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POMONA VALLEY STAGE RACE :  BESSETTE WINS STAGE, JEANSON KEEPS YELLOW

 San Dimas, California, March 8, 2003 – Canadian Geneviève Jeanson, of Team RONA Esker, kept her yellow jersey after the third stage of the Pomona Valley Stage Race, held near Los Angeles.  Fellow Canadian Lyne Bessette of Team Saturn beat Jeanson in the sprint and won a stage that had no impact on general classification.

 After three stages American Amber Neben of T-Mobile, third today, still trails Jeanson by more than 2 minutes in general classification.  Canadian Sue Palmer-Komar of Genesis Scuba/FFCC, fifth today, ranks third in GC, in  front of Manon Jutras and Bessette, both of Saturn.

 In perfect weather – 22-23ºC, no wind -- today’s stage was held on a rolling 12.6-km course, and covered a total distance of 116 km.  Toward the 40^th kilometer of racing three riders, including Megan Elliott (Saturn) and Alison Dunlap (T-Mobile) broke away.  The gap increased to 40 seconds while in the back the three RONA/Eskers were trying to manage the field.  Reeling in the three-rider breakaway proved to be more difficult than anticipated when the field had to slow down and let the men’s race go by, thus wiping out a lot of chasing.  The breakaway was finally absorbed in the last lap.  A new six-strong breakaway quickly formed, which included the five GC leaders.  Lyne Bessette outsprinted the others and won the stage, followed by Jeanson. 

  “A tough day at the office today”, said Jeanson after the race.  “In a stage like today, racing in a threesome against full six-member teams makes a huge difference.  In a chase your watch comes back really fast, and today, we chased a lot because our progress was neutralized by the men’s race passing us. But that’s life.  I still have a comfortable lead, only one stage to go, things are going well.” .

 Tomorrow’s stage, the last of the four-day race, will be a 55-minute criterium in the streets of San Dimas.

 The race’s web site can be found at www.scvelo.com/2003pvsr.html.

Pomona Valley Stage Race

Second Stage :  Puddingstone Road Race

Stage classification

Pomona Valley Stage Race

General Classification after stage 3

Team RONA/Esker is one of only two Canadian women’s cycling teams in the Elite Category that are recognized by the International Cycling Union. The team is made up of four Canadian racers (Geneviève Jeanson, Andrea Hannos, Carrie Tuck and Erinne Willock), French racers Catherine Marsal and Magali Le Floc’h, New Zealander Melissa Holt, German Karen Bockel and American Kristen LaSasso.

RONA is Canada’s leading hardware and home renovation retailer (www.rona.ca). Esker is a natural spring water from the north of Canada, sold in North America and Asia (www.eauesker.com).

 The team also receives equipment and service sponsorships from many companies, including Colnago, Biemme, Shimano, Michelin, Mavic, Diadora, Limar, Selle Italia, ITM, Look, CatEye, Tacx, Finish Line, Cane Creek, Saris, Power Tap, Cycles Lambert and Club Médico-Sportif. 

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