Women’s Challenge
bikers here June 18
Nine-day stage race
shrinks to 543 miles
Over 125 of
the world’s top female cyclists will pedal through Idaho’s mountains
and high desert in mid-June during the $75,000 HP Women’s Challenge
bicycle race.
Headlining
the 19th annual Women’s Challenge is defending champion Lyne Bessette of
Canada and her Saturn teammates. Also expected is American Olympic cycling
silver medalist Mari Holden, 31.
This year’s
HP Women’s Challenge will cover 543 miles over nine days and nine
stages. That’s 145 miles, four stages and three days fewer than 2001.
The purse has dropped $53,000 from last year’s $128,000.
Another
change: Only one race will pass through Ketchum, compared to last year
when the HP Women’s Challenge visited Sun Valley for three races over
two days.
In all,
there are seven road races, one criterium and one individual time trial
for 2002.
There will
be no Elkhorn Circuit Race, a crowd-pleasing event in the past. Also
canceled for 2002 is the Trail Creek Road head-to-head time trial.
Here’s a
description of the races:
Saturday,
June 15, Stage #1: The 69.5-mile Boise to Idaho City road race.
Sunday,
June 16, Stage #2: The 58.5-mile Lowman to Stanley road race.
Monday,
June 17, Stage #3: The 25-mile Stanley individual time trial.
Tuesday,
June 18, Stage #4: The 62.3-mile Stanley to Ketchum road race.
Wednesday,
June 19, Stage #5: The 87.9-mile road race from Shoshone to Pomerelle
Ski Area south of Burley.
Thursday,
June 20, Stage #6: The 60.7-mile road race from Burley to Magic
Mountain south of Twin Falls.
Friday,
June 21, Stage #7: The 84.5-mile Twin Falls to Buhl road race.
Saturday,
June 22, Stage #8: The 50-lap, 38.5-mile Wirestone Statehouse
Criterium in downtown Boise.
Sunday,
June 23, Stage #9: The 56.5-mile Emmett to Boise road race.
Visit the
race’s Web site, www.womenschallenge.com