Stage 3 - March 4: Jindabyne - Thredbo, 35.9 km

Triple Millward, can she do four?

By Jeff Jones

Millward makes it three
Photo: © JeffJones/CN

Tour de Snowy race leader Anna Millward (Saturn) has recorded her third successive stage win in the race, putting paid to suspicions that she was just here for "some training and a stage or two". Millward won the uphill 36 kilometre leg from Jindabyne to Thredbo in almost identical fashion to last year - in a bunch sprint after catching a breakaway with a few kilometres to go.

In contrast to last year, the weather was perfect, with brilliant blue skies and crisp temperatures accompanying the riders as they set out from Jindabyne. As soon as the race turned left onto Alpine Drive, the attacks started however. World Champions Zinaida Stahurskaia (GAS) and Mari Holden (Alfa Lum) wasted no time and powered away from the pack on a short rise.

Their lead quickly grew to 30 seconds before the peloton woke up and started to close the gap. Holden was reabsorbed before the foot of the only climb (Ivo's Farm, 17.2 km), while Stahurskaia forged ahead and took the points and time bonus.

Close behind was a small group led by Kym Shirley (AIS) and Anna Millward (Saturn), who seemed to effortlessly close the gap to Stahurskaia, although admittedly it was only a "power climb", as Millward commented afterwards.

They quickly closed the gap and were content to let the peloton catch them just five kilometres later, and the race was essentially back together. Three riders then launched a counter attack to try and steal the stage honours, as the road climbed steadily up to the ski resort of Thredbo. Quintuple Olympian, Roberta Bonanomi (GAS) was joined by Kim Bruckner (Saturn) and Hayley Rutherford (AIS), the trio gaining 30 seconds and holding steady.

Just as last year however, the break was caught in the closing stages and a large group of 33 arrived to contest the finish in Thredbo. Showing the others who was best was Anna Millward, who had plenty of time to raise her arms in victory as she beat Mirjam Melchers (Acca Due O) and Kate Bates (NSWIS-Trek), securing her race lead for another stage.

"It was a really good race today - everyone was out to test their legs on the climbs and there was action throughout the race," said Millward.

When Holden and Stahurskaia took off, "It was really early and I couldn't believe that they took off, but they built a big lead quite quickly. I was a little bit worried - Zina is an unknown quantity to me, as I haven't raced her that often. Everyone was keen to keep it moving though and we pulled her back on the climb."

The group that went away contained Kim Bruckner, which was perfect for Millward, as "she should perform well on the Cabramurra climb - she likes steep climbs. I was hoping she could get a little head start." It was not to be, but Millward had the answer with her devastating sprint.

The next stage is a tough 35 kilometre circuit race around Thredbo. Can you make it four out of four? "We'll see," she said with a slight waver, as eight times climbing up Banjo Drive is going to hurt.

But she showed that she can climb well today: "Cabramuura will be different, but I'm really pleased with how I'm riding overall an so I hope I'll do well at Cabramurra."

Results

1 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn                    1.04.59 (33.151 km/h)
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O HP
3 Kate Bates (Aus) NSWIS Trek
4 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport
5 Mari Holden (USA) Alfa Lum RSM
6 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Bel) Gas Sport
7 Haley Rutherford (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport
8 Bridget Evans (Aus) Bicisport Team
9 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera
10 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Alfa Lum RSM
11 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand
12 Pam Shuster (USA) Autotrader.Com
13 Lara Ruthven (USA) Capre Diem-Itera
14 Katie Mactier (Aus) Jayco VIS
15 Jennifer Manefield (Aus) Bicisport Team
16 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport
17 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand
18 Kym Shirley (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport
19 Olivia Gollan (Aus) NSWIS Trek
20 Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Gas Sport
21 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn
22 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Autotrader.Com
23 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Acca Due O HP
24 Natalie Bates (Aus) NSWIS Trek
25 Natasha Harrigan (Aus) Bicisport Team
26 Kim Smith (USA) Autotrader.Com
27 Karen Sumpton (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport
28 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) New Zealand
29 Susie Pryde (NZl) Autotrader.Com
30 Anke Erlank (RSA) Saturn
31 Fany Lecourtois (Fra) Alfa Lum RSM
32 Kirsty Robb (NZl) New Zealand
33 Emma Carney (Aus) Jayco VIS
34 Jeanette Schwarz (Aus) Regional Team                  3.29
35 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn                       
36 Miho Oki (Jap) Japan                                 
37 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS Trek                    
38 Naomi Williams (Aus) Jayco VIS                       
39 Luisana Pegoraro (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera              
40 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS Trek                          
41 Jessica Amy (Aus) Jayco VIS                          
42 Vera Hohlfield (Ger) Acca Due O HP                   
43 Kerry Hellmuth (USA) Capre Diem-Itera                
44 Erin Philp (Aus) Regional Team                       
45 Annie Gariepy (Can) Autotrader.Com                   
46 Giovanna Troldi (Ita) Acca Due O HP                  
47 Vera Carrara (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera                  
48 Sara Feloni (Ita) Alfa Lum RSM                       
49 Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) Jayco VIS                     
50 Rebecca Locke (Aus) Regional Team                     5.23
51 Alison Wright (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport     5.49
52 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Gas Sport                      
53 Gabriella Pregnolato (Ita) Gas Sport                 
54 Julie Hooper (GBr) City Cycles Melbourne             
55 Louisa Hamilton-White (Aus) City Cycles Melbourne     9.01
56 Helen Kelly (Aus) Jayco VIS                           
57 Emma Rikards (Aus) Team-Bizar.com
58 Rebecca Cleveland (Aus) Team-Bizar.com
59 Nora Moeke (NZl) New Zealand                          
60 Alex Harrison (Aus) Team-Bizar.com
61 Simone Poulos (Aus) Bicisport Team                    
62 Sophie Freshwater (Aus) Regional Team                 
63 Ljudmila Corneo (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera                
64 Sue Mccarthy (Aus) City Cycles Melbourne             14.54
65 Mary Rogers (Aus) City Cycles Melbourne              14.59
66 Victoria Kirby (Aus) Team-Bizar.com                  15.03
67 Rebecca Mcconnell (Aus) Team-Bizar.com
68 Kanako Nishi (Jap) Japan                             
69 Mutsumi Fugino (Jap) Japan                           22.10
  
Mountains  
  
1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) GAS Sport                6 pts
2 Kim Shirley (Aus) AIS                              4
3 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn                         3
4 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) AIS                         2
5 Emma Carney (Aus) Jayco VIS                        1
  
General classification after stage 3  
  
1 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn                          3.25.15
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due O HP                    0.42
3 Sara Carrigan (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport      0.43
4 Mari Holden (USA) Alfa Lum RSM                         0.51
5 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Bel) Gas Sport                    0.53
6 Kym Shirley (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport        0.59
7 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Acca Due O HP                    1.00
8 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport   1.01
9 Anke Erlank (RSA) Saturn                               1.02
10 Kimberly Bruckner (USA) Saturn                        1.03
11 Roberta Bonanomi (Ita) Gas Sport
12 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera
13 Sarah Ulmer (NZl) Autotrader.Com
14 Susie Pryde (NZl) Autotrader.Com
15 Kim Smith (USA) Autotrader.Com
16 Pam Shuster (USA) Autotrader.Com
17 Fany Lecourtois (Fra) Alfa Lum RSM
18 Tatiana Stiajkina (Ukr) Alfa Lum RSM
19 Haley Rutherford (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport
20 Karen Sumpton (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport
21 Katie Mactier (Aus) Jayco VIS
22 Rosalind Reekie-May (NZl) New Zealand
23 Vanessa Cheatley (NZl) New Zealand
24 Melissa Holt (NZl) New Zealand
25 Kirsty Robb (NZl) New Zealand
26 Natalie Bates (Aus) NSWIS Trek
27 Olivia Gollan (Aus) NSWIS Trek
28 Natasha Harrigan (Aus) Bicisport Team
29 Jennifer Manefield (Aus) Bicisport Team
30 Bridget Evans (Aus) Bicisport Team
31 Emma Carney (Aus) Jayco VIS                           1.19
32 Lara Ruthven (USA) Capre Diem-Itera                   1.53
33 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) NSWIS Trek                     4.12
34 Giovanna Troldi (Ita) Acca Due O HP                   4.27
35 Vera Hohlfield (Ger) Acca Due O HP                    4.32
36 Luisana Pegoraro (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera
37 Annie Gariepy (Can) Autotrader.Com
38 Sara Feloni (Ita) Alfa Lum RSM
39 Elizabeth Tadich (Aus) Jayco VIS
40 Naomi Williams (Aus) Jayco VIS
41 Erin Philp (Aus) Regional Team
42 Jeanette Schwarz (Aus) Regional Team
43 Vera Carrara (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera                   4.49
44 Miho Oki (Jap) Japan
45 Jessica Amy (Aus) Jayco VIS
46 Emma James (Aus) NSWIS Trek
47 Kristy Scrymgeour (Aus) Saturn                        5.22
48 Kerry Hellmuth (USA) Capre Diem-Itera
49 Rebecca Locke (Aus) Regional Team                     6.26
50 Alison Wright (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport     6.42
51 Gabriella Pregnolato (Ita) Gas Sport                  6.52
52 Kate Bates (Aus) NSWIS Trek                           6.53
53 Silvia Parietti (Ita) Gas Sport                       7.09
54 Julie Hooper (GBr) City Cycles Melbourne              8.54
55 Emma Rikards (Aus) Team-Bizar.com                    10.54
56 Rebecca Cleveland (Aus) Team-Bizar.com               11.22
57 Simone Poulos (Aus) Bicisport Team                   11.22
58 Alex Harrison (Aus) Team-Bizar.com                   12.08
59 Helen Kelly (Aus) Jayco VIS                          12.34
60 Louisa Hamilton-White (Aus) City Cycles Melbourne    16.07
61 Sophie Freshwater (Aus) Regional Team                17.19
62 Ljudmila Corneo (Ita) Capre Diem-Itera               18.25
63 Nora Moeke (NZl) New Zealand                         21.51
64 Victoria Kirby (Aus) Team-Bizar.com                  22.06
65 Kanako Nishi (Jap) Japan                             23.21
66 Sue Mccarthy (Aus) City Cycles Melbourne             33.17
67 Mary Rogers (Aus) City Cycles Melbourne              36.26
68 Rebecca Mcconnell (Aus) Team-Bizar.com               36.34
69 Mutsumi Fugino (Jap) Japan                           52.39

Mountains classification

1 Zinaida Stahurskaia (Blr) Gas Sport                  10 pts
2 Mirjam Melchers (Ned) Acca Due OHP Lorena Camicie     6
3 Kym Shirley (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport       4
4 Anna Millward (Aus) Saturn                            3
5 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Acca Due OHP Lorena Camicie     3
6 Mari Holden (USA) Alfa Lum RSM                        2
7 Margaret Hemsley (Aus) Australian Institute of Sport  2
8 Anke Erlank (RSA) Saturn                              1
9 Emma Carney (Aus) Jayco VIS                           1

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Stage 3 - March 4: Jindabyne - Thredbo, 35.9 km

Triple Millward, can she do four?

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Stage 3 - March 4: Jindabyne - Thredbo, 35.9 km

Triple Millward, can she do four?

Results

2000
1999
1998