courtesy of HP WOMEN’S CHALLENGE

June 22, 2002 (BOISE, ID) – Team Saturn seems almost unbeatable as they
racked up another stage win with Australian Olympian, Anna Millward’s
victory in Stage 8’s Wirestone Statehouse Criterium at the 19th Annual HP
WOMEN’S CHALLENGE, finishing the 38.4 mile race in 1 hour, 29 minutes
and 4 seconds.

Finishing with the same time for second place was TMobile
rider Katrina Berger (USA), the winner earlier this year at the Sea Otter
Classic Criterium in Northern California. Taking third, by boldly breaking
out of the pack with 1 lap to go, was Mercy Fitness Center rider Sarah
Konrad (USA), a 2001 Collegiate National Road and Criterium Champion., who
finished five seconds behind the leaders.

The race leader, Judith Arndt of Saturn and the top overall
contenders: Genevieve Jeanson (Rona), Kimberly Bruckner (Saturn), Valentina
Polkhanova (Itera), Lyne Bessette (Canadian National), and Amber Neben
(TMobile), finished with the main field, only eight seconds behind
Millward, and thus Arndt still leads the overall race by 1 minute and 20
seconds over Jeanson who said, “… my goal today was to stay safe – the
steady pace (25.87 MPH) was gentle on my legs even though my heart rate
was high.”

A crash occurred almost halfway into the 48-lap race on the .8
miles per lap course with 6 turns. Ten riders went down in turn three as
“the pace slowed and the riders bottlenecked,” is the way New Zealand
Olympian Sarah Ulmer, who was in contention for the coveted Sprint Leader
Jersey, explained her misfortune and the crash. “This was my first road
crash,” she said with a laugh. “I’ve crashed on the track but never on the
road..bugger!”

With two gashes, one on her elbow and one on her hip, needing
medical attention, Ulmer could not complete the stage. Also unable to
complete the stage was Norway’s National Time Trial Champion Solrun Flataas
of the Sponsor Services Team who hit her head (saved by a helmet) and
strained her neck muscles. The remaining eight riders, including 3rd place
in the overall General Classification, Kimberly Bruckner (Saturn), were
able to finish the race.

Tomorrow’s final Stage (9), the Print, Inc., Emmett to Hyde Park
56.5 mile Road Race is the last chance for Team Rona to take the leader’s
jersey from Arndt by gaining enough time (1:21) on Arndt to put Jeanson in
first place and also for Saturn to try and squeeze Jeanson out of second
place by having third place Bruckner finish 15 seconds ahead of Jeanson.
It’s going to be one exciting ‘chess match!’

The 19th Annual HP WOMEN’S CHALLENGE, with a strong international
field (riders from 15 countries) competing for a cash purse of $75,000, is
a 9-day, 9-stage International Bicycle Race covering 543 miles throughout
southern Idaho. For more information, purchase of merchandise on-line,
complete results, schedules, rider bios, fan mail, and in-depth reporting,
log onto www.womenschallenge.com.

STAGE 8 , Wirestone Statehouse Criterium, 38.5 miles (25.87 mph):

1. Anna Millward (Saturn) 1:29:04
2. Katrina Berger (TMobile) 1:29:04
3. Sarah Konrad (Mercy Fitness Center) 1:29:09
4. Lyne Bessette (Canadian National) 1:29:12
5. Priska Doppmann (Goldys) 1:29:12

OVERALL

1. Judith Arndt (Saturn) 19:47:49 0:00:00
2. Genevieve Jeanson (Rona) 19:49:09 0:01:20
3. Kimberly Bruckner (Saturn) 18:49:23 0:01:34
4. Valentina Polkhanova (Itera) 19:51:41 0:03:52
5. Lyne Bessette (Canadian Natíl) 19:52:07 0:04:18