27 janvier au 2 f�vrier 2002
Dimanche soir le 27 janvier 2002, un amateur de v�lo affichait un message sur le FORUM de The Canadian Cyclist attirant l'attention sur l'article de Manon Gilbert de Radio-Canada Sports contenant des informations nouvelles relatives � la saga du refus de l'Association cycliste canadienne de permettre � Lyne Bessette de repr�senter le Canada aux Championnats du monde de cyclo-cross � Zolder en fin de semaine prochaine.
En fin de soir�e, Robert Jones, �diteur de The Canadian Cyclist, y consacrait un nouvel article et invitait les amateurs de v�lo � faire conna�tre leur opinion. Voici les �changes qu'on a pu lire sur le FORUM du 27 au 29 janvier.
"One thing is for sure - Quebec will not let this one rest. Louis (NDLR : Barbeau, directeur technique de la F�d�ration qu�b�coise des sports cyclistes) is like a terrier when one of their riders is ill treated (in his eyes anyway). We haven't heard the last of this" pr�dit un amateur de v�lo.
Bonne lecture !
Chantal Gilbert from Radio-Canada Sports posted an article on Friday January 25 in which she writes that Lyne Bessette had asked the CCA if she had to attend the Nationals to go to the Cyclo-cross World Championships and was said that it wasn't necessary because there was not enough competition.
Chantal Gilbert spoke to Lyne, who is training in California, and Lyne said that she would have had to pay a $ 1000 plane ticket to go to Edmonton and that there were only 3 girls on the starting line.
But Lyne says that she don't want to make problems. Too bad because she will be in Belgium to cheer for his friend Tim Johnson and there will be no Canadian woman on the starting line.
January 26, 2002 at 19:21 by Guy
Lyne Bessette can only do one thing in light of the CCA's decision, prove them wrong next year. If she is really serious about racing 'cross then she will do things right next year and attend nationals. If she doesn't and decides to forget about it next year then she will have justified their ruling.
January 27, 2002 at 21:09 by tim johnson envy
She should get a sponsor...
to pay the trip. They'd get their money's worth
January 27, 2002 at 22:11
I swear there were more than 3 women on the start line at nats, what cat were they in?
Ah her "friend" Tim.
January 27, 2002 at 23:08
Yes you are right about there being more than 3. There were 4 from what I read.
Is there a rider rep. on the CCA HPC? and were they at the meeting?
"Going to be there anyway" is not a non-argument. A few years ago the CCA put in a requirement that you must be a member of the R/T/or Mtn National team to be a member of the cross team. No one can "just show up" She has the credentials and is a medal contender.
Editor: You might have more info on this one...
I don't remember all the details (I could be completely wrong) but didn't Paul Kelly do (espoir?) Road World's one year because "he was already over there"? I'm not saying that he wasn't worth sending, the point is it was taken into consideration. Did he do Nationals that year? I don't know and I don't remember but I seem to remember something like that happening.
January 28, 2002 at 0:15 by R. Duggan
Representing your country begins by racing for and participating in events in your country whether you are on Saturn or not. Road Nationals did not seem too much of a bother to attend. If you cannot afford to do nationals, then why should we send you to Worlds?
Grow up.
January 28, 2002 at 0:48 by CCA Board Member
Ray, you are correct. Paul Kelly did race the 1998 road worlds (U-23, finishing in the field around 30th place - a great finish). He had raced the entire season in Italy. I believe he was given logistical support but no funding by the CCA for the worlds.
With respect to Lyne's situation, since she's already going to "be there" - she still would get no logistical support (mechanic, etc) as there will not be a Canadian team in attendance.
January 28, 2002 at 2:50 by Westerner
to Board member
Making nationals a requirement sounds good in principle, but when it results in a forcing a rider to go race with only 4 other riders, it sounds like a rule for it's own sake. How about building the quality of the event before requiring people to go to it?
January 28, 2002 at 3:05
to: Board member
I think that you have a short sighted view by dissallowing Bessette to compete. I think having a Canadian Woman at the World Championships could have done a lot to improve the status of the event in Canada. Perhaps the extra attention given would result in having a more substantial turn-out at Cross Nats. in the future (not to mention the attention that it gives to all of cyclings events).
I question your commitment to help develop the sport and its athletes in this decision. There was no development opportunity for Lynne at Nationals this year with only 3 riders. She's not going to have the opportunity to develop at the side lines next weekend either. Finally, Canada misses the opportunity for an excellent result which would do a lot to help bring attention to our media starved sport. ).
I agree that rules are necessary and beneficial under regular circumstances. If there had been a more significant turn out at cross nationals and Lyne hadn't participated, it would have been an insult to the event and to the riders that did participate to let her compete at Worlds. However, that was not the case this year and I personally think that your decision was the wrong one.
January 28, 2002 at 5:01 by Bryan
The argument may be valid for the non-nessecity of Bessette's attendance at the nationals, but now, after her not attending, is not the time to argue.
Rather, months before the nats, Bessette could have applied then to skip the nats, based on her results (i.e Super cups.)
that might have made more sense, esp. for Lynn.
January 28, 2002 at 9:36
CCA had never help anyone in the cyclo cross dept. Peter Wedge always had to spend is money to get to internationales cyclo cross races.
Now, CCA wants to rule cyclo cross. Get a grip. Let her go, what do you have to loose?
It's not like hasn't proove herself enough.
Even some high place people in Europe called CCA and the federation to say that is was stupid not to let her race
January 28, 2002 at 9:00
She wouldn't need logistical support. I attended World's in '99 by having the US coach represent me at the meetings. I think they would do the same again. If there are Euro officials in favour of Lyne it should be easy to set this up again.
Wasn't the HPC meeting kind of late? It doesn't really give her much time to appeal, if any?
January 28, 2002 at 9:44 by R. Duggan
- Allowing her to attend ~could~ have garnered a medal, increasing exposure to a sport that needs it.
- Allowing her to attend wouldn't have cost anyone else a start.
- Allowing her to attend wouldn't have cost the CCA a dime.
Rules are meant to be broken, especially when they make no sense at all. Typical backwards thinking that keeps this sport obscure. Thank you CCA!
January 28, 2002 at 10:16 by Med Reg Bost Cream
The CCA is demonstrating the kind of stupidity that legends are made of. Maybe somebody forgot that their highest priority is competing against other nations in the sport of bicycle racing. Obviously sport is not their intention here.
January 28, 2002 at 11:04
I can certainly appreciate wanting to have Canadian representation at 'cross Worlds, however, is it realistic that the athletes decide how they qualify to attend? As the race director for 2001 National Cyclocross Championships, I can say that not only was I disappointed in Lyne's decision not to attend, but that our local media and spectators were quite confused as to why she would not show up at her own National Champs. Without riders like her in attendance, what makes it a National Championships? What do we tell our major sponsors that support the sport? As per her quotes in Velo News: There were "only four riders" in your class because of decisions like yours!
January 28, 2002 at 11:13 by Chris Check
The rule was put in place to prevent jits from going to the world's (i.e. then non-nat team members pinfold, hansen, duggan etc.)
They stuck by their guns even last year when josh hall wanted to go---he wasn't on nat team and wouldn't let him race the worlds.
Had they let bessette race this year, it would have been an unfair exception to guys like josh hall.
That's it. End of story. no big CCA scandal. sheesh.
January 28, 2002 at 12:33
Yeah, but Lynne is no jit! And she IS on the National team
January 28, 2002 at 12:50 by Frenchie
Josh was on nat team too---........as was Hansen and Pinfold.....
January 28, 2002 at 13:44
But, those guys would have been blown off the back. Lynne has a shot.
January 28, 2002 at 13:53 by Frenchie
doesnt matter---although those three all finished at the back (not hall, didnt go) the same criterion ought to apply for all elite athletes. Otherwise the next thing you know it will be france or italy. corrupt and shit. Kudos for the CCA to sticking to their guns.............
January 28, 2002 at 14:31
Chris Check, thanks for giving back to Canadian cycling by organizing the Cross Nats - a lot of people here have tons to say from the sidelines but aren't involved in a substantively meaningful way. I agree with your point that having Bessette attend would've bolstered the event. However, her non-attendance was not the cause of the paltry starting line in the women's field -- it's simply not a big sport in Canada. Great way to change that is for Bessette to compete at the Worlds.
Canada has an exceptional talent in Bessette on the world stage even though no one in Canada can touch her. Considering recent reports that she understood she did not have to attend to qualify for Worlds, why on earth would she pay $1000 for an unnecessary qualifier where there's no competition for her?
I sincerely hope that someone from the CCA is still considering whether they should let her go. This is not a beneficial decision for cycling, it only serves one purpose: strict adherence to rules which clearly do not fit the situation. Mandatory Nats makes sense in other cycling categories almost all of the time, but not this one this time. We all know it.
Please CCA, have the courage to admit the better decision is to SUPPORT this athlete, not to over-zealously REGULATE her. Even though that means changing your decision, IT IS NOT TOO LATE!!! You can save face by acknowledging the confusion recently reported. We are all watching and waiting. To Bessette's close supporters, don't give up, send a letter requesting reconsideration. To everyone else, let your opinions be known on this website and maybe it will give the CCA pause for thought and further consideration.
January 28, 2002 at 13:08 by Java
Hey, cross isn't an olympic sport, so rules can be bent, expecially since canada never gives the cross team any support anyhow.
Dear CCA, pull your heads out of your bungholes and let Lynne go win us another Jersey.
It also helps that Lynne is a nice Quebecer who is a team player, good luck Lynne
January 28, 2002 at 13:10 by fatso
Please arrange for Lyne to compete as it should create more support here at home for the sport and we all know it is needed.
Men's cross in Canada is not in much better shape so I think the Rule Enforcement level should be adjusted according to the numbers involved, keeping in mind we are supposed to be trying to increase the amount of competitors not reduce them.
After all, was there anyone at nationals who would have beaten Lyne?
CCA please reconsider your position and maybe in the future you will have to apply the rules hard and fast but I don't think this is the time.This is the time for compassion and not the time for politics.
January 28, 2002 at 13:42 by Canadian Supporter
Let's vote and then send results of this vote to CCA!
I'm voting: LET HER GO
January 28, 2002 at 14:34 by FBI
Moral of the story. Get your answers in writing when the issue is that sensitive. Now its a he said she said game that no one can win.
CCA has the last say in this one unless she has hard proof.
January 28, 2002 at 16:03
You know what? After some thought I've decided that I have to argue against all of you and say Lynne Bessette should NOT be allowed to race at the Cyclocross World Championships and to use her as an example of how Canadian cycling should evolve.
I completely agree with the CCA's stance that you MUST compete at your countries National Championships in order to race at the World Championships. There should be a clearcut process in Canada to make it to a World Championship. This would work where you are picked by your provincincial racing association either through a provincial qualifier (ie. Provincials) or if there are circumstances where you cannot make it and you are obviously the best rider you are picked. From there the provincial racing association should support the rider to nationals. If Lynne Bessette did this she wouldn't have been out the $1000 to make it to Edmonton... true she'd still have to pay some because she was travelling from California and not her home province but it would be a lot easier on her pocket book. From there she'd have won the National Championships and gone to Worlds and we wouldn't be having this conversation.
Elite riders showing up for National Championships and less importantly Provincial Championships is critical in order for Canadian cycling to evolve to the point where we can be competitive on the world stage. Its a way for younger riders such as myself to see what I have to do and be able to race against them even if there are only 4 other riders. This gives us something to chase after, nipping at the elite riders heels so they only have to get faster and will give Nationals the prestige it deserves.
I myself am a track rider and the best and worst of this process can be found by looking at the track. The failure of the Canada Cup Track circuit last year is the bad side and was largely unsuccessful because the best riders in Canada for one reason or another chose not to come. This created a chain reaction where the riders chasing after them decided if they couldn't race the best riders there was no use paying the plane ticket from east to west or vice versa to go.
However, track is great in that all the elite riders do show up for nationals. For example Jim Fisher is Canada's premier kilo rider and for the last couple years has won very convincingly so why can't he just go straight to Worlds. Same could be said for Steen Madsen... as it stands from last year he's Canadas premier sprinter and looks to do the same this year. Or finally the best example Lori-ann Munzer. Theres not a woman in Canada even remotely as fast as her... so why should she have to go to Nationals? They should have to go to Nationals for a number of reasons:
So before I babble to much I'd just like to say being elite means your the best in Canada... but it also gives you even more responsibility to show up at Nationals, not less. If we want to be the best in the World we HAVE TO treat Nationals as the biggest thing on our schedule in order to push each other to excel. And for this reason Lynne Bessette doesn't deserve to go to the World Championships this year... even if she's capable of winning a World Championship because she hasn't earned her maple leaf even though its the simplest thing to do by just showing up at Nationals.
Just a side note. Thomas Frishknecht recently won the Swiss championship. Before the race he said he would not go to the worlds if he did not win. I don't know exactly why he did this, but I think it comes down to pride in ones country.
The only rule that sucks is the "must be one the National team rule".
1. Guys who race full time road or mtn are less likely to even think about cross in the winter.
2. Top crossers are breed unto themselves the world over. You don't see Sven Nijs or Richard Groenendal racing the pro road circuit for Rabobank. Even Adri van der Poel quit the road before finally winning his rainbow jersey. These guys focus on cross.
3. There should be a National cross team. You have to start somewhere.
It is a great sport and is on the rise, especially in the U.S.
for once the CCA sticks to their rules -- but all of a sudden we don't like it!!!
every other time when they broke rules for World's and Olympics it wasn't ok
well, I don't agree with you. In her case, CCA gave the wrong information to her federation, and that is why she can't go to world's now.
If you are so good at track, maybe one day the same kind of thing might happen to you.
Louis Barbeau.....
more than meets the eye, I'm afraid. Sorry Lynn. You goofed this time.
How to go to worlds
We here in Canada, This includes Qubec, are at a disadvantage to the rest of the world when it comes to fling our flag at world championships. Rules are rules! this includes Qubec riders. Only now and then nationals come out west. and if Qubec riders feel that they are to good to race 1 or 4 other riders to go to Worlds. Then they can move to the states and cheer for them. and yes why does CCA and all other prov. not doing more for rider develoment? Then Canada can sent a top notch group to the worlds.
Cheers
January 28, 2002 at 20:36 by cyclenut
I feel the CCA is doing quite a bit you don't realize in order to develop riders. Many initiatives are starting to be undertaken to develop young riders. There were a number of road camps last year and for the first time in who knows how many years (albeit mainly due to the time standards not being met) Canada sent a team to the Junior World Track championships... a team I was lucky enough to be a part of. Now I am lucky enough with my teammates from that experience to be a part of the the National Developement Team. Also when it comes to provincial involvement the ABA has been good to me... they put me up in a hotel at nationals last year. The year before when nationals were in Bromont they paid for the plane ticket out for the top riders. They are doing the best they can with the money they have and until we get more corporate support to pump money into our sports organizations I feel I am getting all I can ask for.
In regards to the last post saying that the same thing that happened to Lynne Bessette may happen to me... you know what it may. But by that time I hope track cycling in Canada will be to the point where Nationals are where who gets picked to compete for Canada at Worlds or the Olympics truely are decided. I think the best point was made in Thomas Frishknecht would not compete at Worlds unless he won his countries National Championship. This is an example I want to follow for the rest of my career because if you cannot win your countries championship why should you be allowed to represent your country at the World Championships? It is all about National pride... and pride in yourself. So if I'm ever in a position where I skipped Nationals because I didn't want to make the trip to win a race I knew I would like Lynne Bessette then I deserve not to go. Its not fair to the other riders competing for that same berth not to give them a chance, because how are we supposed to ever get better as a country if we don't push each other like that.
I must say that you are very well written Nick. Much better than I originally thought. Trust me I will hold you to your promise. I've got my eye on you
CCA? It's a PHUCKING QUEBEC mafia, im surprised they aren't letting "one of there own" go. I think this is just a cover so the next time the topic "CCA plays faver's" comes up, they can use this as an excuess. You should have seperated, it would have made cycling in Canada a little better.
However, She is a good cyclist, and she is Canadian, CCA pricks should let'er go.......BUT NO, they must do the right thing, bla bla
screw the CCA. they only help riders who have made it and have money.
let her go
My opinion is that this is what the HPC should have done with Lynne.
There has always been controversy over the World Cyclo Cross Championships and who is given permission to participate. It is almost as if the CCA doesn't want anyone to be there. Is it because they are frightened of embarrasement, is it because they cannot fund the trip and they worry about looking stupid with no support staff or are they just plain ignorant, power crazy or apathetic? One year, a rider was so eager to participate that he had to organize a nationals to ride in order to meet the set criteria. Spirit? I think not although it was a good event.
As I see it, Lynne did check with her prov. Assoc. before making the decision not to ride Nationals. This seemed to be well under control and her plans in good shape. Now everyone has gone back on their decisions. Spirit?
As for the organizer's expecting her and losing credibility when she didn't show up, what do you think it would prove to have her riding against 4 other women, probably lapping the field a couple of times and making everyone look pathetic? It was better to a have a tightly contested event that at least looked like a race. Your arguments are infantile. Spirit? Your points shouldn't even enter into the equation as to whether Lynne goes to Worlds or not.
One thing is for sure - Quebec will not let this one rest. Louis is like a terrier when one of their riders is ill treated (in his eyes anyway). We haven't heard the last of this. Spirit? Yes.
It's not too late. Capitulate HPC. She's there, she's fit, she's willing. Enter in the spirit of the sport of cycling and give the girl a chance.
Lastly, taking pot shots at Saturn is certainly in poor taste and shows no spirit whatsoever. Board Member - you should be ashamed.
she was told by a cca official that she didn't need to compete. The cca rep concerned "doesn't remember". The rider's memory is clear, the cca rep's is not. What does that tell us?
Hypocrites
Every so often the CCA (as it is often the case with a few other National sport governing bodies) forget why they exist. It is important to keep in mind that if it weren't for the athletes they would not have a job, and if it weren't for our best athletes (like Lyne Bessette) they would not have a budget to operate their program.
I believe that in a case like the one involving Lyne and the Cross World Championships, there is only one important factor to pay attention to: the CCA hasn't been clear (enough) when they stated what the criteria were for selection. This is the bottom line. In a case like this when there is reasonable doubt about what has been said (O'Donnell says that he "doesn't remember saying anything to that nature" to Barbeau) and how it could have been interpreted, the responsibility for this misunderstanding should fall on the CCA. Our top athletes are precious; their careers are relatively short; and their motivation is something that should be treated with the greatest care.
We have to look a the spirit of the CCA rule and not the letter of the rule. This rule should be there to make the selection process as fair as possible for the athletes, if the CCA has a problem marketing the race or the meaning of winning the race, that's their problem and the athletes should not have to be held responsible. In this case, there is no doubt that Lyne Bessette is the strongest woman Canada can send at the World's. Finally, I am appalled by the words of a fellow athlete like Nick Corcoran who seems very disconnected with the reality of what it means to be an international level athlete in a sport like women cycling in a country like ours. I do not wish for any athlete, how ever na�ve he or she is, who deserve to represent Canada at the World Championship, to be left out without a place on the starting line because our deficient bureaucracy.
Nicolas
GIVE LYNNE A BREAK
LET HER RIDE
Having read the posts, for and against above, I think there are some excellent points. I think the policy of requiring athletes to attend Nationals in order to represent at Worlds is completely defencible. I also think the CCA needs to be more aware and flexible in developing the sport in Canada. Cycling has virtually no public profile in Canada, and the CCA's decision is not helping this. Attracting more sponsorship dollars and increasing the profile of cycling to the Canadian public is a neccesary element of cycling development in Canada.
Roland Green won: The World Championship, The World Cup, NORBA overall. In his spare time he managed to ride a number of extremely respectable road TT's. Roland managed to be the first North American to win a World Cup since '94. Given all of these accomplishments, virtually unmatched by any off-road rider in recent memory, Canadian sports writers choose, as their athelete of the year: Mike Weir. He plays golf! He was 12th overall.
Genevieve Jeanson dominated virtually every road race she entered on the North American circuit this year, and who outside of the cycling community has heard of her? Likewise Lynn Bessette, on of North America's most dominate female riders, and again, outside of people reading this post, how much exposure does she have.
Here was an opportunity for Canada to potentially medal at a world event, increase cycling's exposure at home, and re-enforce the strength of the Canadian cycling program abroad, all at limited cost to the CCA. The CCA's response? A steadfast adherence to the rules that borders on the absurd IN THIS CASE. Road Nats and cross Nats are not exactly comparable, in depth of field or even general exposure.
If the CCA is not promoting bike racing, but stubbornly stiking to their own rules, exactly what service are the performing for competitive cycling in Canada?
Yes there was potential for Canada to medal at the worlds if Lynne had gone. This would have added to her illustrious plamares and done nothing for the sport in Canada.
Had she done nationals it would have raised the calibre of the even within Canada. Lets hope cross nats go east or more women get interested. I for one would love to see Crissy face off against Lynne.
Canadian athletes are only known with in there respected sport. how meney of use know who the top squash player is in Canada? Or who the top rowers are. If cycleste want to be knowen in their own country then we as cycleist need to push CTV CBC and the local cable companys to show case our sport more. As for Our national Championships, Keep it on the same weekend every year. and any cycling club or city can bid on it just like the olympics. LET Lynn go to the worlds, She is our best cyclecross rider, and then the cca needs to take a hard look at the rules of the CCA.
I agree. If Lynn and her Quebec federation did enquire and were told that she didn't have to attend nationals to qualify for worlds then the CCA should let her go. Maybe Shawn made a mistake and gave her the wrong info. Whatever. Just let her go.
re: Nick
It's good to hear riders with conviction standing up for what they believe is right without slagging others. Unfortunately you have missed a couple of the key points in this one.
1. Cross riders recieve no funding
Should top level pros get money from their prov. association to attend Nat's? Would she wear Saturn or PQ colours? Where does this money come from? Provincial associations are to develop riders, not support pros.
Below would be great but it needs more thought.
"This would work where you are picked by your provincincial racing association either through a provincial qualifier (ie. Provincials) or if there are circumstances where you cannot make it and you are obviously the best rider you are picked."
Isn't this what put us here in the first place? (This makes the argument that Lyne should go and recieve support) This is taking one problem and multiplying it by the number of provincial associations. It would probably be much worse as there is money involved
You also make the point of her living in California. Track may be a little different, but for Road and Cross you can get fast in Canada but you get really fast elsewhere. It is the biggest mistake and regret I have about my riding. I didn't go live elsewhere. To get to Lyne's level it is much harder to do it here. Would she get to the same level racing road in Canada? We are penalizing her again for making herself a better rider.
I do agree with you that riders should attend Nat's. You have presented some of the better of many reasons of why they should, especially to inspire younger riders. I do think that this should be treated as an isolated case because that is what it is. She would recieve no funding, she is not bumping someone off the team, and she has met all the other criteria. Most importantly the benefits outweigh the (perceived) negatives.
Also, I am not slagging the CCA. I don't agree with this decision but calling them idiots isn't right either. This is the reason that there is the HP Committee. To take a look at individual cases where it isn't cut and dry and make a decision. What I hope to change is that the next time a situation like this happens that the HPC puts more weight on what would be good for cycling and the riders and less on what MIGHT (but really wouldn't) make things more difficult for them. Maybe a quick review of the mission statement might help. Who knows maybe you'll be in the same sort of situation in the future. If it does, I hope it turns out in your favour.
Best of Luck,
Cheers,
Ray, good points.
It will do far more for the development of racing (especially cross) if Lynne goes.
CCA Policy....it's never been set in stone, not attending Road World's did not help Lynne in the cross case. There have been more riders than Paul (like Alison) who have not attended Nationals, but have still gone to World's. Granted in Alison's case there was always CCA approval in advance, it sounds like Lynne and Louis asked, so....?
What harm would there really be?? Lynne is a full time National team athlete who has done her share in a National Jersey. She has earned a number of maple leaves. I saw Lynne win at the last Commonwealth Games, it was a very big deal for Canadian cycling and for Canada. The national team selection criteria docuument says nothing about cross World's and there is no funding for it. She already has a jersey to wear. Don't think that the HP Committee isn't bitter. They got snubbed by a young woman from Quebec.
CCA vs cycling
the CCA has to make up its mind about cyclocross. On one hand they give no support to any cross riders, provide little (or no) support to Nationals, have no program for cross..... etc. And at the same time expect riders to follow the same rules as national team members on track for World Championships in other disciplines. I think this is rather 2-faced. Either cut `cross loose and handle riders wishing to go to Worlds on a case by case basis or adhere to the same set up as other disciplines with the support etc.
It's tough to get good project for the national team when the guy responsible in the office come from baseball. It shows that he don't respect cycling people
Sean in the office did not make this decision the HPC with 100% cycling people did. Sean was the messenger only of their decision. I don't think he is from baseball either, hockey??? Anyway why did the director of nat team programs not make this controvercial, medium-high profile announcement? New office boy had to because the head people would not. Pretty unfair to level your criticism at Sean for this announcement I think.
PS I am not sean's mother.
Then name names now and hold them accountable. If things are to improve you must drive away at these people and start insisting on transparecy and accountability. The way the CCA is structured now there is none and they are pissing away your sport and money.
Please understand that the CCA Board, Executive and Committees are fully accountable. Board members are chosen by the provinces and by the National Team. Executive and Committee members are elected at the Annual General Meeting. And staff are accountable to the Executive for their performance. While it's always easy to be critical of decisions, just look at the International success Canadians have acheived in recent years, given relatively limited funding. Yes, there is always room for improvement and constructive criticism is always welcome.
1. Who told Lyne (and/or coach) she didn't have to participate in the nationals.
Contexte
Elle a gagn� sa premi�re course � Lost Valley le 30 septembre, et sa deuxi�me course le 13 octobre, puis le Amherst International Cyclo-cross le 27 octobre (photo) et est demeur�e invaincue en remportant une quatri�me course cons�cutive le Pennsylvania's Chameleon Cross le 10 novembre (photo). Le 17 novembre, Lyne terminait deuxi�me au SuperCup 'Cross Round #2 � Chicago (plusieurs photos sont disponibles).
Le 30 novembre, Velonews nommait Lyne Cyclo-Cross Woman of the Year en Am�rique du nord pour 2001.
Puis Lyne a gagn� la New England Cross Championship Series #6 � Merrimack au New Hampshire et a demand� � repr�senter le Canada aux Championnats du monde de Cyclo-cross (� Zolder en Belgique le 2 f�vrier). Mais l'association cycliste canadienne ne voudra peut-�tre pas.
Puis Lyne termine 4e au SuperCup Round #3 � Baltimore le 16 d�cembre et est choisie meilleure coureuse de cyclo-cross au monde selon ce qu'a d�voil� Cyclingnews le 4 janvier 2002. Elle gagne le Grand Prix de France � Nommay le 6 janvier, r�v�le The Canadian Cyclist le 11 janvier. Lisez l'entrevue que Lyne accordait � Cyclocrossworld.com le 15 janvier.
Mais on a appris le 21 janvier que l'Association cycliste canadienne ne permet pas � Lyne de repr�senter le Canada aux Championnats du monde de cyclo-cross � Zolder le 2 f�vrier. Cette d�cision fait couler beaucoup d'encre sur le FORUM de The Canadian Cyclist du 21 au 23 janvier.
Pourtant, l'Association cycliste canadienne avait r�pondu � Lyne que ce n'�tait pas n�cessaire de prendre part aux Championnats canadiens pour faire les Championnats du monde raconte Manon Gilbert dans Des b�tons dans les roues de Bessette le 25 janvier.
Le 27 janvier The Canadian Cyclist fournit de nouvelles informations, entre autres sur le r�le d'interm�diaire de Louis Barbeau, directeur technique de la F�d�ration qu�b�coise des sports cyclistes,
et invite les amateurs de v�lo � faire conna�tre leur opinion.
Le site officiel des Championnats du monde.
Tim Johnson, le copain de Lyne, a �gal� la meilleure performance am�ricaine dans une course de championnat du monde de cat�gorie �lite en terminant en 13e place au Championnat du monde de cyclo-cross � Zolder le 3 f�vrier 2002, prenant ainsi la t�te de de l'�quipe am�ricaine qui a termin� 5e au classement des �quipes.
Cette page du site www de Lyne Bessette (une section de V�LOPTIMUM), a �t� mise � jour le
3 f�vrier 2002 par
SVP
2) it gives us up and coming riders such as myself someones heels to nip at. How are we supposed to get as fast as the elite riders if they don't bother showing up? And more importantly how are they gonna get any faster if we can't at least put a good scare into them now and then?
3) A rider like Lynne Bessette showing up at cyclocross nationals may increase the depth of the field because just like the Canada Cup if theres one elite rider other elite riders will follow and this will help push the calibre of racing up... it maybe not happen overnight but over a couple of years it can and will.
January 28, 2002 at 16:13 by Nick Corcoran
January 28, 2002 at 16:30
January 28, 2002 at 16:48
January 28, 2002 at 17:15
January 28, 2002 at 17:58
If you believe everything that Mr. Barbeau says than I have some swampland for sale in the Yukon, and a bridge in Victoria.....
January 28, 2002 at 18:17
January 28, 2002 at 21:33 by Nick Corcoran
January 28, 2002 at 21:46 by Nick Corcoran
January 28, 2002 at 23:28 by Chris
January 29, 2002 at 1:25 by bitter? naaaa
January 29, 2002 at 1:57
When I was doing my Commissaire training, one thing stuck in my mind. The rules are there for a reason but, when interpreting them, it is always important to enter into the spirit of the event.
January 29, 2002 at 8:33 by Commie
January 29, 2002 at 8:42
January 29, 2002 at 11:29 by Nicolas
Exactly - well put. There is reasonable doubt.......
January 29, 2002 at 11:57
January 29, 2002 at 11:59
January 29, 2002 at 15:05 by Waterman
January 29, 2002 at 15:38
happy trails!
January 29, 2002 at 15:50
January 29, 2002 at 21:10
2. Lyne is not competing for or taking a berth away from anyone (Canada could send 5 women if they wanted)
3. P. Kelly attended Road World's in '98 without attending Nat's. -They aren't opening a can of worms.
Your ideas are good and I hope they eventually would work but this is an isolated case. We are penalizing one rider for the benefit? of the 4 who did attend. Look at this case in itself. Would Lyne winning a World's medal this year or having her attend Nat's last year bring out more riders to Nat's 2002? The penalty is greater than the gain.
"From there the provincial racing association should support the rider to nationals."
and there isn't in Lyne's case. She would pay her way to Zolder.
Ray "Jit" Duggan
January 30, 2002 at 2:50 by R. Duggan
Nic, good points.
January 30, 2002 at 3:21 by Steve L
I agree completely. I could understand their adherence to the rule and not letting her race if she was bumping out other athletes who had competed at Nationals in order to attend. But in this case she's not bumping out anyone. Canada's got a World's medal shot for free, and they won't take it? Man that's lame.
January 31, 2002 at 2:49 by rekib
January 31, 2002 at 12:02
January 31, 2002 at 12:42
January 31, 2002 at 21:04
February 1, 2002 at 9:14
February 1, 2002 at 23:59 by Bill
2. On what date was she told this.
3. We understand, subsequently the "rules" were forwarded to her/coach, what date was this.
4. Who made the decision to have a junior staff member make the public announcement that she wouldn't be competing in the worlds.
February 2, 2002 at 9:15
Lyne enjambe un obstacle durant le
Amherst Cyclocross le 27 octobre 2001
photo : Ben Barnhart, via CyclingNews
Apr�s une saison �poustouflante sur route en 2001, Lyne Bessette a d�cid�,
pour garder la forme, de se mettre au cyclo-cross avec son copain de l'�quipe Saturn, l'Am�ricain Tim Johnson, vice-champion du monde de la discipline.
Photo par Graham Watson sur Velonews
