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Women's Tour de Snowy

Australia, February 28-March 4, 1999

Stage 1, Tumut - Talbingo, 42.4 kms:

   1. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands                      1.14.19 (34.19 km/h)
   2. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania
   3. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand
   4. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team
   5. Anna Wilson (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team
   6. Sarah Symington (GB) Great Britain
   7. Sonja Van Kuik (Ned) Netherlands
   8. Karen Kurreck (USA) World Team
   9. Megan Hughes (GB) Great Britain
  10. Alison Wright (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport
  11. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport
  12. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands
  13. Gunn Rita Dahle (Nor) Norway
  14. Zita Urbonaite (Lit) Lithuania
  15. Melanie Szubrycht (GB) Great Britain
  16. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport
  17. Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team
  18. Mary Grigson (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport
  19. Yvonne McGregor (GB) Great Britain
  20. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Netherlands
  21. Jacinta Coleman (NZ) New Zealand
  22. Erika Vilunaite (Lit) Lithuania
  23. Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Juice Plus
  24. Solrun Flataas (Nor) Norway
  25. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team
  26. Wenche Stensvold (Nor) Norway
  27. Ceris Gilfillan (GB) Great Britain
  28. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands
  29. Elizabeth Emery (USA) World Team
  30. Kathy Watt (Aus) World Team
  31. Kim Sherley (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport
  32. Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Netherlands
  33. Naiomi Williams (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team
  34. Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Juice Plus
  35. Erica Green (RSA) South Africa
  36. Michelle Ward (GB) Great Britain
  37. Ruth Ellway (GB) Great Britain
  38. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) South Africa
  39. Rosalind Reekie-May (NZ) New Zealand
  40. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic
  41. Leigh Hobson (Can) World Team
  42. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport
  43. Karen Sumpton (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport
  44. Vanessa Cheatley (NZ) New Zealand
  45. Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team
  46. Elfie Kunz (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team
  47. Emma James (Aus) Juice Plus
  48. Sara Saarelainen (Fin) World Team
  49. Jacquelin Brabanetz (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team
  50. Jorunn Kvalo (Nor) Norway                                 s.t.
  51. Joanne McCrae (GB) Great Britain                          0.18
  52. Annelize Stander (RSA) South Africa                       3.46
  53. Ragnhilo Uostol (Nor) Norway                              3.46
  54. Liza Serfontein (RSA) South Africa                        3.46
  55. Rita Narbutyte (Lit) Lithuania                            3.46
  56. Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra) World Team                3.46
  57. Avril Swan (Aus) Juice Plus                               3.46
  58. Penny Smithers (Aus) Herald Sun                           3.46
  59. Phillipa Hendren (Aus) Interstate Team                    3.46
  60. Jodie Brewer (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                   3.46
  61. Chantelle Robertson (Aus) Juice Plus                      3.46
  62. Angela Hunter (GB) Great Britain                          3.46
  63. Hanneke Geysen (Aus) Herald Sun                           3.46
  64. Cherie Pridham (GB) GS Mazza-Tege                         3.46
  65. Natalie Bates (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                  3.46
  66. Geraldine Denham (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                     3.46
  67. Miyoko Karami (Jap) Japan-Gios                            3.46
  68. Alena Barillova (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic             3.46
  69. Marguerite Ritchie (NZ) New Zealand                       3.46
  70. Julie Hooper (Aus) Interstate Team                        3.46
  71. Sally Smalley (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                        3.46
  72. Anne Samplonius (Can) World Team                          3.46
  73. Nadia Frischknecht (Aus) Juice Plus                       3.46
  74. Kim Howard (Aus) Herald Sun                               7.27
  75. Lillian Bannwart (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                      7.27
  76. Victoria Kirkby (Aus) Interstate Team                     7.27
  77. Lisa Robinson (Aus) Individual Entry                      7.27
  78. Symeko Jochinke (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                      7.27
  79. Gillian Govan (GB) Great Britain                         10.15
  80. Sanae Nagano (Jap) Japan-Gios                            10.15
  81. Jennifer Manefield (Aus) Interstate Team                 10.15
  82. Jurgita Masillunaite (Lit) Lithuania                     10.15
  83. Rebecca Bishop (GB) GS Mazza-Tege                        10.21
  84. Midori Kotani (Jap) Japan-Gios                           13.37
  85. Janette Bohmova (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic            13.37
  86. Marie Hostasova (Cze) Slovakia/Czech Republic            13.37
  87. Carine Peter (Fra) World Team                            13.37
  88. Alexandra Rutz (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                       13.37
  89. Loretta Mabin (Aus) Herald Sun                           13.37
  90. Andrea Hanni (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                         13.37

Disqualified for being outside time limit:

  91. Akemi Sugaya (Jap) Japan-Gios                            16.58
  92. Marie Kolarikova (Cze) Slovakia/Czech Republic           20.31

Did not finish:

Mari Todd (GB) Great Britain

Mountain premie 1, km 14.5:

   1. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                    6
   2. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                                  4
   3. Anna Wilson (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                             3
   4. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) South Africa                         2
   5. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic                  1

GC after Stage 1 

   1. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands                      1.13.59
   2. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                               0.01
   3. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand                               0.10
   4. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                 0.14
   5. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                  0.15
   6. Anna Wilson (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                          0.17
   7. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) South Africa                      0.18
   8. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic               0.19
   9. Sarah Symington (GB) Great Britain                        0.20
  10. Sonja Van Kuik (Ned) Netherlands                          0.20
  11. Karen Kurreck (USA) World Team                            0.20
  12. Megan Hughes (GB) Great Britain                           0.20
  13. Alison Wright (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                  0.20
  14. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport           0.20
  15. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands                         0.20
  16. Gunn Rita Dahle (Nor) Norway                              0.20
  17. Zita Urbonaite (Lit) Lithuania                            0.20
  18. Melanie Szubrycht (GB) Great Britain                      0.20
  19. Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                     0.20
  20. Mary Grigson (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                   0.20
  21. Yvonne McGregor (GB) Great Britain                        0.20
  22. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Netherlands                         0.20
  23. Jacinta Coleman (NZ) New Zealand                          0.20
  24. Erika Vilunaite (Lit) Lithuania                           0.20
  25. Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Juice Plus                         0.20
  26. Solrun Flataas (Nor) Norway                               0.20
  27. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                   0.20
  28. Wenche Stensvold (Nor) Norway                             0.20
  29. Ceris Gilfillan (GB) Great Britain                        0.20
  30. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands                         0.20
  31. Elizabeth Emery (USA) World Team                          0.20
  32. Kathy Watt (Aus) World Team                               0.20
  33. Kim Sherley (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport             0.20
  34. Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Netherlands                         0.20
  35. Naiomi Williams (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                      0.20
  36. Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Juice Plus                        0.20
  37. Erica Green (RSA) South Africa                            0.20
  38. Michelle Ward (GB) Great Britain                          0.20
  39. Ruth Ellway (GB) Great Britain                            0.20
  40. Rosalind Reekie-May (NZ) New Zealand                      0.20
  41. Leigh Hobson (Can) World Team                             0.20
  42. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport        0.20
  43. Karen Sumpton (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport           0.20
  44. Vanessa Cheatley (NZ) New Zealand                         0.20
  45. Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team               0.20
  46. Elfie Kunz (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                     0.20
  47. Emma James (Aus) Juice Plus                               0.20
  48. Sara Saarelainen (Fin) World Team                         0.20
  49. Jacquelin Brabanetz (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team            0.20
  50. Jorunn Kvalo (Nor) Norway                                 0.20
  51. Joanne McCrae (GB) Great Britain                          0.38
  52. Annelize Stander (RSA) South Africa                       4.06
  53. Ragnhilo Uostol (Nor) Norway                              4.06
  54. Liza Serfontein (RSA) South Africa                        4.06
  55. Rita Narbutyte (Lit) Lithuania                            4.06
  56. Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra) World Team                4.06
  57. Avril Swan (Aus) Juice Plus                               4.06
  58. Penny Smithers (Aus) Herald Sun                           4.06
  59. Phillipa Hendren (Aus) Interstate Team                    4.06
  60. Jodie Brewer (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                   4.06
  61. Chantelle Robertson (Aus) Juice Plus                      4.06
  62. Angela Hunter (GB) Great Britain                          4.06
  63. Hanneke Geysen (Aus) Herald Sun                           4.06
  64. Cherie Pridham (GB) GS Mazza-Tege                         4.06
  65. Natalie Bates (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                  4.06
  66. Geraldine Denham (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                     4.06
  67. Miyoko Karami (Jap) Japan-Gios                            4.06
  68. Alena Barillova (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic             4.06
  69. Marguerite Ritchie (NZ) New Zealand                       4.06
  70. Julie Hooper (Aus) Interstate Team                        4.06
  71. Sally Smalley (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                        4.06
  72. Anne Samplonius (Can) World Team                          4.06
  73. Nadia Frischknecht (Aus) Juice Plus                       4.06
  74. Kim Howard (Aus) Herald Sun                               7.47
  75. Lillian Bannwart (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                      7.47
  76. Victoria Kirkby (Aus) Interstate Team                     7.47
  77. Lisa Robinson (Aus) Individual Entry                      7.47
  78. Symeko Jochinke (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                      7.47
  79. Gillian Govan (GB) Great Britain                         10.35
  80. Sanae Nagano (Jap) Japan-Gios                            10.35
  81. Jennifer Manefield (Aus) Interstate Team                 10.35
  82. Jurgita Masillunaite (Lit) Lithuania                     10.35
  83. Rebecca Bishop (GB) GS Mazza-Tege                        10.41
  84. Midori Kotani (Jap) Japan-Gios                           13.57
  85. Janette Bohmova (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic            13.57
  86. Marie Hostasova (Cze) Slovakia/Czech Republic            13.57
  87. Carine Peter (Fra) World Team                            13.57
  88. Alexandra Rutz (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                       13.57
  89. Loretta Mabin (Aus) Herald Sun                           13.57
  90. Andrea Hanni (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                         13.57
  91. Akemi Sugaya (Jap) Japan-Gios                            17.18
  92. Marie Kolarikova (Cze) Slovakia/Czech Republic           20.51

Points Championship:

   1. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands                            5
   2. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                                  3
   3. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand                                  2
   4. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                     1

Mountains Championship:

   1. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                    6
   2. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                                  4
   3. Anna Wilson (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                             3
   4. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) South Africa                         2
   5. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic                  1

Stage 1 Report

Dutch rider Mirjam Melchers in 1.14.19 surprised the field by taking out the first stage from Mari Holden. The 42 kms route involved the riders in a continual climb from Tumut to the top of the mountains at Talbingo.

23-year old Melchers who broke away with some other riders less than 3 kms from the end told the press later that: It's good to win the first race of the year, it's good for your morale. It was good to have a smaller stage at the beginning of the race, but tomorrow is going to be much harder."

There was a crash on the stage which led to Mari Todd (GB) withdrawing with a knee injury.

Stage 1 Report by Karen Kurreck

While most North Americans are opening the season with Redlands, many of the rest of the world's best women cyclists headed down under for the 5 day TOur de Snowy followed by the first round of the World Cup. The Snowy TOur is a UCI category 2.9.1 which is the top category and UCI points are awarded. THere are about 100 women from Norway, Japan, Germany, Lithuania, Holland, Great Britan, Australia, NZ, Switzerland as wall as a strong contingent of Australian and New Zealand riders who are fit from a summer of racing down here. For the rest of us, this is our first race of the season and we come from winter. There are a lot of white legs in this peleton! It is wonderful to be riding in just shorts and a jersey for a change, but I had forgotten what it is like to sweat!

I am racing for a composite team here - the "World Team". THere are 8 of us: Ann Samplonious and Leigh Hobson from Canada, myself and Elizabeth Emery from the US, Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunell and Carrine Peter from France, Kathy Watt from Australia and Sari Saarelainen from Finland. It is a pretty loose team - we had no staff and not even a common jersey to wear. Kathy's husband graciously offered to help us out as acting manager. It is a fun group though - Ann, Leigh, ELisabeth and I all rode together in the TOur Feminin last year and Elizabeth Emery and I have been teammates for the last 3 years. We manage on our own and get help wherever we can. THe only other American in the race is Mari Holden who is racing with the Lithuanian team.

The first day was actually a double day. The morning was a short 43km with some rolling hills and 1 cat 2 climb and the afternoon was a TT. THe morning stage was fairly uneventful. The Dutch team was somewhat aggressive and there was a short lived break of about 10 riders including Leigh Hobson (Can), Liz Tadich (Aus) and various others but they never gained much time. THe climb was not too hard. From what I could see, either Anna Wilson of Mari Holden won the QOM.

Given that it is the first race of the season, the pack was a bit scetchy and there was a fairly large crash with about 10km to go. The finish was a turn into about a 300m uphill sprint. Miriam Melchers (Holland) won. As for me, I wanted to see what I could do in the TT so I just stayed out of the wind and out of trouble all morning. THere are large time bonuses in this race - a stage win is worth 20 sec. and a QOM is worth 6-10 sec. depending on the category.