May 26/12 18:13 pm - Exergy Tour: Stage 2 report and results

Posted by Editoress on 05/26/12
 

Amber Neben Takes the Lead after Cold and Wet ITT, Clara Hughes Third

American Amber Neben of Team Specialized - lululemon secured the Exergy Leader's jersey on Stage 2 presented by Union Pacific in Kuna, Idaho, with a win today in the Exergy Tour Individual Time Trial. She posted a time of 21 minutes 37.67 seconds. Two teammates joined her on the podium for a soggy sweep of the race-against-the-clock top spots, Evelyn Stevens (USA) in second spot 15 seconds back and Clara Hughes (Can) in third, 20 seconds back.

Stevens, who is the reigning U.S. National Time Trial Champion, is now second overall in the General Classificiation (G.C.), 11 seconds behind Neben.  Hughes not only finished third in the ITT, but moves to third overall on G.C., 14 seconds back.  Another Team Specialized - lululemon teammate, Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger, finished sixth in the time trial today and is 21 seconds back on G.C., relinquishing the Exergy Race Leader jersey to fourth position on G.C.

"I am on the best team in the world, between sponsors, equipment, staff and teammates.  It’s all the best. We all get along and want to see each other do the best, so we feed off that and then you see it in the results, too," said Neben, who won the World Time Trial Championship in 2008.

Weather conditions made the out-and-back 10.4-mile (16.7 kilometre) Individual Time Trial more challenging than originally expected, with most riders being more conservatie in the tight, narrow turn at the halfway point.   A constant rain fell throughout the race and chilly temperatures hovered around the 45-degree F (7 degrees Celsius) mark.

About the time trial course, Neben added, "I was afraid it might be a little slick (due to the rain), so I was a little conservative going out. It was good in the sense that those first corners were pretty early. I was careful at the turnaround, it was kinda tight there. The good thing was essentially it was just straight out the whole time, turn around, come back, so there wasn’t too much to worry about. I think that was where the race was going to be won, in the straightaway."

The only award jersey to change hands was the Exergy Leader Jersey, now worn by Neben. The Colavita Queen of the Mountains jersey continues to be worn by Stevens and Teutenberg will wear the PowerBar Sprint jersey. Gillian Carleton, riding for the Canadian National Team, continues in the St. Luke's Sports Medicine Best Young Rider jersey for a third day.  Elizabeth Newell (NOW and Novartis for MS) will continue as the Exergy Most Aggressive Rider.

The 96 kilometre "Queen Stage" of the Exergy Tour is a day for the climbers on Sunday. The riders will cover 4,520 feet of vertical gain in the Boise National Forest west of the Sawtooth Mountains, headed from Crouch/Garden Valley to Idaho City.

Report courtesy Exergy Tour

Specialized-lululemon Sweeps the Podium

The women of Specialized-lululemon swept the podium at the Exergy Tour's Time Trial Stage on Saturday in the town of Kuna, Idaho. Amber Neben rode the winning time of 21'37"670 with team-mates Evelyn Stevens and Clara Hughes taking second and third place.

The team now holds the top four places in the general classification going into Sunday's Queen stage.

"It was a great day for us," said Team Director Ronny Lauke. "The girls were super focused on doing well today and they pulled off a great result.

"Now we're in a good position but we still have two hard days to go so we have to remain focused and try to defend our jersey."

"It's a great feeling to be on this team with so many great riders and to sweep the podium is nice," said Neben. "It was really cold out there today, we were all freezing on the course but the good thing about that is that it encourages you to ride faster."

Tomorrow's stage is the Queen Stage from Crouch to Idaho City climbs over Beaver Creek and Mores Creek Summits.

Report courtesy Specialized-lululemon

Results from today's 3rd stage at the Exergy Tour in Boise Idaho

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Exergy Tour May 24/12 - May 28/12, Boise, Idaho