June 23/97 22:13 pm - Jackson Second at HP International, Silicon North Tour, T.O. Racing

Posted by Editor on 06/23/97
 

RASA POLIKEVICIUTE TAKES OVERALL LEAD IN IDAHO  (courtesy Frank Stanley, US Cycling)  BOISE, Idaho -- Lithuanian Rasa Polikeviciute assumed the overall lead after a crash-marred stage two at the Hewlett-Packard International Women‚s Challenge.  Polikeviciute (HP Mopier) out-climbed Canadian Linda Jackson (Saeco-Cannondale) up the final five-mile, seven percent grade climb that topped out at New Horseshoe Bend Hill. Polikeviciute now leads Jackson by 16 seconds. First stage leader Karen Kurreck (Klein), Cupertino, Calif., finished fifth overall and is now third, 43 seconds back.  The trio, along with two other HP Mopier riders -- Rasa‚s twin sister, Jolanta, and Olympic time trial champion Zoulfia Zabirova -- broke away from the field early in the climb. Kurreck, the USPRO womenís champion, tried to stay with the HP Mopier trio, but was simply outnumbered and couldn‚t counter as Rasa and Jackson repeatedly attacked.  At the base of the climb, the field finally reeled in a break-away that started at the three-mile mark and stayed away for 70 miles. The break included Julie Young (Saturn), Auburn, Calif.; Annette Madigan (Start to Finish), San Francisco, Calif.; Lithuanian Gitana Gruodyte (HP Mopier) and Jackie Martin (Shaklee) of South Africa.  The break gained a margin of almost three minutes at one point, helped by an early crash caused when the field was led the wrong way about 17 miles into the race. Most of the caravan vehicles and riders headed straight through an intersection when they were supposed to turn right. Though a number of riders crashed, no one was forced to retire during the stage as a result of that crash.  Stage Three will take the riders 58.5 miles from Lowman to Stanley, Idaho.  HEWLETT-PACKARD INTERNATIONAL WOMEN‚S CHALLENGE, U.S. 2.4, Idaho  Stage Two, Emmett to Horseshoe Bend Hill, June 23, 80 miles  1. RASA POLIKEVICIUTE (HP MOPIER), Panevezys, Lithuania, three hrs, 32 mins, 26 secs;  2. Linda Jackson (Saeco-Cannondale), Napean, Ont., Canada, s.t.;  3. Jolanta Polikeviciute (HP Mopier), Panevezys, Lithuania, @:44;  4. Zoulfia Zabirova (HP Mopier), Taskent, Russia, @:53;  5. Karen Kurreck (Klein), Cupertino, Calif., @:57;  6. Valentina Polkhanova (HP Scanner), Russia, @1:28; 7. Svetlana Stepanova (Office Depot), Kemerovo, Russia, @1:31;  8. Sue Palmer (Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada, @1:34;  9. Pam Schuster (Klein), Northridge, Calif., @1:40;  10. Emily Robbins (Shaklee), Littleton, Colo., @1:42.  Overall  1. R. POLIKEVICIUTE, five hrs, 55 mins, 54 secs;  2. Jackson, @:16;  3. Kurreck, @:43;  4. J. Polikeviciute, @1:02;  5. Zabirova, @1:03; 6. Polkhanova, @1:52;  7. Schuster, @2:00;  8. Stepanova, @2:03;  9. Palmer, @2:06;  10. Susy Pryde (Saeco-Cannondale), Auckland, New Zealand, @2:14.  Stage One, Kuna to Idaho City, June 22, 57.4 miles  1. KAREN BLISS LIVINGSTON (SATURN), Gainesville, Fla., two hrs, 24 mins, 0 secs; 2. Kurreck, s.t.;  3. Pryde, s.t.;  4. Schuster, s.t.;  5. Jennifer Evans (Team EDS), Austin, Texas, s.t.;  6. Carmen Richardson (Klein), Colorado Springs, Colo., s.t.;  7. Joan Wilson (24Hr Fitness-GT), Los Altos, Calif., s.t.;  8. R. Polikeviciute, s.t.;  9. Jackie Martin (Shaklee), Benoni, South Africa, s.t.;  10. Zabirova, s.t.   The JetForm Tour of Silicon Valley North (Ottawa Region) now has a website at http://www.storm.ca/~phunter/thetour   Mid-Week Racing Series  Attention Toronto area roadies! The League, a cycling club organized by Peter McCaffery (longtime organizer and commissaire) is presenting a series of Wednesday night criteriums. The races are held in Mississauga on a 2.3 kilometre circuit. Riders have to join the club at their first race (for insurance purposes), and each weeks entry is only $5.00. To get to the races, exit highway 401 at Renforth. Go south to Eglinton and turn west. Turn right at Solar Blvd. The start/finish are 0.5 kilometres north. Next weeks race starts at 7:00 pm and is 22 laps (52 kilometres). All participants get their name put into a draw for a Pinarello frame (courtesy Pavan Cycles) each time they race. Contact The league Hotline for more information: (905) 271-2300, then press 2.