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Women's Tour de Snowy

Australia, February 28-March 4, 1999

Stage 3, Khancoban - Cabramurra, 110.8 kms:

   1. Karen Kurreck (USA) World Team                         4.06.44 (26.94 km/h)
   2. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand
   3. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic
   4. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team
   5. Leigh Hobson (Can) World Team
   6. Sara Saarelainen (Fin) World Team
   7. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                  0.29
   8. Gunn Rita Dahle (Nor) Norway                              0.34
   9. Yvonne McGregor (GB) Great Britain                        0.56
  10. Anna Wilson (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                          0.56
  11. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                               1.29
  12. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands                         2.48
  13. Elizabeth Emery (USA) World Team                          2.48
  14. Mary Grigson (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                   2.52
  15. Kathy Watt (Aus) World Team                               3.23
  16. Erica Green (RSA) South Africa                            5.10
  17. Jacinta Coleman (NZ) New Zealand                          5.10
  18. Kim Sherley (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport             5.59
  19. Sarah Symington (GB) Great Britain                        6.49
  20. Michelle Ward (GB) Great Britain                          8.00
  21. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) South Africa                      8.00
  22. Ruth Ellway (GB) Great Britain                            8.00
  23. Julie Hooper (Aus) Interstate Team                        9.41
  24. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands                         9.50
  25. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport          12.31
  26. Jorunn Kvalo (Nor) Norway                                12.31
  27. Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                    12.31
  28. Emma James (Aus) Juice Plus                              15.10
  29. Megan Hughes (GB) Great Britain                          15.10
  30. Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra) World Team               16.13
  31. Marguerite Ritchie (NZ) New Zealand                      17.34
  32. Ragnhilo Uostol (Nor) Norway                             17.47
  33. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport       18.11
  34. Solrun Flataas (Nor) Norway                              18.50
  35. Jacquelin Brabanetz (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team           19.37
  36. Wenche Stensvold (Nor) Norway                            21.19
  37. Karen Sumpton (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport          22.30
  38. Jodie Brewer (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                  22.48
  39. Geraldine Denham (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                    23.30
  40. Alison Wright (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                 23.30
  41. Erika Vilunaite (Lit) Lithuania                          23.30
  42. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands                        23.40
  43. Melanie Szubrycht (GB) Great Britain                     26.18
  44. Sonja Van Kuik (Ned) Netherlands                         26.18
  45. Ceris Gilfillan (GB) Great Britain                       26.22
  46. Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team              26.22
  47. Elfie Kunz (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                    26.22
  48. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                 26.22
  49. Alena Barillova (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic            26.28
  50. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Netherlands                        27.02
  51. Anne Samplonius (Can) World Team                         27.02
  52. Penny Smithers (Aus) Herald Sun                          28.41
  53. Zita Urbonaite (Lit) Lithuania                           30.29
  54. Vanessa Cheatley (NZ) New Zealand                        31.00
  55. Liza Serfontein (RSA) South Africa                       31.13
  56. Symeko Jochinke (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                     38.22
  57. Miyoko Karami (Jap) Japan-Gios                           39.10
  58. Sally Smalley (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                       41.16
  59. Angela Hunter (GB) Great Britain                         41.21
  60. Victoria Kirkby (Aus) Interstate Team                    42.24
  61. Phillipa Hendren (Aus) Interstate Team                   42.39
  62. Lisa Robinson (Aus) Individual Entry                     46.52
  63. Rita Narbutyte (Lit) Lithuania                           47.53
  64. Nadia Frischknecht (Aus) Juice Plus                      49.00
  65. Chantelle Robertson (Aus) Juice Plus                     49.00
  66. Lillian Bannwart (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                     49.35
  67. Rosalind Reekie-May (NZ) New Zealand                     49.39
  68. Naiomi Williams (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                     50.26
  69. Avril Swan (Aus) Juice Plus                              52.38
  70. Hanneke Geysen (Aus) Herald Sun                          53.50
  71. Alexandra Rutz (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                       54.40
  72. Jennifer Manefield (Aus) Interstate Team               1.03.32
  73. Kim Howard (Aus) Herald Sun                            1.08.01
  74. Natalie Bates (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport               1.08.01
  75. Emma James (Aus) Juice Plus                            1.08.01
  76. Sanae Nagano (Jap) Japan-Gios                          1.08.01
  77. Loretta Mabin (Aus) Herald Sun                         1.09.13
  78. Carine Peter (Fra) World Team                          1.09.21

Did not finish:

Rebecca Bishop (GB) GS Mazza-Tege
Cherie Pridham (GB) GS Mazza-Tege
Sandra Rombouts (Ned) Netherlands
Annelize Stander (RSA) South Africa
Janette Bohmova (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic
Marie Hostasova (Cze) Slovakia/Czech Republic
Joanne McCrae (GB) Great Britain
Midori Kotani (Jap) Japan-Gios
Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Juice Plus
Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Juice Plus
Jurgita Masillunaite (Lit) Lithuania

GC after Stage 3 

   1. Karen Kurreck (USA) World Team                         5.37.07
   2. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic               0.11
   3. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand                               0.26
   4. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                               0.59
   5. Sara Saarelainen (Fin) World Team                         1.11
   6. Leigh Hobson (Can) World Team                             1.11
   7. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                   1.11
   8. Yvonne McGregor (GB) Great Britain                        1.14
   9. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                  1.22
  10. Gunn Rita Dahle (Nor) Norway                              1.37
  11. Anna Wilson (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                          1.41
  12. Elizabeth Emery (USA) World Team                          3.38
  13. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands                         4.13
  14. Kathy Watt (Aus) World Team                               4.37
  15. Mary Grigson (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                   4.40
  16. Erica Green (RSA) South Africa                            6.10
  17. Jacinta Coleman (NZ) New Zealand                          6.53
  18. Sarah Symington (GB) Great Britain                        7.41
  19. Kim Sherley (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport             8.42
  20. Michelle Ward (GB) Great Britain                          9.42
  21. Ruth Ellway (GB) Great Britain                           10.08
  22. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) South Africa                     10.12
  23. Chantal Beltman (Ned) Netherlands                        11.30
  24. Sara Carrigan (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport          13.52
  25. Jorunn Kvalo (Nor) Norway                                14.04
  26. Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                    14.40
  27. Julie Hooper (Aus) Interstate Team                       15.22
  28. Emma James (Aus) Juice Plus                              16.52
  29. Megan Hughes (GB) Great Britain                          17.04
  30. Juanita Feldhahn (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport       20.20
  31. Solrun Flataas (Nor) Norway                              20.51
  32. Jacquelin Brabanetz (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team           22.02
  33. Elisabeth Chevanne-Brunel (Fra) World Team               22.39
  34. Wenche Stensvold (Nor) Norway                            23.13
  35. Marguerite Ritchie (NZ) New Zealand                      24.09
  36. Alison Wright (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                 25.17
  37. Arenda Grimberg (Ned) Netherlands                        25.25
  38. Karen Sumpton (Aus) Queensland Academy of Sport          25.31
  39. Erika Vilunaite (Lit) Lithuania                          26.52
  40. Ceris Gilfillan (GB) Great Britain                       28.19
  41. Sonja Van Kuik (Ned) Netherlands                         28.45
  42. Melanie Szubrycht (GB) Great Britain                     28.52
  43. Jodie Brewer (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                  29.05
  44. Kerstin Scheitle (Ger) Nürnberger-Emmi Team              29.07
  45. Angela Hillenga (Ned) Netherlands                        29.12
  46. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                 29.47
  47. Elfie Kunz (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                    29.57
  48. Geraldine Denham (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                    30.28
  49. Ragnhilo Uostol (Nor) Norway                             30.53
  50. Zita Urbonaite (Lit) Lithuania                           33.34
  51. Vanessa Cheatley (NZ) New Zealand                        34.00
  52. Alena Barillova (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic            34.02
  53. Anne Samplonius (Can) World Team                         34.16
  54. Penny Smithers (Aus) Herald Sun                          35.36
  55. Liza Serfontein (RSA) South Africa                       38.44
  56. Miyoko Karami (Jap) Japan-Gios                           46.06
  57. Sally Smalley (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                       47.56
  58. Symeko Jochinke (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                     48.27
  59. Angela Hunter (GB) Great Britain                         48.46
  60. Phillipa Hendren (Aus) Interstate Team                   49.54
  61. Rosalind Reekie-May (NZ) New Zealand                     52.30
  62. Naiomi Williams (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                     52.53
  63. Victoria Kirkby (Aus) Interstate Team                    53.43
  64. Rita Narbutyte (Lit) Lithuania                           55.10
  65. Nadia Frischknecht (Aus) Juice Plus                      56.01
  66. Chantelle Robertson (Aus) Juice Plus                     56.33
  67. Lisa Robinson (Aus) Individual Entry                     58.32
  68. Avril Swan (Aus) Juice Plus                              59.15
  69. Lillian Bannwart (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                   1.01.48
  70. Hanneke Geysen (Aus) Herald Sun                        1.01.58
  71. Alexandra Rutz (Swi) GS Mazza-Tege                     1.13.04
  72. Natalie Bates (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport               1.14.08
  73. Jennifer Manefield (Aus) Interstate Team               1.19.10
  74. Kim Howard (Aus) Herald Sun                            1.19.16
  75. Gillian Govan (GB) Great Britain                       1.22.40
  76. Sanae Nagano (Jap) Japan-Gios                          1.22.57
  77. Carine Peter (Fra) World Team                          1.28.29
  78. Loretta Mabin (Aus) Herald Sun                         1.29.57

Points Championship:

   1. Karen Kurreck (USA) World Team                               5
   2. Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Netherlands                            5
   3. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand                                  5
   4. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                                  3
   5. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic                  2
   6. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                      1
   7. Silvia Zoller (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                     1


Mountain Championship:

   1. Lenka Ilavska (Svk) Slovakia/Czech Republic                 15
   2. Karen Kurreck (USA) World Team                              14
   3. Tracey Gaudry (Aus) ACT Academy of Sport                     9
   4. Susy Pryde (NZ) New Zealand                                  6
   5. Leigh Hobson (Can) World Team                                4
   6. Mari Holden (USA) Lithuania                                  4
   7. Barbara Heeb (Swi) Nürnberger-Emmi Team                      3
   8. Anna Wilson (Aus) Jayco-VIS Team                             3
   9. Gunn Rita Dahle (Nor) Norway                                 2
  10. Anriette Schoeman (RSA) South Africa                         2

Stage 3 Report by Karen Kurreck

Today was a pretty epic stage but it turned out to be a good one for me. It was 110km with a cat 2 climb at the halfway point and the finish on a cat 1 climb. There were plenty of uncategorized climbs in between. We had heat, driving rain, steep climbs, knarly descents, gravel roads and hills galore. We crossed a couple of bridges that are aptly named "pick a plank" bridges. They are made of planks parallel to the road, which are about 8-10 inches wide and separated by gaps just wide enough to swallow a tire. The rumor was the sag wagon was full only 18km into the race!

We started in hot sunshine and about 20km into the stage, Mari and I were talking about how it reminded us of the first stage of the Tour last year where everyone was wondering how they were going to get enough to drink. Then we hit a gravel section and I lost an almost full bottle. I was really bummed since we couldn't get feeds until 50km into the race. I ended up getting half a bottle from Elizabeth and survived until the feed zone where I even managed to get a bottle with my left hand (feeds are on the left side of the road down here).

There was a 5km cat 2 climb about 50km into the race and a steep climb before it. Barbara Heeb and a few others attacked a few times, but nobody seems to have the power to sustain theri attacks this early in the season. The group did get whittled down to 15-20 or so with a few more chasing back on. Llenka Llaskva won the QOM (and the time bonus). I was on her wheel in 2nd and Tracey Gaudry was 3rd.

Shortly after this, it started to rain, which was actually kind of nice since it cooled us off. Anna Wilson and Liz Tadich made some attacks and counters as did some of the other Australians. Finally Mary Grigson from Australia got away on her own. She was a bit down on gc, but still a strong rider but the pack seemed content to let her go.

At about 80km, there was a really technical descent of about 5km. I knew from the Tour that Norwegian Gunn-Rita Dahle's wheel was the one to be on in a descent so I parked myself there as she led. The road was wet and I lost my nerve following Gunn-Rita after a bit and opened a gap. Sure enough, in the next turn, Gunn-Rita slides out into the ditch! She held it up long enough to get to the grass though and rejoined us shortly after the bottom. At the bottom, there was only Mirium Melchers, Anna Wilson, Tracey Gaudry, Mari and myself. Nobody seemed interested in pushing the pace though so the rest of the group caught back on although I heard there were quite a few crashed.

The finish was a wickedly steep climb of about 7km that ended 5km from the finish. THe Aussies knew what was coming and put 25s on their bikes. I was envious. Mary still had 3:20 at the bottom of the climb but we reeled her in within 2-3km. THere were no attacks at all on the climb - just a steady tempo and people kept dropping off the back. Gunn-Rita set a strong tempo until 2-3km to go and then blew. Saari Saarelainen (Finland) who is a junior, by the way and Suzy Pryde took over. Mari came off with 2-3km to go. At the top, it was only Leigh Hobson, Barbara Heeb, Suzy, Saari, Llenka and myself. I sprinted the last 50m and took the QOM for a 10 sec. bonus. Nobody seemed too want to push the pace for the last 5km so Leigh rode tempo at the front most of the way. She gave me a good leadout in end and I took the stage win over Suzy Pryde. Llenka was 3rd. Since Mari and Yvonne were dropped, this gave me the leader's jersey over Llenka.