Press Releases

IDAHO CITY, ID – May 27, 2012 – Current German Road Race champion Ina Yoko Teutenberg of Team Specialized – lululemon won her first stage at the Exergy Tour today, Stage 3 presented by USA Pro Challenge.  In Idaho City, she held off a charging Leah Kirchmann (Canada) of Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies, who finished a half wheel back in second. Third place on the Queen Stage was taken by Megan Guarnier (USA) of Team TIBCO – To the Top. Of the 81 riders who started today’s stage, 35 finished at the front with a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, 23 seconds.

In the General Classification, Amber Neben (USA) of Team Specialized – lululemon retains the Exergy Race Leader jersey.  Teutenberg moves from fourth overall to second, nine seconds back.  Evelyn Stevens (USA) is now third overall, 11 seconds back, and Clara Hughes (Canada) in fourth, 14 seconds back. All riders in the Top Four are with Team Specialized – lululemon.

“It was really fast for the first 50k (kilometers). Up to the feed zone (near Lowman), it rolled pretty fast. The climb was pretty gradual but long,” said Neben, who overtook teammate Teutenberg for the G.C. lead and Exergy Race Leader jersey after Saturday’s Individual Time Trial in Kuna, Idaho.

Stage 3 presented by USA Pro Challenge covered 4,520 feet of climbing over 59.7 miles (96 kilometers) with cold and sunny skies in Crouch/Garden Valley and rain at the finish in Idaho City. The first of two Colavita Queen of the Mountains climbs had seven riders in a breakaway on the nine-mile climb from the Payette River Canyon to the top of Beaver Creek Summit. Another small break formed for the second QOM on Mores Creek Summit, which had snow earlier in the morning.  The peloton came back together on the long descent to Idaho City, where huge crowds gathered in the former gold mining community.

“I didn’t anticipate it would be that steep. The mountains took a lot out of my legs, so I was suffering a lot,” Teutenberg added at the post-race press conference held in the Boise County Building, originally built as the Miner’s Exchange Saloon in 1865. “It’s such a special setting (here in Idaho), especially for the foreigners. When you come from Europe, when you drive into those valleys and you see it, it’s just an amazing landscape. Amazingly loud coming at the finish straight. We don’t have crowds like this very often so it’s pretty unique.”

The Colavita Queen of the Mountains jersey was awarded to five-time Giro d’Italia Femminile champion Fabiana Luperini (Italy) of Faren Honda Team.  Teutenberg continues to wear the PowerBar Sprint jersey.  Jasmin Glaesser (Canada) of the Canadian National Team assumes the St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Best Young Rider jersey from her teammate, Gillian Carleton.  Tiffany Cromwell (Australia) of GreenEDGE-AIS was awarded the Exergy Most Aggressive Rider jersey.

The final stage, Monday, May 28, is a 46.7-mile (75.1-kilometer) road race that begins and ends at Hyde Park in Boise.  The 16 pro teams will fight it out on three circuits through Hidden Springs as well as two Colavita Queen of the Mountains climbs on Cartwright Road. The Exergy Tour – Expo & Finish Festival will be open at 10 a.m. to all cycling fans and sports enthusiasts of all ages on Memorial Day at Hyde Park.  Stage 4 presented by Exergy Development Group begins at 11 a.m. MT and is expected to finish at 1 p.m. MT.  The final day of racing can be followed daily via Tour Tracker®, with live Web coverage and free downloads available for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices.

For race results and more information, please visit www.ExergyTour.com.

Click Here for Stage 3 presented by USA Pro Challenge Results.

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About the Exergy Tour

The Exergy Tour will take place over the Memorial Day weekend in five Idaho cities – Boise, Nampa, Kuna, Garden Valley/Crouch and Idaho City. A total of 16 of the top ladies pro cycling teams from around the world are participating in the inaugural race, which was founded by Boise-based Exergy Development Group. The race will be one of the last races to provide international ranking points crucial to qualifying for the upcoming Olympic Games in London. It is sanctioned by USA Cycling and is the only ladies race in North America in 2012 with a 2.1 designation by the International Cycling Union (UCI). St. Luke’s Sports Medicine is the Official Medical Provider for the 2012 Exergy Tour. The National Association of Girls and Women in Sport is the Official Charitable Partner of the 2012 Exergy Tour.

For more information, contact Heather Hill, 208-559-1203 or heather.hill@exergytour.com.

About Exergy Development Group

Exergy Development Group is one of the major independent renewable energy developers in the USA. Exergy’s focus is on deploying commercially successful, socially beneficial and environmentally responsible renewable energy projects. A vertically integrated company, Exergy moves its projects from conception through construction and commercial operation. Exergy believes that sustainable economic prosperity is inextricably tied to the well-being of our communities and natural environment. In support of that philosophy, Exergy founded the Exergy Tour ladies pro cycling race, designed to showcase the power of women’s professional cycling, engage communities, and provide a vehicle to teach young girls about the benefits gained through sports.

For more information, www.exergydevelopment.com