International Women’s Challenge, Cat 2.9.2

USA, June 16-21, 1998


1997 Results     Other Stages

Brief:

In decisive fashion, Linda Jackson won the difficult, 128 km Sourdough Lodge to Galena Summit stage of the International Women’s Challenge Thursday, riding away from a top-notch international breakaway group.

After over 120 tough kms which including another challenging climb, Jackson (Saeco-Timex) came to the base of the final, 7 km, six-percent grade climb in a lead group of six riders, including three HP Toner team members -- Rasa Polikeviciute, Zulfia Zabirova and Diana Ziliute -- plus Russian Valentina Polkhanova (Office Depot) and Anna Wilson (Australia).

"I had to win this stage," said Jackson, who narrowly lost the HP overall title to Polikeviciute last year.

The six riders rode together for the first half of the climb, then Ziliute attacked with 3.5km to go, breaking up the right side, but Jackson quickly countered on the left side.

"Diana was a bit of a decoy," Wilson said. "Linda went left, straight over the top of her. Then I just watched from a distance."

In less than one-half mile, Jackson was 14 seconds ahead of Polkhanova and Polikeviciute as the others faded. The two chasers only briefly appeared to make up ground on Jackson, who then rode away to win the stage.

"My legs were tired, but I knew I could do it," Jackson said.

Polikeviciute edged Polkhanova for second in the stage.

With the win, Jackson now has a commanding lead over Polkhanova with three stages remaining.

The Galena Pass climb was the second tough climb during the arduous stage. The stage opened with a nine-mile, five-percent climb via the Ponderosa Pine Scenic Route along the Snake River. Only 32 of the over 130 starters made it over that climb in the lead group, though another caught the leaders during the ensuing descent.

Wilson triggered the first breakaway of the day, just after the leaders turned onto Highway 75 toward the Galena Summit. The Australian, yesterday’s stage winner, was in a 13-mile break through the cross-winds with Giana Roberge (Cane Creek) as the field made its way along the Sawtooth Mountain Range. Roberge is normally a teammate of Jackson’s on the Saeco-Timex squad, but the Hewlett-Packard race limits teams to four riders. Roberge dropped out of that break and then helped the field reel Wilson in with 19 miles remaining in race.

Friday’s third stage covers 105 kms and includes the same climb up Galena Pass before continuing to the site of Sun Valley Ski Area.

"All I kept thinking with 1km to go was ‘Oh no, we have to do this again tomorrow,’" Jackson said.

Anna Wilson's Report

Hi again Bill.

Well stage 2 of the Hewlett Packard tour is over and it was definitely the toughest stage of the bike race. We had a climb over Banner Creek and a QOM sprint at 35kms and I went over just on the back of the first group. Yay! I suffered a fair bit though - a lot more than quite a few of the other riders so I was a bit concerned at that point. The stage finished on top of Galena at 8000 feet so I would need to be climbing well. Longo punctured or something so disappeared to the second group over the top. Tracey Gaudry crashed somewhere on the climb and her, Liz Tadich and Juanita Feldhahn were all in the second group over the top, about a minute back.

Once we had descended, the twins Rasa and Jolanta Polikevicuite, Zabirova, Edita Pukinskaite and Diana Ziluite began attacking one after the other and Saeco had to do a lot of work to protect Linda Jackson's lead. The second group eventually caught us and things settled down for a while. Then with about 50km to go Team Australia went on the attack. I attacked first, Liz countered me, Tracey countered her and I countered her and was successful. I got away with a Saeco rider who of course did no work as she was riding for Linda. My break went out to almost a minute before the Russians got their act together and brought me back.

About 10 kilometres later there was a hot spot sprint and Zabirova did a big lead out for Diana. Liz was leading me out but couldn't compete with Zabirova and so I ended up on Diana's wheel, unable to get over her in the sprint. However, Zabirova had done such an awesome lead out in the cross winds that we had gapped the bunch. Rasa, Diana, Zabirova, Polkanova, Linda Jackson and myself got a break and the first 4 started driving it. Linda and I did as little as possible - just basically rolling through. I knew the other 5 were all great climbers and with the stage finishing at 8000 feet on top of Galena I was concerned not to expend too much energy getting to the base. Linda also did very little, a bit concerned about the Lithuanian team having three riders in the break.

We hit the climb together and stayed together until about 3 kms from the finish. Then Diana attacked and Linda went after her. Linda basically went straight through her and continued on solo. Rasa and Polkanova stuck together chasing Linda and I was struggling behind with Diana and Zabirova.

About 1500 metres to go I couldn't stay with them any longer. Longo, Heeb and Edita came past me with about 50 metres to go and just gapped me for the finish. So I came in 9th and Cappellotto finished just behind me. That should put me 10th overall.

Tomorrow we race from Stanley over Galena again but this time we continue on down the other side and finish in Ketchum. I am sure Longo and Heeb will be out in force to make amends for today.

Did I mention that Linda did win solo today and so has extended her lead in GC.

Stage 3, Sourdough Lodge - Galena Pass, 128 kms:

  1. Linda Jackson                           CAN               3.40.28
  2. Rasa Polikeviciute                      LIT                  0.33
  3. Valentina Polkhanova                    RUS                  0.36
  4. Diana Ziliute                           LIT                  1.05
  5. Zulfija Zabirova                        RUS                  1.05
  6. Jeannie Longo                           FRA                  1.12
  7. Barbara Heeb                            SWZ                  1.12
  8. Edita Pucinskaite                       LIT                  1.12
  9. Anna Wilson                             AUS                  1.16
 10. Alessandra Cappellotto                  ITA                  1.22
 11. Meike de Bruijn                         NED                  1.26
 12. Jolanta Polikeviciute                   LIT                  1.42
 13. Alison Sydor                            CAN                  1.42
 14. Susy Pryde                              NZL                  1.42
 15. Lyne Bessett                            CAN                  2.19
 16. Marie Holjer                            SWE                  2.19
 17. Mari Holden                             USA                  2.19
 18. Kathy Watt                              AUS                  2.19
 19. Rebecca Bailey                          NZL                  2.26
 20. Julie Young                             USA                  2.33
 21. Chrissy Redden                          CAN                  2.44
 22. Joanna Lawn                             NZL                  2.47
 23. Vera Hohlfeld                           GER                  2.51
 24. Tana Stone                              USA                  2.51
 25. Tammy Jacques                           USA                  2.51
 26. Alison Dunlap                           USA                  2.51
 27. Evi Gensheimer                          GER                  3.08
 28. Karen Kurreck                           USA                  3.08
 29. Svetlana Samokhvalova                   RUS                  3.08
 30. Carolyn Donnelly                        USA                  3.24
 31. Jacinta Coleman                         NZL                  3.24
 32. Heidi Van De Vijver                     BEL                  3.24
 33. Alla Epifanova                          RUS                  3.33
 34. Leigh Hobson                            CAN                  3.38
 35. Dede Demet                              USA                  3.45
 36. Cheryl Binney                           USA                  3.55
 37. Tracey Gaudry                           AUS                  3.55
 38. Elizabeth Tadich                        AUS                  3.55
 39. Joan Wilson                             USA                  4.07
 40. Pam Schuster                            USA                  4.10
 41. Carmen Richardson                       USA                  4.10
 42. Melanie McQuaid                         CAN                  4.14
 43. Maureen Kaila Vergara                   USA                  4.37
 44. Juanita Feldhahn                        AUS                  4.47
 45. Kim Langton                             CAN                  4.59
 46. Sandra Rombouts                         NED                  4.59
 47. Emily Robbins                           USA                  5.15
 48. Giana Roberge                           USA                  5.15
 49. Elizabeth Emery                         USA                  5.15
 50. Zita Urbonaite                          LIT                  5.15
 51. Muffy Roy                               CAN                  5.36
 52. Stacey Peters                           USA                  5.36
 53. Petra Rossner                           GER                  6.21
 54. Sarah Ulmer                             NZL                  6.21
 55. Lesley Tomlinson                        CAN                  6.32
 56. Sandy Espeseth                          CAN                  6.42
 57. Cybil Di Guistini                       CAN                  6.42
 58. Odessa Gunn                             USA                  8.15
 59. Ruthie Matthes                          USA                  9.20
 60. Mirjam Melchers                         NED                  9.20
 61. Albine Caille                           FRA                 10.48
 62. Jane Despas                             AUS                 11.28
 63. Tina Mayolo                             USA                 11.41
 64. Kim Smith                               USA                 11.49
 65. Inge Aiken                              USA                 12.15
 66. Sandra Kolb                             USA                 13.09
 67. Leah Goldstein                          CAN                 13.30
 68. Trish Sinclair                          CAN                 13.44
 69. Ward Griffiths                          USA                 15.34
 70. Louisa Jenkins                          USA                 16.43
 71. Yvonne Brunen                           NED                 17.51
 72. Carol Breed                             USA                 17.51
 73. Debby Mansveld                          NED                 18.17
 74. Annie Gariepy                           CAN                 18.24
 75. Michelle Orem                           USA                 18.24
 76. Kathleen Gleason                        USA                 18.32
 77. Marg Fedyna                             CAN                 18.41
 78. Brooke Blackwelder                      USA                 19.00
 79. Kelly Crawford                          USA                 19.18
 80. Cynthia Ferguson                        USA                 19.18
 81. Kim Boester                             USA                 19.25
 82. Stacey Spencer                          CAN                 19.40
 83. Beth Mundy                              USA                 20.03
 84. Christy Nicholson                       USA                 20.12
 85. Leigh Fulwood                           USA                 20.12
 86. Lisa Klein                              USA                 20.12
 87. Kristi Hill                             USA                 20.27
 88. Kim Palmer                              AUS                 20.37
 89. Karen Timewell                          CAN                 20.40
 90. Kim Erdoes                              USA                 21.04
 91. Raydeen Stevens                         USA                 21.28
 92. Miranda Briggs                          USA                 21.28
 93. Keri Silk                               USA                 21.38
 94. Maria Hassan                            NZL                 21.57
 95. Angela Hillinga                         NED                 22.13
 96. Sophie St. Jacques                      CAN                 22.17
 97. Angela Roderiguez                       USA                 22.52
 98. Jennifer Dial                           USA                 23.43
 99. Marjon Marik                            USA                 23.52
100. Kendra Wenzel                           USA                 23.52
101. Karen Livingston                        USA                 23.52
102. Nicole Gingles                          CAN                 23.52
103. Katrina Frederick                       USA                 26.37
104. Bettina Younge                          USA                 26.37
105. Suzie Forsyth                           USA                 27.02
106. Gina Grain                              CAN                 27.08
107. Wanda Howlett                           USA                 27.18
108. Mandy Poitras                           CAN                 27.29
109. Kris Walker                             USA                 27.34
110. M.C. Jenni                              USA                 27.36
111. Olge Slyoussatera                       RUS                 28.16
112. Heather Johnston                        USA                 28.59
113. Allison Beall                           USA                 29.14
114. Ina Teutenberg                          GER                 29.14
115. Anne Samplonius                         CAN                 29.14
116. Elizabeth Benishin                      USA                 29.14
117. Eve Marie Mochel                        FRA                 29.14
118. Annette Kamm                            USA                 29.44
119. Bonnie Breeze                           USA                 35.25
120. Rachael Pendleton-Casto                 USA                 35.40
121. Marisa Vande Velde                      USA                 37.04
122. Aileen Loe                              USA                 37.17
123. Page Oliver                             USA                 37.17
124. Darnelle Moore                          CAN                 37.17
125. Lenora Felker                           GER                 38.50
126. Sherri Stedje                           USA                 38.58
127. Karen Barrow                            AUS                 39.30
128. Jennifer Davidson                       USA                 39.56
129. Louise Penkman                          CAN               1.00.04

GC after Stage 3

  1. Linda Jackson                           CAN                5.42.29
  2. Valentina Polkhanova                    RUS                   0.50
  3. Rasa Polikeviciute                      LIT                   1.12
  4. Diana Ziliute                           LIT                   1.15
  5. Edita Pucinskaite                       LIT                   1.18
  6. Jeannie Longo                           FRA                   1.22
  7. Alessandra Cappellotto                  ITA                   1.39
  8. Barbara Heeb                            SWZ                   1.39
  9. Zulfija Zabirova                        RUS                   1.40
 10. Meike de Bruijn                         NED                   1.48
 11. Anna Wilson                             AUS                   2.02
 12. Alison Sydor                            CAN                   2.05
 13. Jolanta Polikeviciute                   LIT                   2.08
 14. Susy Pryde                              NZL                   2.27
 15. Kathy Watt                              AUS                   2.33
 16. Mari Holden                             USA                   2.42
 17. Lyne Bessett                            CAN                   3.00
 18. Rebecca Bailey                          NZL                   3.01
 19. Marie Holjer                            SWE                   3.04
 20. Julie Young                             USA                   3.22
 21. Alison Dunlap                           USA                   3.27
 22. Vera Hohlfeld                           GER                   3.31
 23. Joanna Lawn                             NZL                   3.42
 24. Karen Kurreck                           USA                   3.55
 25. Tammy Jacques                           USA                   3.58
 26. Svetlana Samokhvalova                   RUS                   3.59
 27. Heidi Van De Vijver                     BEL                   4.00
 28. Chrissy Redden                          CAN                   4.02
 29. Jacinta Coleman                         NZL                   4.05
 30. Evi Gensheimer                          GER                   4.08
 31. Tana Stone                              USA                   4.09
 32. Leigh Hobson                            CAN                   4.27
 33. Alla Epifanova                          RUS                   4.34
 34. Dede Demet                              USA                   4.35
 35. Tracey Gaudry                           AUS                   4.36
 36. Joan Wilson                             USA                   4.42
 37. Carolyn Donnelly                        USA                   4.46
 38. Elizabeth Tadich                        AUS                   4.49
 39. Cheryl Binney                           USA                   4.56
 40. Pam Schuster                            USA                   4.57
 41. Carmen Richardson                       USA                   5.11
 42. Melanie McQuaid                         CAN                   5.30
 43. Maureen Kaila Vergara                   USA                   5.52
 44. Juanita Feldhahn                        AUS                   5.57
 45. Zita Urbonaite                          LIT                   5.59
 46. Kim Langton                             CAN                   6.03
 47. Giana Roberge                           USA                   6.07
 48. Stacey Peters                           USA                   6.14
 49. Sandra Rombouts                         NED                   6.18
 50. Elizabeth Emery                         USA                   6.25
 51. Emily Robbins                           USA                   6.26
 52. Muffy Roy                               CAN                   7.02
 53. Sarah Ulmer                             NZL                   7.21
 54. Petra Rossner                           GER                   7.28
 55. Cybil Di Guistini                       CAN                   7.36
 56. Sandy Espeseth                          CAN                   7.37
 57. Lesley Tomlinson                        CAN                   7.40
 58. Mirjam Melchers                         NED                  10.00
 59. Odessa Gunn                             USA                  10.04
 60. Ruthie Matthes                          USA                  10.26
 61. Jane Despas                             AUS                  12.48
 62. Tina Mayolo                             USA                  13.00
 63. Kim Smith                               USA                  13.05
 64. Inge Aiken                              USA                  13.28
 65. Sandra Kolb                             USA                  14.26
 66. Trish Sinclair                          CAN                  14.57
 67. Leah Goldstein                          CAN                  14.57
 68. Albine Caille                           FRA                  15.09
 69. Ward Griffiths                          USA                  16.32
 70. Louisa Jenkins                          USA                  17.21
 71. Yvonne Brunen                           NED                  18.40
 72. Kathleen Gleason                        USA                  19.34
 73. Stacey Spencer                          CAN                  20.58
 74. Raydeen Stevens                         USA                  22.51
 75. Annie Gariepy                           CAN                  23.02
 76. Keri Silk                               USA                  23.08
 77. Miranda Briggs                          USA                  23.15
 78. Carol Breed                             USA                  23.31
 79. Marg Fedyna                             CAN                  23.41
 80. Brooke Blackwelder                      USA                  24.05
 81. Kim Boester                             USA                  24.09
 82. Jennifer Dial                           USA                  24.55
 83. Kendra Wenzel                           USA                  24.58
 84. Karen Livingston                        USA                  25.21
 85. Kim Palmer                              AUS                  25.48
 86. Kim Erdoes                              USA                  26.00
 87. Maria Hassan                            NZL                  26.52
 88. Michelle Orem                           USA                  27.11
 89. Sophie St. Jacques                      CAN                  27.24
 90. Angela Hillinga                         NED                  27.30
 91. Angela Roderiguez                       USA                  27.54
 92. Kelly Crawford                          USA                  28.17
 93. Marjon Marik                            USA                  28.58
 94. Lisa Klein                              USA                  29.08
 95. Christy Nicholson                       USA                  29.20
 96. Anne Samplonius                         CAN                  30.12
 97. Cynthia Ferguson                        USA                  30.18
 98. Beth Mundy                              USA                  30.58
 99. Ina Teutenberg                          GER                  31.10
100. Kristi Hill                             USA                  31.40
101. Karen Timewell                          CAN                  31.47
102. Katrina Frederick                       USA                  31.49
103. Mandy Poitras                           CAN                  32.35
104. Debby Mansveld                          NED                  32.43
105. Nicole Gingles                          CAN                  33.13
106. Bettina Younge                          USA                  35.43
107. Kris Walker                             USA                  36.39
108. M.C. Jenni                              USA                  36.48
109. Wanda Howlett                           USA                  36.54
110. Olge Slyoussatera                       RUS                  37.37
111. Gina Grain                              CAN                  38.21
112. Eve Marie Mochel                        FRA                  38.26
113. Heather Johnston                        USA                  38.32
114. Elizabeth Benishin                      USA                  40.13
115. Annette Kamm                            USA                  40.53
116. Darnelle Moore                          CAN                  41.58
117. Marisa Vande Velde                      USA                  42.11
118. Suzie Forsyth                           USA                  42.18
119. Aileen Loe                              USA                  42.22
120. Leigh Fulwood                           USA                  43.43
121. Karen Barrow                            AUS                  44.53
122. Allison Beall                           USA                  46.18
123. Sherri Stedje                           USA                  48.58
124. Bonnie Breeze                           USA                  50.09
125. Page Oliver                             USA                  51.46
126. Lenora Felker                           GER                  54.01
127. Jennifer Davidson                       USA                  55.05
128. Rachael Pendleton-Casto                 USA                  56.21