For the week of June 6 - June 12, 2001

Women’s Challenge bikers coming to Ketchum

688-mile stage race in Idaho June 13-24

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Over 125 of the world’s top female cyclists will pedal through Idaho’s mountains and high desert next week during the $128,000 HP Women’s Challenge bicycle race.

Headlining the 18th annual Women’s Challenge are defending champ Anna Wilson Millward, 29, from Australia and American Olympic cycling silver medalist Mari Holden, 30.

This year’s HP Women’s Challenge will cover 688 miles over 12 days and 13 stages. The overall distance makes the 2001 Women’s Challenge very close to the record of 693 miles set two years ago.

Once again the HP Women’s Challenge visits the Ketchum and Sun Valley area for three races over two days.

Next Friday, the Galena Summit road race ends on Ketchum’s Main Street shortly after noon. The Trail Creek Road head-to-head time trial and spectator-friendly Elkhorn Circuit Race will be Saturday, June 16.

Magic Valley’s farm and dairy country witnesses three new stages midway through the 12-day event.

The Shoshone-to-Burley road race for cyclists who excel in flatland racing is Sunday, June 17. First-time road races are set from Burley to Magic Mountain June 19, from Twin Falls to Buhl June 20 and from Twin Falls to Mountain Home June 21.

At 97 miles, the Twin Falls to Mountain Home stage along old U.S. 30 through Hagerman and Glenns Ferry is the longest stage of the race.

Here’s a description of the races:

• Wednesday, June 13, Stage #1: The 69.5-mile HP Road Race from Boise to Idaho City.
  
  

• Thursday, June 14, Stage #2: The 58.5-mile VeloNews Road Race from Lowman to Stanley.
  
  

• Friday, June 15, Stage #3: The 62.3-mile Boise Cascade Office Products Road Race from Stanley to Ketchum, start time 10 a.m.
  
  

• Saturday, June 16, Stages #4 and #5: The 3.2-mile Voler "Head to Head" Time Trial along Trail Creek Road, start time 10 a.m., and the 28.8-mile HP Circuit Race in Elkhorn Village, start time 6:30 p.m.
  
  

• Sunday, June 17, Stage #6: The 80.2-mile Saint Alphonsus Road Race from Shoshone to Burley.
  
  

• Monday, June 18, Stage #7: The 57.7-mile HP Road Race from Burley to Pomerelle.
  
  

• Tuesday, June 19, Stage #8: The 60.7-mile Tennyson Transfer Road Race from Burley to Magic Mountain.
  
  

• Wednesday, June 20, Stage #9: The 67-mile WestCoast Hotels Road Race from Twin Falls to Buhl.
  
  

• Thursday, June 21, Stage #10: The 97-mile Idaho Center Auto Mall Road Race from Twin Falls to Mountain Home.
  
  

• Friday, June 22, Stage #11: The 13.3-mile Office Depot Time Trial from Middleton to Firebird Raceway.
  
  

• Saturday, June 23, Stage #12: The 34.7-mile Wirestone Statehouse Criterium in downtown Boise.
  
  

• Sunday, June 24, Stage #13: The 55.2-mile HP Road Race from Middleton to Boise’s Hyde Park.

CBS television is due to televise highlights of the 2001 race Saturday, July 14 at 2 p.m. MDT. The 60-minute telecast will focus on portions of all 13 stages and will also feature the final awards ceremony.

Visit the race’s Web site, www.womenschallenge.com. Live web coverage begins June 13.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.