Jackson makes a golden climb up Galena

Linda Jackson, a 1996 Olympian from Ontario and reigning Canadian national champ who now lives in Los Altos Hills, Ca., won the first and third stages of the 274-mile, six-stage HPIWC. She carried off the top prize in a field called by some the deepest and most talented in women’s cycling annals.

Jackson’s winning time was 11 hours, 11 minutes and 42 seconds—50 seconds faster than runner-up Valentina Polkhanova of Russia. Last year’s champion Rasa Polikeviciute of Lithuania, who beat runner-up Jackson in the 1997 HPIWC, was fifth overall just 85 seconds behind.

Although Jackson won the Bogus Basin 1.7-mile hill climb by six seconds June 16, the decisive race was the gruelling 78.8-mile HP Planet Partners road race that took the racers from Sourdough Lodge east of Lowman through Stanley and up Galena Summit Thursday.

Jackson, a former San Francisco investment banker who gave it up to become a full-time bicycle racer five years ago, attacked the six-rider lead group with two miles to go up Galena Summit. Jackson (averaging 21.45 mph) beat Rasa Polikeviciute by 33 seconds—winning time 3.40:28.

The two severe mountain climbs, one a 20-mile haul up Banner Summit and the other a final grind up Galena, were "excruciating," according to Jennifer Davidson of Florida. Exhausted, she finished last 40 minutes behind the leaders.

Nonetheless, that event established Jackson’s 50-second advantage, which she maintained in the final three stages. The starting field of 138 cyclists including four Olympic gold medalists dwindled to 120 by Sunday’s 39-mile road race.

Ketchum’s Ruthie Matthes never challenged the leaders. She finished 50th overall in 11.23:01, 11:19 behind Jackson. The top American was two-time national time trial champion Mari Holden, 27, of Ventura, Ca., 13th overall 2:42 back.

Matthes’ Office Max team placed 11th of 32 teams, 26:48 behind winning HP Toner.

Highlights of the HPIWC will be televised Sunday, July 26 from 1-2 p.m. MDT on KBCI Channel 2 out of Boise. Here’s a summary of the six stages:

Stage #1, 1.7-mile Bogus Basin time trial: 1—Linda Jackson (Team Saeco/Timex) 7:13. 2—Edita Pucinskaite of Lithuania (Boise Cascade) 7:19. 9—Holden (Office Depot) 7:36. 54—Matthes 8:19.

Stage #2, 47.5-mile Boise-to-Idaho City road race: 1—Anna Wilson of Australia, the 1996 Women’s Challenge queen, 1.54:48. 2—Petra Rossner of Germany (Office Max) 1.54:48. 72—Matthes 1.54:48.

Stage #3, 78.8-mile Sourdough Lodge-to-Galena Summit road race: 1—Linda Jackson 3.40:28. 2—Rasa Polikeviciute of Lithuania (HP Toner) 3.41:01. 17—Holden 3.42:47, 2:19 behind. 59—Matthes 3.49:48, 9:20 behind.

Stage #4, 62.3-mile Stanley-to-Ketchum road race: 1—Diana Ziliute of Lithuania (HP Toner) 2.31:27. 2—Marie Holjer of Sweden 2.31:27. 3—Alison Dunlap of Denver (Office Max) 2.31:27. 5—Holden 2.31:27. 12—Jackson 2.31:27. 46—Matthes 2.32:07.

Stage #5, 34.7-mile Statehouse Criterium in Boise: 1—Ina Teutenberg of Germany in a course-record 1.21:26. 2—Reigning national criterium champion Karen Livingston of Florida (averaging 25.6 mph) 1.21:26. 61—Matthes 1.21:45, 19 seconds behind.