International Womens Challenge

Final Stage Story

Rasa proves shes up to the Challenge

Polikeviciutes strength through western Idaho carries her to HP victory

Live music bombarded the Hyde park neighborhood Sunday afternoon, which was appropriate because Rasa Polikeviciute was getting the rock-star treatment.

The Lithuanian cyclist signed autographs for nearly an hour, putting her signature on shirts, jerseys, posters, hats, napkins, menus, notebook paper and even body parts.

Her fans were young and old, male and female, big and small. Mostly they were little girls with big eyes.

The rock music continued and Polikeviciute was showered with gifts: Jerseys, medals, hats, flowers, shirts and free pizza.

Later in the day, she and her teammates were handed a check for $30,620.

Polikeviciute doesnt speak a word of English, but using a translator, she handled interview after interview with magazines, newspapers, TV stations and even ESPN.

"I like the attention very much. American people are very nice," she said.

Polikeviciute is the new Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge champion, having survived 434 of Idahos nastiest miles, including Sundays finale from Middleton to Hyde Park in Boises North End.

Nearly 8,000 fans lined 13th Street, starting at Camels Back Park and extending south for a half-mile, bringing an end to the eight-day, $100,000 stage race.

Russian Zulfia Zabirova, an Olympic gold medalist from the Atlanta Games, won the 57.1-mile stage and boogied her way across the finish line.

Polikeviciute, who is Zabirovas partner on the powerful HP Mopier team, come in fifth to beat Canadian Linda Jackson (Saeco/Timex by 24 seconds in the overall standings. Zabirova was third, 27 seconds from the lead.

Jackson was 17th in Sundays stage, the victim of an overnight cold and an Eastern European team that was too dominate for anyone in this field.

"I feel terrible, mostly for my teammates. I just didnt have a good day," Jackson said. "Im happy for Rasa. Shes a good friend and she definitely was the strongest rider here."

Alison Dunlap (Office Depot) was the top American finisher in a race that has been won by foreigners three of the last four years. Dunlap was sixth, 3:18 off the lead.

"The strongest woman should win, no matter where they are from," Dunlap said. "The (Lithuanians and Russians) made this race so exciting. Im glad they came and Im glad Rasa won. She really deserves it."

Polikeviciute essentially secured the championship 14.4 miles into Sundays stage. Thats where she finished second in a time-bonus sprint, picking up a critical eight seconds and giving her an overall lead of 14.

Jackson, who vows to return next year as a better sprinter, was nowhere to be found.

"After the time bonus, I knew I had to have a good finish," Jackson said.

"The bonus made me not afraid of Linda. I mostly worried about having an accident or a flat tire," Polikeviciute said.

She never relented.

She was strong when this race started nine days ago. She was even stronger when it ended.

Her teammates, including twin sister Jolanta, helped plenty.

Jolanta, fourth in the overall standings just ahead of Russian Valentina Polkhanova (HP Scanner), helped block Jackson during the time sprint.

Zabirova, an unexpected winner in a long road race, was part of a 28-person lead group that pushed the fast pace on the new course.

"During the stage I was really, really tired, but right now I dont feel anything but happiness," Zabirova said through a translator.

Said Rasa: "All this suffering together and finally its over. I am really, really happy."

And now the 26-year-old mother returns home to Moscow, Russia to rejoin her 5-year-old son and here husband, a former Olympic cyclist who is a major in the Russian army.

Sundays victory wont change Rasa Polikeviciutes life. The Lithuanian sport federation or the national government wont recognize the victory as anything spectacular, but it does establish her as one of the worlds top cyclists.

And with the extra cash she picked up at Sunday nights award dinner, Polikeviciute planned to do a little shopping before leaving today for Moscow.

"Candy for my son," she said. "American candy is good. I hope theres extra room in my suitcase."

Polikeviciute has been racing in Idaho for three years and each time she leaves, she wonders about coming back. She loves racing in the mountains and she loves the attention, especially after Sunday.

Will she return in 1998 to defend her title?

"If Im invited," Polikeviciute said.

Only race director Jim Rabdau can make that decision.

"I think I can handle that one," he said.

By Mike Prater, The Idaho Statesman, Monday, June 30, 1997

Time, and final stage, stops after brief detour

Sundays race in the Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge was supposed to last 57.1 miles, but someone apparently thought that was too short.

For the second time in the eight-day bicycle race, the field was taken off course.

The first time it happened, last Monday, about a dozen riders were involved in crashes.

On Sunday, the race was actually stopped.

A group of 28 lead riders was cruising eastbound on Beacon Light Road between Boise and Eagle. The lead car in the caravan was supposed to turn right on Idaho 55, heading south toward Hill Road, but instead turned left and headed north toward McCall.

Naturally, the racers followed.

Suddenly, the open race course become a construction zone with backed-up auto traffic. The riders stopped where the pavement ended and waited for instructions from officials in a pace car.

The caravan made a U-turn, the racers followed, and within minutes, the race was back in action. The lead group, which had a 1 minute and 28 second advantage on the field, was given a similar head start.

"It was a great race this year, even if we couldnt keep the riders on course," director Jim Rabdau said. "Thats my goal next year - no off-road racing."

Big piles of cash

Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute was the overall champion - and the big winner at the bank.

Race officials presented her with a first-place check of $13,765 at Sunday nights award dinner. Her HP Mopier teammate, Zulfia Zabirova, was next on the money list with $11,360.

Polikeviciute won $5,500 for winning the race and the rest of the money was for stage finishes ($1,815), the team finish ($750), points competition ($3,000), climbing competition ($1,500) and the sprint competition ($1,200).

It took Polikeviciute 18 hours, 28 minutes and 12 seconds to finish the 434.4-mile course. That averages out to about $744 per hour, or about $31.69 for every mile of racing through southern Idaho.

More miles in Italy

Canadian Linda Jackson flew out of Boise on Sunday night, not because she wanted to skip town, but because she needs to be in Italy on Tuesday.

Jackson, who finished second to Polikeviciute and pocketed $8,575, is the only Womens Challenge rider who will compete in the next major international stage race.

The Giro dItalia starts Wednesday in Milan. Jackson, 38, will ride for the Canadian national team.

The Giro is a 12-day, 12-stage race that will cover 744 miles through the Italian mountains and countryside.

That means Jackson, in a 22-day period, will compete in 21 stages over 1,178 racing miles.

"Im a little fried right now, but I think it should be an interesting experience," she said.

For Immediate Release, June 29, 1997
Contact: Frank Stanley, USCF Communications Manager, (719) 578-4581

BOISE, Idaho -- Rasa Polikeviciute (HP Mopier) of Lithuania finished in strong style to take the overall title at the Hewlett-Packard International Womens Challenge.

Polikeviciute, the 1996 world championship road race silver medalist, led Canadian Linda Jackson (Saeco-Timex), by a scant six seconds coming into the final 57-mile road race. While Jacksons team was all over the front of the field early on, it was Polikeviciute who fared better at the time sprint, which came 14.4 miles into the race. The Lithuanian was second only to Karen Kurreck (Klein), Cupertino, Calif., at the sprint, putting her 14 seconds ahead of Jackson, who did not place in that sprint.

The race remained close until the climb through the feed zone when Polikeviciutes teammate, Russian Zoulfia Zabirova moved to the front in effortless fashion and led up the climb. Canadian Sue Palmer (Saturn) was third at the mountain sprint, securing the green overall mountain jersey.

The climb shattered the field into a lead group of 17, which included the leaders. The Saturn squad then moved to the front in an effort to secure the sprint jersey for Karen Bliss Livingston, Gainesville, Fla. With Dede Demet, Boulder, Colo., providing the lead-out, Livingston won the final hot spot sprint, edging Jackie Martin (Shaklee) for the overall sprinters jersey.

After a chase group of 11 caught the leaders, the pack was routed the wrong way at the 47.4-mile mark, turning into a stretch of road construction on Idaho Highway 55. The officials paced the 28 leaders back to their original 1:08 lead and the final sprint was on.

With about 3km to go, Rebecca Twigg (Team EDS), Colorado Springs, Colo., shot from the rear of the pack to the front, but her lead was short-lived as Demet, Kurreck and Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex), McKenzie Bridge, Ore., chased her down.

Zabirova, winner of the uphill Bogus Basin time trial and second in two other stages, then pulled away from the field for the stage win, winning comfortably in the sprint down narrow 13th Street. Livingston was second in the sprint and Alison Dunlap (Office Depot), Colorado Springs, Colo., was third. Dunlap finished sixth overall and was the top American finisher, seven seconds ahead of Kurreck.

Emily Robbins (Shaklee), Littleton, Colo., finished seventh in the stage, sealing the Best Young Rider jersey. Robbins, 22, finished ninth overall.

Polikeviciute, who finished fifth in the stage, was 24 seconds ahead of Jackson overall. Zabirova was third, 27 seconds back.

Stage Nine, Middleton to Boise, June 29, 57.1 miles

1. ZOULFIA ZABIROVA (HP MOPIER), Taskent, Russia, 2 hrs, 25 mins, 55 secs; 2.
Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn), Gainesville, Fla., s.t.; 3. Alison Dunlap
(Office Depot), Colorado Springs, Colo., s.t.; 4. Dede Demet (Saturn),
Boulder, Colo., s.t.; 5. Rasa Polikeviciute (HP Mopier), Panevezys,
Lithuania, s.t.; 6. Carmen Richardson (Klein), Colorado Springs, Colo., s.t.;
7. Emily Robbins (Shaklee), Littleton, Colo., s.t.; 8. Jolanta Polikeviciute
(HP Mopier), Panevezys, Lithuania, s.t.; 9. Sarah Ulmer (New Zealand),
Auckland, New Zealand, s.t.; 10. Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex), McKenzie
Bridge, Ore., s.t.
Overall
1. RASA POLIKEVICIUTE (HP MOPIER), Panevezys, Lithuania, 18 hrs, 28 mins, 12
secs; 2. Linda Jackson (Saeco-Timex), Napean, Ont., Canada, @:24; 3.
Zabirova, @:27; 4. J. Polikeviciute, @1:55; 5. Valentina Polkhanova (HP
Scanner), Russia, @3:18; 6. Dunlap, @5:03; 7. Karen Kurreck (Klein),
Cupertino, Calif., @5:10; 8. Sue Palmer (Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada,
@7:57; 9. Robbins, @8:11; 10. Susy Pryde (Saeco-Timex), Auckland, New
Zealand, @8:11.

Saturday June 29 1997

Challenge set up for a grand finale

Only six seconds separate the two riders at the top as they begin the final sage of the race today

Its "The Ultimate Torture" - at least thats how Sports Illustrated describes the Womens Challenge bike race in a two-page article last week.

And now, fresh off the presses, comes "The Ultimate Finale."

Karen Bliss-Livingston was the big winner n Saturdays stage of the eight-day, $100,000 bike race, but her victory in the Statehouse Criterium did very little to shake up the overall standings.

The big shakeup occurs today when 97 cyclist sprint 57.1 miles from Middleton to Hyde Park in Boises North End. The race should end around 1:10 p.m. and all eyes will be on two riders - Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute and Canadian Linda Jackson.

After 377.3 miles through the mountains, deserts and valleys of southern Idaho, Polikeviciute (HP Mopier) leads Jackson (saeco/Times) by six seconds in the overall standings.

Russian Olympic gold medalist Zulfia Zabirova is 29 seconds from the lead and is a longshot at best, but hey, stranger things have happened in the 14-year history of this torture test.

"Its the closest stage race Ive ever done in my life," Jackson said.

"I dont want to hurt Lindas feelings. Shes a good friend, but sport is sport. With Gods willing, Ill finish No.1," Polkeviciute said.

Controversial time bonuses could be he deciding factor. Race director Jim Rabdau has sprinkled the entire stage race with bonuses and today is no different.

At the 14.4-mile mark, in the countryside west of Emmett, there will be a short sprint for a 10-second bonus. Todays stage winner also gets a 20-second bonus, with rewards stretching all the way to eight seconds for sixth place.

Jackson believes the bonuses negate the work that climbers do in the mountains.

Polikeviciute said she likes the bonuses - but only if she wins them.

Rabdau just stands back and chuckles.

"Some people dont like it, but Ive tried to do something with the course to cause excitement. This is my strategy and its working out because therell be no safe riding (today)," he said.

Bottom line is that a victory at the finish line in Hyde Park should be enough to earn the $5,500 first-place check.

Livingston (Saturn) is 20 minutes behind the leaders, but she joined Karen Kurreck (Klein) as the only riders with two stage wins.

Livingston, who won the Kuna-Idaho City opener last Sunday, took the Statehouse Criterium in 1 hour, 24 minutes and 16 seconds.

It was a conservative, but fast race and featured no breakaways.

When Livingston rounded the final corner of the 45-lap race, she was just off the back wheel of teammate Dede Demet and used the textbook lead-in to reach the line first.

It was a perfect 1-2-3 finish for Saturn team manager Rene Wenzel. His riders, Livingston and Demet, were 1-2; his wife Kendra Wenzel (Saeco/Timex) was third.

Alison Dunlap (Office Depot) remains the top American in the overall standings.

The full-time mountain biker is sixth, but 4:59 behind Polikeviciute.

By Mike Prater, The Idaho Statesman, Saturday, June 29, 1997

New Zealand cyclist tries to keep pedaling through the pain

For Charlotte Cox, the Hewlett Packard International Womans Challenge has been a pain in the you-know-what.

For the last 300 miles, the Dunedin, New Zealand, cyclist has been riding with a fractured coccyx, the small triangular bone at the bottom of the vertebrae column.

Essentially, she has a broken tailbone, the result of a nasty crash in the second stage from Emmett to Horseshoe Bend.

"I landed smack on my backside and it was instant agony. And it hasnt gotten any better," said Cox, who has dropped from 27th in the overall standings to 63rd since the Monday accident.

"Cycling is probably the last thing she should be doing," race doctor Rick Tweed said.

Cox, herself a medical doctor, at first thought she had bruised tissue. Finally, when the pain persisted, she had an X-ray Friday.

The result showed the damage - the fractured coccyx and inflammation of surrounding soft tissues. Many of the buttock and thigh muscles originate in the area.

Climbing hills is the hardest part, and Fridays two time trials werent any fun, but Saturdays fast criterium was extremely painful, Cox said. Making tight turns on the downtown course and jumping in and out of her seat provided severe discomfort.

Eventually, Cox was pulled from the race with 17 miles to go because she was going too slow. The New Zealand national champion finished 87th with a prorated time of 1 hour, 27 minutes and 16 seconds.

"I would have liked to finish, but to be honest, it was quite a relief as far as Im concerned," Cox said.

Today is the finale of the $100,000 stage race and she needs to conquer another 57.1 miles. Cox has nothing left to race for - except pride.

"Ive been riding in a huge amount of pain. I just want to finish the tour and go somewhere and rest," Cox said.

Apparently she isnt planning to rest enough.

Cox and her New Zealand teammates are racing in Massachusetts on July 3-6.

"I think Ill be OK for that, but well wait and see," Cox said.

"She knows that she needs six weeks of rest to heal," Tweed said.

By Nicole Freedman, Team Shaklee

Hearing Boises cheers reminds cyclist why she chose to be an athlete

On behalf of all the women attending this years Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge, I would like to thank Boise and all the sponsors, especially HP, for hosting such a high-caliber event.

For the last eight days you have treated us like superstars and given us a chance to shine.

Womens cycling probably will never be as popular as the NBA, NFL, Major League Baseball or NHL. After todays criterium though, I cant complain. Coming through the final turn, the crowds roar was deafening.

While we are not changing the world, I know we at least reached those who come to watch. To impact even some of you is a rewarding feeling.

I hope we can inspire everyone to enjoy an active lifestyle.

I hope we are an example for young girls who believe that athletics can be a rewarding and positive experience.

I hope were are role models for youngsters who believe hard work and dedication pay off.

I hope we are a model of good sportswomenship.

As an athlete, I often grapple with feelings of guilt because I am pursuing a career so seemingly selfish. To hear Boise cheer, to sign autographs for so many children and to feel the towns enthusiasm adds justification to our lifestyle choice.

Todays criterium flew as usual. Succeeding in a criterium requires a special combination of speed, skill, guts and stupidity. We speed through eight turns at 30-plus miles per hour (thats 360 turns during 45 laps), side-by-side and inches away from the next rider.

While I didnt win today, one of my dreams can true. I won an HP digital camera! (I cant figure out why my teammates call me a computer nerd).

For the last two years I have tortured manager and friend, Steve Miller, with my incessant chatter about how some day I would earn enough money to buy a digital camera.

His response: "Despite the potential millions in cycling, play it safe and get a real job"

June 28 1997

BOISE, Idaho -- Todays criterium race went to Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn), Gainesville, Fla., who posted her second sprint victory of the week, using leadouts by teammates Dede Demet, Boulder, Colo., and Sue Palmer, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, to take the win in the 34.7-mile race.

Demet was second and National Racing Calendar leader Kendra Wenzel (Saeco-Timex), McKenzie Bridge, Ore., was third.

The field stayed together throughout most of the race with Livingston and South African Jackie Martin (Shaklee) continuing to duel for the sprinters jersey. Martin leads Livingston, 59 to 54, with a single sprint remaining.

The other jerseys remained the same heading into the final stage as well. Palmer holds the mountain jersey with a single mountain sprint left and Emily Robbins (Shaklee), Littleton, Colo., retained her 14-second lead over Jacinta Coleman (New Zealand) for the Best Young Rider jersey.

It was status quo in the duel between Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute (HP Mopier) and Canadian Linda Jackson (Saeco-Timex) for the overall race title. Neither rider figured in the top six of the final sprint in the stage, so Polikeviciute maintained her six-second lead over Jackson.

Jackson was sitting in third position behind a pair of Shaklee riders on the final lap, but was forced out of position and finished well back in the final sprint.

The final 57-mile road race features a time bonus sprint at the 14.4-mile mark that could change the overall lead as well as the time bonus given at the finish of each stage. A total of 30 bonus seconds are available.

Stage Eight, Boise Statehouse Criterium, June 28, 34.7 miles

1. KAREN BLISS LIVINGSTON (SATURN), Gainesville, Fla., 1 hr, 24 mins, 16
secs; 2. Dede Demet (Saturn), Boulder, Colo., s.t.; 3. Kendra Wenzel
(Saeco-Timex), McKenzie Bridge, Ore., s.t.; 4. Karen Kurreck (Klein),
Cupertino, Calif., s.t.; 5. Jackie Martin (Shaklee), Benoni, South Africa,
s.t.; 6. Jen Evans (Team EDS), Austin, Texas, s.t.; 7. Susy Pryde
(Saeco-Timex), Auckland, New Zealand, s.t.; 8. Rosalind Reekie (New Zealand),
Christchurch, New Zealand, s.t.; 9. Pam Schuster (Klein), Northridge, Calif.,
s.t.; 10. Rasa Polikeviciute (HP Mopier), Panevezys, Lithuania, s.t.
Overall
1. RASA POLIKEVICIUTE (HP MOPIER), Panevezys, Lithuania, 16 hrs, 2 mins, 35
secs; 2. Linda Jackson (Saeco-Timex), Napean, Ont., Canada, @:06; 3. Zoulfia
Zabirova (HP Mopier), Taskent, Russia, @:29; 4. Jolanta Polikeviciute (HP
Mopier), Panevezys, Lithuania, @1:41; 5. Valentina Polkhanova (HP Scanner),
Russia, @3:07; 6. Alison Dunlap (Office Depot), Colorado Springs, Colo.,
@4:59; 7. Karen Kurreck (Klein), Cupertino, Calif., @5:02; 8. Sue Palmer
(Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada, @7:39; 9. Emily Robbins (Shaklee),
Littleton, Colo., @7:53;10. Pryde, @7:59.

By Mike Prater, The Idaho Statesman, Friday, June 27, 1997

Utah cyclist proves equal to Challenge

Albert conquers Twin Falls to Glenns Ferry course for upset win

GLENNS FERRY - Tired and thrilled out of her mind, Heather Hall-Albert plopped her aching bones on a grassy spot near the banks of the Snake River in Glenns Ferry.

It was a ice spot to celebrate the biggest victory of her cycling career.

But no one was around, including her husband, so it might as well have been the loneliest and ugliest place on the planet.

Albert, 29, desperately wanted to share her big news after winning the 78.2-mile Twin Falls-Glenn Ferry stage of the Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge on Thursday.

An up-and-coming rider from Utah, Albert (PowerBar) covered the course in 3 hours, 18 minutes and 9 seconds, easily providing the biggest surprise of this $100,000 stage race.

"I did it. I did it. Im so happy," she yelled after crossing the line ahead of Carolyn Donnelly (Potomac).

"My husband is gong to flip. Hes going to be so happy because we were both thinking stage win today."

Thats because most of the top riders took it easy Thursday, although Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute still maintains her 31-second lead going into todays two time trials.

Albert isnt a threat for the overall standings.

Those time trials are today.

And Thursdays race included some strong winds.

"It was those factors, plus most of the big girls are tired, so I figured today was the day theyd let me go," Albert said.

The trouble was, after she won she couldnt get a hold of her husband.

Suddenly, on that lonely spot next to the Snake River, a cell phone rang in a pocket of Alberts racing jersey.

It was her husband, Uhl, calling from his job in Utah.

"Honey, I won. Can you believe it?" she said.

Uhl said something in return.

Then Albert launched her biggest attack of the day.

Her voice started shaking and she attempted to fight back tears. She succeeded, barely, but it was obvious this victory triggered an overflow of emotions.

Albert is lucky to be cycling at all this summer.

She spent three months earlier this year battling pneumonia, and still hasnt completely recovered. Inhalers give her lungs full function.

And, just for this race, shes skipping a week of important work.

When Albert isnt racing bikes and satisfying her role as a Group B rider for the U.S. National team, she is doing research at BYU.

Thats where she earned her bachelors degree in microbiology.

And thats where shes earning her Ph.D. - again in microbiology.

So you shouldnt be surprised that Albert is doing a little microbiology work this summer as part of a funded research team.

"were working on the organism that causes tuberculosis," she said. "It deals with drug resistant strains. Were trying to come up with a rapid way to determine what cases drug resistance."

Not your typical job.

Then again, riding your bike 78 miles through the Snake River valley isnt your typical hobby.

Albert will complete her Ph.D. in 1998, then will make cycling her full-time job.

"My long-term goal is the Sydney Olympics (in 2000)," she said. "After that, I want to go to medical school."

In the meantime, now that shes 13th in the overall standings, the next three days are important before Albert returns to the office on Monday.

Thursdays race, which started in Twin Falls just south f the Perrine Bridge, was aggressive from the start. Donnelly finally broke loose at the 35.5-mile mark and struggled along until 62 miles.

Her lead increased to 3:04 at 44 miles, but Albert conquered the final hill and launched a quick pursuit.

When the two riders joined together, Albert was strong, Donnelly was exhausted and the pack was content to put in the miles.

"She was wasted," Albert said. "I pulled right through (took the lead) and she jumped on my wheel. After about a mile I said, are you going to pull through? she said she couldnt, so I had to do it all myself.

Said Donnelly: "Theres disappointment, but Im still happy. Heathers really strong and I would have felt bad taking the win from her cause she towed me, but at the same time I was out there for 20 miles."

Julie Young (Saturn) led a six-rider chase pack that crossed the finish line 18 seconds behind the leader. She cam in third place to complete a rare American 1-2-3 sweep.

Thursdays race on a new course that followed the Snake River included a few crashes, including once when a man driving a motorcycle in the caravan forced a rider off to side of the road. There was a concussion, a separated shoulder and a few cases of road rash.

The original field of 102 riders is down to 98.

By Mike Prater, The Idaho Statesman, Friday, June 27, 1997

Russian bike is willing to take her chances

GLENNS FERRY - Today is the day Russian Zulfia Zabirova gets her chance to shine.

Like her brilliant red hair.

Like her Olympic gold medal.

Its time trial day in the Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge and Zabirova, a three-year member of the Russian national team, is the reigning Olympic time trial champion.

The Mayfield Head to Head Time Trial starts at noon near the Boise Stage Stop in the desert east of Boise.

The Popular Bogus Basin Time Trial is tonight at 7.

The first race pits riders against each other, in pairs of two, while the latter is a solo battle against the clock.

Zabirova - third n the overall standings of the eight-day stage race - isnt necessarily the favorite to win either stage because these courses are different than last summers in Atlanta.

"I like the longer ones - I dont know about my chances here," Zabirova said through an interpreter.

But even if she isnt the favorite, the burden of being a gold medalist is something Zabirova deals with nearly everytime she jumps on her bike.

And, frankly, she deals with it quite well.

"My life hasnt changed much," she said.

Single and 23, the tall and powerful-looking redhead still lives in a modest two-bedroom apartment in Hovomerkassk, just outside Moscow.

The gold medal rests inside a box in her bedroom.

The native of the breakaway republic Uzbekistan, which doesnt have a bicycle team, shes not a hero, shes not wealthy and she doesnt prance around like a star.

What she does enjoys new-found freedom on her bicycle.

The Russian sports federation hasnt flowered Zabirova with post-Atlanta favors, but it gives her liberties to travel to places like Boise.

Shes racing here on the Dream Team with Lithuanian twins Rasa and Jolanta Polikeviciute.

"They told me it was great race and I really wanted to come," she said.

Ironically, her opponent is todays first time trial is Jolanta, who is fourth in the overall standings.

Jolanta said Wednesday that theres no way she can beat Zabirova.

Zobirova said the same thing about Jolanta. "I dont know who wins," Zabirova said.

The biggest change in Zabirovas life since Atlanta is the lucrative contract she signed with an Italian trade team.

Its a short-term deal, but the Russian federation never would have allowed it without the gold medal, she said.

Finally, Zabirova said she is being given the opportunity to defend her gold medal at the Sydney Games in 2000.

"I look forward to Sydney very much," she said.

By Mike Prater, The Idaho Statesman, Saturday, June 28, 1997

Womens Challenge likely to finish with a flourish

With only two stages remaining, race poised for its closest finale

Theyve been racing their bikes for six days and nearly 15 hours, but the only thing that matters now is two days and six seconds.

Its Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute vs. Canadian Linda Jackson.

Its Team Saeco/Timex vs. HP Mopier.

With only two stages remaining in the $100,000 stage race, the Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge is poised for one of the closest finishes in its 14-year history.

The popular Statehouse Criterium, with as many as 15,000 people lining the figure-eight style course, is today at 3 p.m. In this battle favor Jackson and her Saeco/Timex teammates.

Sundays finale is the mad dash from Middleton to the tight, cramped streets of Hyde Park. Favor who knows because its a new course (57.1 mostly flat miles) with so many intangibles (time bonuses) and so much on the line ( a first place check for $5,500).

Following Fridays two time trials, Polikeviciute of HP Mopier leads Jackson in the overall standings by six seconds.

Like the Hyde Park race, its anyones guess if she can hang on and claim her first Womens Challenge title after frustrating finishes the past two seasons.

With this intriguing setup theres only one guarantee as the two former Olympians battle for the biggest financial prize in the history of womens cycling.

"It should be a very dramatic finale. Its going to be nuclear," Saeco/Timex coach Mike Neel said.

Polikeviciute, a 26-year-old mom, said Friday night in the shadows of Bogus Basin Road that shes tired.

"Im so tired after all this. I really dont have a lot of eagerness right now," she said through an interpreter.

Standing in the same shadows, Jackson said she feels strong for one of the biggest challenges of her racing career. "Its definitely time for us to make our move," said the 38-year-old former investment banker.

As if this scenario needs more intrigue, dont forget about Polikeviciutes two teammates.

Russian Olympic gold medalist Zulfia Zabirova is third in the standings, only 29 seconds from the lead, while twin sister Jolanta Polikeviciute is 1:41 back.

Theres no doubt that HP Mopier is stronger than Saeco/Timex.

However, European racers have a reputation for not being good Criterium riders, which makes today so interesting.

"That is true," Rasa said, "but Im definitely going to try to improve this time, plus we have three very strong girls."

Jackson isnt a solid crit rider, either, but her teammates form a solid crit team. Kendra Wenzel and Susy Pryde are strong sprinters; Giana Roberge brings solid time trial skills to the table.

Then again, Zabirova is one of the best riders in the world and shes starting to click in this race after winning the Bogus Basin Time Trial in 7 minutes and 11 seconds.

"Its going to be a very tactical race. Luckily I have a strong crit team who can ride very aggressively," Jackson said.

"I think I can hold on and win with the help of God," Rasa said.

Those two riders and their teams should be very active today, as should team Saturn, a traditional power that is shooting for a stage win to salvage an otherwise mediocre week.

Jackson finished second in Fridays trek up Bogus Basin with a time of 7:13, while Rasa was third at 7:20.

On Friday morning, American Karen Kurreck (Klein) wan the Mayfield Head to Head Time Trial, a 4.47 -mile jaunt in the desert east of Boise. Using a nice tailwind, she hit the line in 7 minutes and 35 seconds, just seven seconds ahead of Emily Robbins (Shaklee).

By Nicole Freedman, Team Shaklee - Cycling loaded with ups and downs

I want to thank you all for your quick responses to my chicken fried steak puzzle. A piercing alarm at 6:30 a.m. shook me from the depths of my REM sleep, onto the floor and my pager to retrieve the first of many calls.

"Chicken fried steak is a UFO - unidentified fried object," the caller said. (Ill be sending a poster shortly).

The number of your responses has inspired me to use this most-effective tactic to get a date. "Please call in and tell me what chicken fried steak is, how many spokes in a bicycle wheel, and what is your marital status, height, weight?"

Thursday we raced 78.2-miles from Glenns Ferry to Twin Falls. While the terrain was relatively flat, the strong headwind, high temperatures and multiple attacks kept the race challenging.

I would have written yesterday, but the humiliation of finishing drained my enthusiasm. I realized that someone must finish last, but with nine races and 100 riders, I figured I could beat the odds.

Cycling is an exceptionally emotional sport. Finishing times are irrelevant, so we place all our emphasis on winning.

The high of winning surpasses that on any other; its pure adrenaline. The converse is true, however, about the lows.

When the results dont come, its often difficult to pin-point whats gone wrong. There are no times to pacify the pain and say, "Well, you didnt win, but your time improved." In cycling you just lost.

When youre in these lows, you begin to question everything, to doubt yourself, your training, your potential, your ability to bounce back, EVERYTHING.

"Im slow, Im overweight (opps, gravitationally challenged), Im ugly, I have no friends, and my dog doesnt even like me."

And in the high times, youre riding a wave. Everything feels perfect, your confidence, your training, EVERYTHING.

All cyclist have felt both extremes. Like a drug, we are addicted to the feeling of the high. Our addiction carries us through 15,000 training miles every year. (Can you tell Im in a particularly cheery mood today?)

With only one long road race to go, the race feels like its winding down.

Friday was our "rest day." A mere double day, we competed in the morning in a four-mile head to head time trial in which two riders were pitted against each other and the clock.

In the evening, we raced another two-mile time trial up Bogus Basin; one of the few athletic events in which the model athlete weighs under 90 pounds.

Friday July 27

BOISE, Idaho -- Linda Jackson cut 25 seconds off the margin between her and overall leader Rasa Polikeviciute after the two time trials at the Hewlett-Packard International Womens Challenge.

The double day began with the Mayfield Time Trial, a rolling 4.5 mile time trial which favored the bigger gears aided by a decided tailwind. Karen Kurreck (Klein) posted her second stage win of the race, finishing in 7:35, seven seconds ahead of Emily Robbins (Shaklee).

Jackson (Saeco-Timex) was only 10th in the stage, but beat Polikeviciute (HP Mopier) in their side-by-side race. With the 10-second bonus for her head-to-head win combined with her better time, Jackson shaved 18 seconds off of the Lithuanians lead.

After a afternoon break, the riders convened at the base of the Bogus Basin road for the days second stage, a 1.7 mile climb.

After Rebecca Twigg (Team EDS), the course record-holder, posted the fastest early time, the big guns took turns chopping down the time.

With three riders left, Jacinta Coleman (New Zealand), who is battling Robbins for the Best Young Rider jersey, had the best time, 7:27, 15 seconds faster than Twigg and 12 seconds ahead of Jenkins.

Looking almost effortless, Olympic time trial champion Zoulfia Zabirova smoked up the course in 7:11, followed by Jackson in 7:13. The clock then began ticking as Jackson hoped to shave more seconds off of Polikeviciuites time heading into the final two stages. Rasa finished in 7:19, leaving Jackson only six seconds behind with two days to go.

The criterium isnt a strength for either rider, though the Saeco-Timex team is one of this countrys best in the event. With only three time bonuses remaining -- one at the end of each stage and an additional time bonus during the final stage -- the overall title may not be decided until the final moment.

Stage Six, Mayfield Time Trial, June 27, 4.5 miles
1. KAREN KURRECK (KLEIN), Cupertino, Calif., 7 mins, 35 secs; 2. Emily
Robbins (Shaklee), Littleton, Colo., 7 mins, 42 secs; 3. Dede Demet (Saturn),
Boulder, Colo., 7 mins, 50 secs; 4. Zoulfia Zabirova (HP Mopier), Taskent,
Russia, 7 mins, 54 secs; 5. Pam Schuster (Klein), Northridge, Calif., 7 mins,
56 secs; 6. Elizabeth Emery (Klein), New York, N.Y., 7 mins, 57 secs; 7.
Karen Bliss Livingston (Saturn), Gainesville, Fla., 7 mins, 57 secs; 8.
Rebecca Twigg (Team EDS), Colorado Springs, Colo., 7 mins, 58 secs; 9. Sue
Palmer (Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada, 8 mins, 1 sec; 10. Linda Jackson
(Saeco-Timex), Napean, Ont., Canada, 8 mins, 2 secs.
Overall
1. RASA POLIKEVICIUTE (HP MOPIER), Panevezys, Lithuania, 14 hrs, 30 mins, 59
secs; 2. Jackson, @:13; 3. Zabirova, @:38; 4. Jolanta Polikeviciute (HP
Mopier), Panevezys, Lithuania, @1:27; 5. Valentina Polkhanova (HP Scanner),
Russia, @2:53; 6. Alison Dunlap (Office Depot), Colorado Springs, Colo.,
@4:50; 7. Kurreck, @4:53; 8. Robbins, @7:05; 9. Palmer, @7:12; 10. Susy Pryde
(Saeco-Timex), Auckland, New Zealand, @7:35.
Stage Seven, Bogus Basin Time Trial, June 27, 1.7 miles
1. ZOULFIA ZABIROVA (HP MOPIER), Taskent, Russia, 7 mins, 11 secs; 2.
Jackson, 7 mins, 13 secs; 3. R. Polikeviciute, 7 mins, 20 secs; 4. Jacinta
Coleman (New Zealand), Auckland, New Zealand, 7 mins, 27 secs; 5. Dunlap, 7
mins, 29 secs; 6. Polkhanova, 7 mins, 34 secs; 7. J. Polikeviciute, 7 mins,
34 secs; 8. Louisa Jenkins (Shaklee), Boulder, Colo., 7 mins, 39 secs; 9.
Kurreck, 7 mins, 41 secs; 10. Twigg, 7 mins, 42 secs.
Overall
1. RASA POLIKEVICIUTE (HP MOPIER), Panevezys, Lithuania, 14 hrs, 38 mins, 19
secs; 2. Jackson, @:06; 3. Zabirova, @:29; 4. J.Polikeviciute, @1:41; 5.
Polkhanova, @3:07; 6. Dunlap, @4:59; 7. Kurreck, @5:14; 8. Palmer, @7:39; 9.
Robbins, @7:53; 10. Pryde, @7:59.

Thursday June 26 1997

KETCHUM - If the word was fair, Canadian Linda Jackson wouldnt have to race against her strongest competitors in the Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge.

Shes 38 years old.

And she didnt even begin full-time bike racing until she was 35 - right after she quite a ritzy job that was paying her about $200,000 a year.

American Alison Dunlap used her 27-year-old legs to conquer Wednesdays brutal 62.3-mile race from Stanley to Ketchum.

With about 2,000 people watching in downtown Ketchum, Dunlap won the race for the second straight year in a blistering 2 hours, 32 minutes and 57 seconds.

"I have to hang on. Im the only American left in the race," she said.

Russian Zoufia Zabirova was second in the final sprint through Main Street. Compared to Jackson, shes a kid at 23.

Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute, 26, was third and Jackson was fourth.

Polikeviciute continues to lead the eight-day, $100,000 ordeal through Southern Idaho.

Her lead is 31 seconds going into todays 78.2-mile stage from Twin Falls to Glenns Ferry.

Guess whos right on her tail?

Its Jackson, who is defying the age-old odds by continuing to enjoy one of the best season by anyone in the world this year.

Shes 31 seconds back in the overall standings, but now comes the hard part.

Not only does she have to fight the age factor, but with the race entering its final four days she has to battle the HP Mopier factor.

Jackson belongs to Team Saeco/Timex.

The Polikeviciute twins and Zabirova belong to the Dram Team, formally know in this race as HP Mopier.

The Dream Team owns three of the top four sports in the overall standings. Only Jackson stand in their way.

So with five races left, its three vs. one.

Its the young kinds vs. the queen mother.

"Its going to be real difficult," Jackson said. "Those guys are so aggressive and they pose such great threats.

"Every time one goes up the road. Im going to have to be there. I know theyll try to wear me down, but I know I can hang in there."

Jackson pedaled her bike like an enthusiastic kid Wednesday.

She dominated the climb up 8,700-foot Galena Summit that sparkled in snow-capped sunshine.

The solo breakaway was a piece of brilliant work, then Jackson tucked and enjoyed the 50 mph descent down a twisting, winding highway that was closed to vehicle traffic.

At the 40-mile mark, Jackson was caught by four other riders.

Those five, including Jolanta Polikeviciute, sprinted along into Ketchum.

Rasa won a 30-second time bonus at 57.7-miles - she attacked the sprint aggressively and even appeared to force Jackson off the road. Thats the only reason she has the overall lead.

Jackson knows that Rasas attack was dirty.

But she didnt want to comment about someone she considers a good friend.

Besides, Jackson is too smart to get caught in a war of words.

Before she started racing, Jackson was an investment banker in San Francisco. She made well over six figures and lived the high life.

She made business trips to five-star hotels in Paris.

The Stanford graduate had manicures and pedicures and treated herself like royalty.

In August of 1993, Jackson ditched it all for a bicycle and countless hours of training misery.

In the rich old days, she probably made more in a month than she does now in a year.

These days, she doesnt own a car and stays in motels with bathrooms down the hallway.

But shes happier than shes ever been.

"I have such a great life right now," she said. "My focus is more on living than on materialistic things.

"Plus, Im in the best shape of my life."

Wednesday was a bad day for race favorite Karen Kurreck (Klein), who started the day third overall, only 29 seconds behind Rasa.

But the American always seems to struggle on Galena Summit - the steep climb and her asthma makes it a difficult ride.

It all led to a 17th-place finish, leaving her 7th overall. She is 5:38 behind the lead.

By Nicole Freedman, Team Shaklee

Tourist provide racers with reminders of cyclings impact

In all my copious free time between races, I managed to flip through todays USA Today. To my horror, I noticed that Tim Duncan or some probable No. 1 NBA draft pick has completely copied our The Idaho Statesman Daily Diary idea with his own "Basketball Diaries of the NBA draft." At least womens cycling and the

The Idaho Statesman started the trend.

The last two days of racing have allowed us to see much of Idaho. Tuesday we cycled 60 miles from Lowman to Stanley, today 62 miles from Stanley to ketchum, finishing with a drive from Ketchum to Twin Falls. I never appreciated four wheels so much.

Weve been fortunate to see so much countryside where chicken fried steak is the No.1 menus item, where the radio features a full selection of country music stations, where the number of women racers exceeds the race towns population and where snow-capped mountains were merely as reminders of our upcoming pain.

In all truth, the travel is one of the main attractions of the HP Challenge.

Many of us live in urban areas, and the chance to even briefly see snow-peaked mountains, such as in Stanley, is a well-appreciated respite.

Todays race climbed over Galena Summit which peaks out at 8,700 feet. Altitude can be a decisive factor. A moderate effort at sea level will feel maximal for a racer unfamiliar with altitude. As altitude affects everyone differently, Wednesdays race indeed proved decisive to the overall race.

I feel like I aged 50 years Wednesday because of the altitude. After the race I was flat on my back, in the parking of of a restaurant, while my Shaklee teammates enjoyed lunch inside. Im anxious, however, to test his new method of reserving a parking lot spot in a more telling setting, like New York City.

While in Stanley, we encountered a group of men and women of a mult-day bike tour. Their enthusiasm for the Challenge re-emphasized to me how far womens athletics have come. I introduced Rebecca Twigg to the youngest member of the tour, an overwhelmed and stuttering 18-year-old man. Only recently would an 18-year-old man ever consider a woman athlete for their hero!

My hat goes off to these tourists. Theres a group of young and old men and women, with full-time jobs, riding bikes twice the weight of ours, with T-shirts flapping in the wind like aerodynamic parachutes, heading out over the same mountain passes we had just raced.

In the midst of our competitive focus, these tourist are a refreshing reminder of cyclings unique essence: its non-desciminatory, multi-faceted appeal. More than just a sport, cycling is environmentally friendly, inexpensive transportation, a way to enjoy nature, to meet people and to improve health.

Anyone can enjoy a bicycle. Ive been passed by 80-year-old women, women with children and, of course, two-thirds of this years HP Challenge participants.

By Mike Prater, The Idaho Statesman, Thursday, June 26, 1997

KETCHUM - Like most riders in the Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge, Sandra Kolb knows what its like to win a big race.

She was the 1995 national womens military champion.

You qualify for events like that when youre a captain in the Army.

Kolb, 32, launched a military career when she was 17, and not because she was following anyones footsteps.

"To be honest, I didnt have any money to go to college and I thought this was the best way to go," she Said after finishing Wednesdays Stanley-Ketchum Road Race.

So Kolb attended a military prep school in New Jersey.

Then the following sequences took place in what has turned out to be a very active life:

Kolb spend four years at West Point.

She put in three years of military intelligence work in Germany.

Performing the same duties, she served 3.5 months in Desert Storm, just 50 kilometers from of the Iraqi border.

She went to Korea for a year - more intelligence - and finally ended up stationed at Fort Meade in Maryland.

She spent most of her three years working for The National Security Agency.

"Theres so many good stories to tell, unfortunately I cant talk about a lot of them because its all classified," Kolb said.

Until leaving the military in May 1996, she commanded 300 soldiers in an intelligence unit at Fort Meade.

Thats where Kolb went on a blind date with a Cobra helicopter pilot. Now theyre married.

Hes stationed in Honolulu; she lives in Annapolis, Md., and rides all over the country.

Kolb ran cross country at West Point. She started running marathons, an when she was injured, she spent her rehab time on a stationary bike.

That led to some college bike racing.

Now shes in her third season of full-time cycling with the Maryland-based Snow Valley team.

Kolb even won another national title last year - the road race championship for Category III riders.

"The Army was great training for this," Kolb said. "It provided so many challenges and thats what I deal with every time I come out here and ride with these women."

Wednesday June 25, 1997

STANLEY - The sun was bright, the mountains were green, the racing was fast and Lithuanians spent Tuesday yapping at the world.

Karen Kurreck just shrugged her shoulders and won another bicycle race.

Day Three of the Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge is history, but not before 11 of the worlds most powerful riders played an afternoon game of cat and mouse.

Kurreck (Klein) wan the 58.5-mile romp from Lowman to Stanley in 2 hours, 34 minutes and 46 seconds.

Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute (HP Mopier) continues to lead the $100,000 stage race, 25 seconds ahead of Canadian Linda Jackson (Saeco/Timex) and 29 ahead of Kurreck.

Those three riders, and nine others, spent most of the second half of the race together, but it was hardly a afternoon of bonding.

Theres a rule in cycling regarding these situations. When a group forms a lead pack, the common courtesy is for riders to take turns upfront.

The rest sit back and enjoy the draft.

Thirty seconds later, everybody rotates.

This is how the strategy works - unless someone isnt working in the group.

And the situation becomes increasingly complex when an unorganized group consists of people from different teams and different countries: the United States, Lithuania, Canada, Russia, and New Zealand.

"You would laugh if you heard what was going on," said American Allison Dunlap (Office Depot), who finished third behind Kurreck and Russian Zoulfia Zabirova (HP Mopier).

"Everybody is yelling at each other and no one understands what is going on....It was pretty vocal out there today, and none of it was in English, so who knows what they were saying. The twins are always yacking."

The twins are Rasa and Jolanta. Their teammate is Zabirova.

Those three organized the breakaway group that led the chase pack by nearly two minutes entering the Stanley Basin.

The twins, who are anything but shy, yelled at Kurreck to work harder.

"Theyre always vocal," Kurreck said. "I have no idea what theyre saying, but theyre always vocal."

Using French, the twins tried to communicate with Jackson.

And they ignored Canadian Sue Palmer (Saturn) and Jacinta Coleman of New Zealand.

"Once the twins got things organized, everybody worked except Saturn and the Kiwi," Jackson said.

Palmer and Coleman arent factors in the overall standings; they had nothing to gain by pushing the pace.

Rasa and Jolanta yelled at Palmer anyway.

"The twins took charge. They are really good at that," Dunlop chuckled.

And Palmer answered back.

"Rasa said something to me, and I just told her no in French...Besides, my coach told me not to work today. There was not reason for it," she said.

The twins continued to bark at Kurreck and Jackson, both who had no desire to help the Lithuanians and their Russian teammate.

"Rasa said, Linda, if you guys dont work with us, were going to attack you," Jackson said.

"It was a very vocal group, and you dont see that a lot in womens cycling," she said. "Thats one big difference between mens and womens cycling. Men are more direct. If somethings bothering them, or if somethings ticking them off, theyre going to let them know....Maybe were evolving a bit and thats good"

By Mike Prater, The Idaho Statesman, Wednesday, June 25, 1997

STANLEY - United Sates Olympian Allison Dunlap is one of the best in the world at racing a bicycle.

That lofty status earned Dunlap just $19,000 last year.

This year, the Colorado resident should triple her salary - and shes still racing.

Whats the difference?

Dunlap, 27, has traded her road bike for a mountain bike.

Thats where the air is fresher and the sponsorship is plentiful. Mountain biking is a huge industry in the United States, and companies like her sponsor GT, are more than willing to share the cash with racers like Dunlap.

her contract is $30,000.

And the prize money she earns could double that amount. Other mountain bikers, like American Juli Furtado, make more than $100,000.

Thats Dunlaps goal, not that shes into racing for the money.

"This sports way too hard to do it for the money...If I get paid $80,000 and Im miserable, its just not work it," She said. "I just want to make enough money to go through grad school (to study biology) and buy a house."

Dunlap, one of the more popular riders on the circuit, is using this years Hewlett Packard International Womens Challenge as a training ride.

This is only her second road race of the year, yet she still finished third in Tuesdays race from Lowman to Stanley.

She won last years trek from Stanley to Ketchum, the same race scheduled for today.

"If I can just get over (Galena Summit), then I have a pretty good shot. I know how to find the finish line," she said.

Once the Challenge ends Sunday, Dunlap goes back to the fat tires and the World Cup tour, where she is the top American rider.

Its a sport dominated by Europeans, but Dunlap won a World Cup race in Budapest, Hungary, this spring.

The rookies victory caught everyone on the tour, Dunlap included, by surprise.

Then again, she started her mission with a plan.

"Ive been riding at such an elite level, theres no way I wanted to go over there and goof around," she said. "I wanted to jump in and be a force and do really well."

Mission accomplished.