Cyclisme

Geneviève Jeanson, du club des Espoirs de Laval Naya, a abaissé de près de dix minutes le record de la classique annuelle du Mont Washington, hier, au New Hampshire. La championne junior canadienne sur route, qui n'est âgée que de 17 ans, s'est ainsi méritée une Audi A4 Quattro de l'année. La course Cycle to the clouds est considérée conune l'une des plus exigeantes au monde, puisque les cyclistes doivent monter une pente de 12 % d'inclinaison moyenne sur 12,7 kilomètres. Il a fallu une heure 1 min 57 à Jeanson pour terminer l'épreuve. Le record précédent était de 1 heure 11 minutes 38 établi en 1997 par Marilyn Ruseckas.

1- Geneviève Jeanson, Lachine, Qué. Canada 1h 01 min 57
2- Kimberly Bruckner, Boulder, Colorado, USA 1h 03m 50
3- Julie Hanson, Superior, Colorado, USA, 1h 08m 06
4- Lyne Bessette, Lac Brome, Qué. Canada 1h 08 min 35
5- Marilyn Ruseckas, Waitsfield, Vermont, USA, 1 h 11m 29

Each wins an Audi A4 Quattro

Tyler Hamilton and Genevieve Jeanson showed today that they are the best bicycle hillclimbers in the world- both setting new records on Mount Washington and both winning brand new 1999 Audi A4 Quattro's.

28-year-old Hamilton, from Marblehead MA, and the 17-year-old Jeanson, of Lachine Quebec, faced a tough climb and deteriorating weather as they stormed up the 12% grade for over 8 miles. Hamilton set a new record of 50:21- besting his 1997 record of 51:56. Jeanson set a time of 1:01:57, crushing the old record of 1:11:38 also set in 1997 by Marilyn Ruseckas.

Clouds spent the morning building around the summit, and shortly after Hamilton crossed the line the sky began to open up as rain began to fall. The winds were gusting into the 30-mph range and the air temp at the top hovered around 38 degrees. As the rain and at times sleet increased riders were showing more and more discomfort as they crossed the line.

Both Hamilton and Jeanson took early leads. Hamilton took off from the main pack within a quarter mile of the start, looking back a couple of times until he had gained such a lead that there wasn't anything for him to look back at. Jeanson who placed tenth overall, had a similar race in the women's field, looking around to see that the other top women were a ways back as well. Kimberly Bruckner, a pro from Boulder CO, finished second at 1:03:50. Julie Hanson, of Superior CO, rounded out the top three with a time of 1:08:06.

On the men's side Kurt Davis of Bethel CT, took second with a time of 57:01. Gregory Sieniewicz of Lunenburg, Ontario finished out the top three with a time of 57:29.

After the race Jeanson wanted to meet Hamilton, upon their introduction Hamilton gave her a big hug and congratulations. When Jeanson found out she won a car her face lit up and one of her support crew joked with her that she now needed to get her driver's license.

The 1999 Mount Washington Bicycle Hillclimb saw a record field of 650 racers, and is a fund raiser for Tin Mountain Concervation Center in Conway, NH.

À propos de cette course Cycle to the clouds, Pierre Foglia écrivait dans La Presse du 23 juilet 99 :
"Quand on demande aux coureurs professionnels quel est le col le plus dur qu'ils ont jamais escaladé, presque tous répondent le Mortirolo dans les Dolomites italiennes. Pente moyenne 10.2 % sur 12.6 km.

Il y a pourtant plus dur. Il y a le mont Washington au New Hampshire. 12.6 km comme le Mortirolo, mais 12 % de pente moyenne, ce qui est proprement effrayant. La route du mont Washington est ouverte une fois par année à 500 cyclistes de tous âges et toutes conditions, pour la traditionnelle Cycle to the Clouds. Le record de la montée est détenu par Tyler Hamilton lieutenant de route de Lance Armstrong, actuellement 17ème du Tour de France. Son record ? 52 minutes (51,56 précisément). Si vous vous sentez capables de faire mieux, n'hésitez pas, une Audi A4 Quattro est offerte à celui qui battra le record de Hamilton. Même deal pour les filles, record à battre: 1.11.38. C'est le samedi 21 août. Il faut absolument s'inscrire.

Cette page du site www de Geneviève Jeanson (une section de VÉLOPTIMUM), a été mise à jour le
12 septembre 1999 par