June 13/00 10:41 am - HP Stage 6 Results and Story

Posted by Editor on 06/13/00
 

Breaking Away Early, Ziliute Recaptures Leader's Jersey
(courtesy HP LaserJet)

Twin Falls, Idaho (June 13, 2000) -- Lithuanian Diana Ziliute (HP Lithuania/France) broke away early from more than 100 cyclists to win the Burley to Buhl Road Race presented by Wirestone. Ziliute and seven other members of the break worked together throughout the windy 84.2-mile road race. As a result, Ziliute reclaimed the coveted HP LaserJet Women's Challenge blue leaders jersey from Jeannie Longo (Office Depot).

"I didn't think we'd lose the pack. I just broke away to gain some time bonus sprints", said Ziliute. When asked what it is like to take the leader's jersey away from Longo, Ziliute remarked with a smile on her face, "I don't want to talk about it. The last time I did I lost the jersey the next day."

Facing a walloping headwind with gusts over 30 mph, the cyclists averaged 19 mph, missing the course record by over an hour. Race officials predicted the strong teams would attack the course to dethrone Longo. The powerful wind played right into this strategy allowing the breakaway group to quickly gain time. Riders in the break represented some of the top-ranked teams in the world - HP Lithuania/France, Saturn, German National, British National, and Elita. The break established itself early in the race, around the five-mile marker. At the same time, a mid-field crash left some riders, including those on the strong Timex team, out of the lead group.

"I think it's kind of a mafia out there with the strong teams and they are working together", said a frustrated Longo, who finished more than two minutes behind Ziliute. "What am I to do if they are together?" The wind, the early crash, and lack of big team support resulted in Longo missing the breakaway group. From a high-point of over four minutes between the break and the chasing field, Longo managed to whittle away over 90 seconds in the final five kilometers of the race, finishing solo in ninth place. She will drop into third place overall.

Australian Olympic team member Anna Wilson (Saturn) finished second, only half a wheel length behind Ziliute. Wilson's participation in the break today and her consistent performance throughout the race moves her into second place overall. Backed by a strong team, Wilson, the 1999 World Cup Champion, will be looking to make up more time in the next five days. Wilson faces only one day of racing at the Olympic Road Race in Sydney to prove she is the best while remembering her performance against the number one ranked cyclist in the world, Ziliute, over their 625 miles and 11 days in Idaho.

"We were all pretty thrashed by the end today. All I could think of was the last hill climb", said Wilson, referring to the two-kilometer climb one mile from the finish. "I'm looking forward to the next couple of days, though."

Tomorrow look for members of Timex to redeem themselves in the 79.4 mile Twin Falls to Glenns Ferry Road Race presented by Cavanaugh's Hotels. The next four stages are comprised of three road races and one criterium on mainly flat terrain. That means more attacks by the big teams, more trading of positions, and more of Longo riding alone to defend her title of Women's Challenge Champion.