International Women’s Challenge, Cat 2.9.2

USA, June 16-21, 1998


1997 Results     Other Stages

Brief:

The Dream Team won the day, but Linda Jackson kept a comfortable overall lead after the third stage of the Hewlett-Packard International Women’s Challenge.

Lithuanian Diana Ziliute (HP Toner), one of eight members of the Italian-based Dream Team competing in this race, came from behind to win the sprint over 21 other riders at the end of the 104 km stage. Ziliute edged Dede Demet (Saturn) in the final 100 meters for the win.

"It was very difficult and I didn’t ever believe I could win this race," Ziliute said through an interpreter.

Ziliute was not among the first 15 riders to crest the 8,700-foot summit of Galena Pass, 50 kms into the windy, chilly race. First over the climb was Jeannie Longo (Longo-Ebly) followed by Jackson (Saeco-Timex) and Valentina Polkhanova (Office Depot). The trio led for six miles to the bottom of the climb, where they were joined by eight other riders, including four more Dream Team members. Soon four more riders, including Demet and Alison Dunlap (Office Max) -- winner of this stage each of the past two years -- joined the lead group.

"I could still see the cars when I hit the top, so I thought I would go for it and catch them," Demet said.

Throughout the final 32 kms, Demet, Mari Holden (Office Depot) and Kathy Watt (Texas Premier) kept pushing the pace as Ziliute was among a group of seven riders still chasing to catch them. That final group did not catch the leaders until the final three miles, setting up the final sprint.

"Longo attacked with a kilometer to go," Demet said. "I was pretty far back and I just kind of snuck up the left side. Diana was all the way over on the right. She got me at the line."

Demet was relegated to 22nd place -- last among the lead group -- for "cutting the course to gain an advantage in the sprint," a move noted by several other riders.

The revised finish put Marie Holjer (Ralph’s-Klein) in second place, followed by Dunlap, one of three top mountain bikers to finish in the lead group.

"I definitely wanted to win this," Dunlap said. "I just don’t have that snap anymore."

For Jackson, who finished 12th in the stage, it was a perfect finish. By finishing with the same time as her competitors, she maintained her 50-second lead over Polkhanova. Rasa Polikeviciute (HP Toner) is 1:12 behind, followed by Ziliute, 1:15 behind.

"Today was hump day for us, really," Jackson said. "It was a difficult stage for us and we were pretty vulnerable."

During the stage’s opening stretch from Stanley to the base of Galena Pass, Jackson’s Saeco-Timex teammates were forced to work continually to bring small breaks back, mainly driven by an aggressive Australian team. Once those were absorbed, Polkhanova’s teammate Ina Teutenberg moved to the front and forced the tempo for about eight miles. The field reached the base of the Galena climb together.

Tomorrow’s stage five is the Idaho Statehouse Criterium, covering 34.7-miles. Saturn’s Karen Bliss Livingston won this stage last year.

Anna Wilson's Report

Hi Bill,

Well Stage 4 is over and it didn't go too well for us Aussies. Not a disaster though! In the middle of the stage was an 8km climb and once over that it was a pretty fast 50 km to the finish.

The bunch was all together at the base of the climb and once over the top there were several groups. The front group consisted of all the climbers. Not far behind was a second group and I was part of a third group. We were chasing hard down the descent and then I broke a spoke and had to stop for a wheel change. Not long after that I was caught by a 4th group which contained Tracey Gaudry and pretty soon a 5th group caught us which contained Liz Tadich and Juanita Feldhahn. So with all the Australians present we set out to catch the three groups in front.

The three front groups ended up merging not far from the finish and Diana Ziluite won the sprint from Dede Demet. Our group never quite got there - we finished about 15 seconds behind. So we had a pretty hard day for not a lot of reward.

Tomorrow is the criterium which I am looking forward to. Linda Jackson is looking good for the tour win at this stage with only a criterium and a pretty short final stage to go.

Stage 4, Stanley - Ketchum, 102 kms:

  1. Diana Ziliute                   LIT                     2.31.27
  2. Marie Holjer                    SWE
  3. Alison Dunlap                   USA
  4. Susy Pryde                      NZL
  5. Mari Holden                     USA
  6. Alessandra Cappellotto          ITA
  7. Karen Kurreck                   USA
  8. Julie Young                     USA
  9. Edita Pucinskaite               LIT
 10. Valentina Polkhanova            RUS
 11. Rasa Polikeviciute              LIT
 12. Linda Jackson                   CAN
 13. Tammy Jacques                   USA
 14. Barbara Heeb                    SWZ
 15. Jolanta Polikeviciute           LIT
 16. Mirjam Melchers                 NED
 17. Meike de Bruijn                 NED
 18. Kathy Watt                      AUS
 19. Jeannie Longo                   FRA
 20. Rebecca Bailey                  NZL
 21. Alison Sydor                    CAN                        s.t.
 22. Dede Demet                      USA                        0.02
 23. Yvonne Brunen                   NED                        0.40
 24. Svetlana Samokhvalova           RUS                        0.40
 25. Evi Gensheimer                  GER                        0.40
 26. Carmen Richardson               USA                        0.40
 27. Stacey Peters                   USA                        0.40
 28. Vera Hohlfeld                   GER                        0.40
 29. Cheryl Binney                   USA                        0.40
 30. Joan Wilson                     USA                        0.40
 31. Melanie McQuaid                 CAN                        0.40
 32. Alla Epifanova                  RUS                        0.40
 33. Chrissy Redden                  CAN                        0.40
 34. Tana Stone                      USA                        0.40
 35. Jacinta Coleman                 NZL                        0.40
 36. Leigh Hobson                    CAN                        0.40
 37. Sarah Ulmer                     NZL                        0.40
 38. Maureen Kaila Vergara           USA                        0.40
 39. Heidi Van De Vijver             BEL                        0.40
 40. Zita Urbonaite                  LIT                        0.40
 41. Juanita Feldhahn                AUS                        0.40
 42. Sandra Rombouts                 NED                        0.40
 43. Joanna Lawn                     NZL                        0.40
 44. Elizabeth Tadich                AUS                        0.40
 45. Pam Schuster                    USA                        0.40
 46. Ruthie Matthes                  USA                        0.40
 47. Lyne Bessett                    CAN                        0.40
 48. Anna Wilson                     AUS                        0.40
 49. Louisa Jenkins                  USA                        0.40
 50. Zulfija Zabirova                RUS                        0.40
 51. Muffy Roy                       CAN                        0.40
 52. Tracey Gaudry                   AUS                        0.40
 53. Carolyn Donnelly                USA                        0.40
 54. Miranda Briggs                  USA                        6.31
 55. Stacey Spencer                  CAN                        6.31
 56. Cybil Di Guistini               CAN                        6.31
 57. Debby Mansveld                  NED                        6.31
 58. Leah Goldstein                  CAN                        6.31
 59. Michelle Orem                   USA                        6.31
 60. Eve Marie Mochel                FRA                        6.31
 61. Sandy Espeseth                  CAN                        6.31
 62. Carol Breed                     USA                        6.31
 63. Jane Despas                     AUS                        6.31
 64. Kelly Crawford                  USA                        6.31
 65. Katrina Frederick               USA                        6.31
 66. Brooke Blackwelder              USA                        6.31
 67. Kim Boester                     USA                        6.31
 68. Cynthia Ferguson                USA                        6.31
 69. Emily Robbins                   USA                        6.31
 70. Sandra Kolb                     USA                        6.31
 71. Nicole Gingles                  CAN                        6.31
 72. Lesley Tomlinson                CAN                        6.31
 73. Inge Aiken                      USA                        6.31
 74. Bettina Younge                  USA                        8.25
 75. Kathleen Gleason                USA                        8.28
 76. Marg Fedyna                     CAN                        8.28
 77. Kim Erdoes                      USA                        8.28
 78. Tina Mayolo                     USA                        8.28
 79. Elizabeth Emery                 USA                        8.28
 80. Kim Langton                     CAN                        8.28
 81. Christy Nicholson               USA                        8.28
 82. Annette Kamm                    USA                        8.28
 83. Annie Gariepy                   CAN                        8.28
 84. Karen Timewell                  CAN                        8.28
 85. Petra Rossner                   GER                        8.28
 86. Lisa Klein                      USA                        8.28
 87. Karen Barrow                    AUS                       10.57
 88. Olge Slyoussatera               RUS                       10.57
 89. Gina Grain                      CAN                       10.57
 90. Maria Hassan                    NZL                       10.57
 91. Marjon Marik                    USA                       10.57
 92. Beth Mundy                      USA                       10.57
 93. Angela Hillinga                 NED                       10.57
 94. Odessa Gunn                     USA                       10.57
 95. Marisa Vande Velde              USA                       10.57
 96. Ward Griffiths                  USA                       10.57
 97. Angela Roderiguez               USA                       10.57
 98. Raydeen Stevens                 USA                       10.57
 99. Aileen Loe                      USA                       10.57
100. Keri Silk                       USA                       10.57
101. Wanda Howlett                   USA                       10.57
102. Bonnie Breeze                   USA                       10.57
103. Giana Roberge                   USA                       10.57
104. Kendra Wenzel                   USA                       10.57
105. Karen Livingston                USA                       10.57
106. Trish Sinclair                  CAN                       14.43
107. M.C. Jenni                      USA                       14.57
108. Kim Palmer                      AUS                       14.57
109. Sophie St. Jacques              CAN                       14.57
110. Kim Smith                       USA                       14.57
111. Kristi Hill                     USA                       14.57
112. Heather Johnston                USA                       16.15
113. Ina Teutenberg                  GER                       16.15
114. Anne Samplonius                 CAN                       16.15
115. Mandy Poitras                   CAN                       16.15
116. Jennifer Davidson               USA                       16.15
117. Leigh Fulwood                   USA                       16.15
118. Sherri Stedje                   USA                       16.15
119. Allison Beall                   USA                       16.15
120. Suzie Forsyth                   USA                       29.30
121. Elizabeth Benishin              USA                       31.13
122. Rachael Pendleton-Casto         USA                       36.30
123. Lenora Felker                   GER                       38.57

GC after Stage 4

  1. Linda Jackson                   CAN                     8.13.56
  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. Meike de Bruijn                 NED                        1.48
 10. Alison Sydor                    CAN                        2.05
 11. Jolanta Polikeviciute           LIT                        2.08
 12. Zulfija Zabirova                RUS                        2.20
 13. Susy Pryde                      NZL                        2.27
 14. Kathy Watt                      AUS                        2.33
 15. Anna Wilson                     AUS                        2.42
 16. Mari Holden                     USA                        2.42
 17. Rebecca Bailey                  NZL                        3.01
 18. Marie Holjer                    SWE                        3.04
 19. Julie Young                     USA                        3.22
 20. Alison Dunlap                   USA                        3.27
 21. Lyne Bessett                    CAN                        3.40
 22. Karen Kurreck                   USA                        3.55
 23. Tammy Jacques                   USA                        3.58
 24. Vera Hohlfeld                   GER                        4.11
 25. Joanna Lawn                     NZL                        4.22
 26. Dede Demet                      USA                        4.37
 27. Svetlana Samokhvalova           RUS                        4.39
 28. Heidi Van De Vijver             BEL                        4.40
 29. Jacinta Coleman                 NZL                        4.45
 30. Evi Gensheimer                  GER                        4.48
 31. Tana Stone                      USA                        4.49
 32. Chrissy Redden                  CAN                        5.02
 33. Leigh Hobson                    CAN                        5.07
 34. Alla Epifanova                  RUS                        5.14
 35. Tracey Gaudry                   AUS                        5.16
 36. Joan Wilson                     USA                        5.22
 37. Carolyn Donnelly                USA                        5.26
 38. Elizabeth Tadich                AUS                        5.29
 39. Cheryl Binney                   USA                        5.36
 40. Pam Schuster                    USA                        5.37
 41. Carmen Richardson               USA                        5.51
 42. Melanie McQuaid                 CAN                        6.10
 43. Maureen Kaila Vergara           USA                        6.32
 44. Juanita Feldhahn                AUS                        6.37
 45. Zita Urbonaite                  LIT                        6.39
 46. Stacey Peters                   USA                        6.54
 47. Sandra Rombouts                 NED                        6.58
 48. Muffy Roy                       CAN                        7.42
 49. Sarah Ulmer                     NZL                        8.01
 50. Mirjam Melchers                 NED                       10.00
 51. Ruthie Matthes                  USA                       11.06
 52. Emily Robbins                   USA                       12.57
 53. Cybil Di Guistini               CAN                       14.07
 54. Sandy Espeseth                  CAN                       14.08
 55. Lesley Tomlinson                CAN                       14.11
 56. Kim Langton                     CAN                       14.31
 57. Elizabeth Emery                 USA                       14.53
 58. Petra Rossner                   GER                       15.56
 59. Giana Roberge                   USA                       17.04
 60. Louisa Jenkins                  USA                       18.01
 61. Jane Despas                     AUS                       19.19
 62. Yvonne Brunen                   NED                       19.20
 63. Inge Aiken                      USA                       19.59
 64. Sandra Kolb                     USA                       20.57
 65. Odessa Gunn                     USA                       21.01
 66. Leah Goldstein                  CAN                       21.28
 67. Tina Mayolo                     USA                       21.28
 68. Stacey Spencer                  CAN                       27.29
 69. Ward Griffiths                  USA                       27.29
 70. Kathleen Gleason                USA                       28.02
 71. Kim Smith                       USA                       28.02
 72. Trish Sinclair                  CAN                       29.40
 73. Miranda Briggs                  USA                       29.46
 74. Carol Breed                     USA                       30.02
 75. Brooke Blackwelder              USA                       30.36
 76. Kim Boester                     USA                       30.40
 77. Annie Gariepy                   CAN                       31.30
 78. Marg Fedyna                     CAN                       32.09
 79. Michelle Orem                   USA                       33.42
 80. Raydeen Stevens                 USA                       33.48
 81. Keri Silk                       USA                       34.05
 82. Kim Erdoes                      USA                       34.28
 83. Kelly Crawford                  USA                       34.48
 84. Kendra Wenzel                   USA                       35.55
 85. Karen Livingston                USA                       36.18
 86. Cynthia Ferguson                USA                       36.49
 87. Lisa Klein                      USA                       37.36
 88. Christy Nicholson               USA                       37.48
 89. Maria Hassan                    NZL                       37.49
 90. Katrina Frederick               USA                       38.20
 91. Angela Hillinga                 NED                       38.27
 92. Angela Roderiguez               USA                       38.51
 93. Debby Mansveld                  NED                       39.14
 94. Nicole Gingles                  CAN                       39.44
 95. Marjon Marik                    USA                       39.55
 96. Karen Timewell                  CAN                       40.15
 97. Kim Palmer                      AUS                       40.45
 98. Beth Mundy                      USA                       41.55
 99. Sophie St. Jacques              CAN                       42.21
100. Bettina Younge                  USA                       44.08
101. Eve Marie Mochel                FRA                       44.57
102. Anne Samplonius                 CAN                       46.27
103. Kristi Hill                     USA                       46.37
104. Ina Teutenberg                  GER                       47.25
105. Wanda Howlett                   USA                       47.51
106. Olge Slyoussatera               RUS                       48.34
107. Mandy Poitras                   CAN                       48.50
108. Gina Grain                      CAN                       49.18
109. Annette Kamm                    USA                       49.21
110. M.C. Jenni                      USA                       51.45
111. Marisa Vande Velde              USA                       53.08
112. Aileen Loe                      USA                       53.19
113. Heather Johnston                USA                       54.47
114. Karen Barrow                    AUS                       55.50
115. Leigh Fulwood                   USA                       59.58
116. Bonnie Breeze                   USA                     1.01.06
117. Allison Beall                   USA                     1.02.33
118. Sherri Stedje                   USA                     1.05.13
119. Jennifer Davidson               USA                     1.11.20
120. Elizabeth Benishin              USA                     1.11.26
121. Suzie Forsyth                   USA                     1.11.48