaran, Webcor, 2:27:35

Overall
1. Klasna, 2:30:06
2. Jones, at 0:01
3. Wohlberg, at 0:03
4. Lokkesmoe, at 0:09
5. Dionne, at 0:11
6. Ramsey, at 0:19
7. Lange, at 0:20
8. Frattini, at 0:21
9. Perras, at 0:30
10. Ayestaran, at 0:33