Two women charged to the line for today’s showdown finish in the 46.7-mile (75.1-kilometer) road race. Stage 4 presented by Exergy Development Group was won by German Claudia Hausler of GreenEDGE – AIS, the No. 3-ranked UCI team. She outsprinted Stevens for the stage win, both awarded the same time of 2 hours, 4 minutes, 8 seconds. Third place on the stage today went to Jasmin Glaesser of the Canadian National Team, who finished 55 seconds back.

“To win this? It’s huge; quite an honor. The crowds lined everywhere we went (all week).  We wanted to give everyone here (in Idaho) a show. This exceeded all my expectations,” said Stevens, a native of Acton, Mass. who is a two-time U.S. National Time Trial champion (2010-11).  With the second-place finish today in Stage 4, Stevens overtook teammate Amber Neben and vaulted from third to first on the G.C.

The Memorial Day grand finale began with a flyover of four A-10 Thunderbolts from the 124th Fighter Wing,  Idaho Air National Guard from Gowen Field. The 46.7-mile road race began at Hyde Park historic community, located in the Boise foothills.  This is a favorite area in the Treasure Valley for local cyclists, where mountain and touring bike routes end and post-ride socializing begins. Today it was the epicenter of the professional cycling world.

In addition to the Exergy Race Leader jersey, Stevens claimed the Colavita Queen of the Mountains jersey for the week.  Her teammate, Ina Yoko Teutenberg, who won Stage 3 on Sunday, takes home the PowerBar Sprint jersey as the fastest woman for the five-day event. Hughes was also awarded the Exergy Most Aggressive Rider jersey.  The St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Best Young Rider jersey went to Glaesser, who finished third on today’s stage.

Of the 103 riders on 16 professional cycling teams which started the Exergy Tour on Thursday, May 24, 69 started Stage 4 presented by Exergy Development Group. The pre-race favorite, American Kristin Armstrong of the Exergy Twenty12 team, who is a Boise resident, crashed out of the race in the opening Prologue. After surgery on Friday to repair a broken clavicle, Armstrong rejoined the team to support them on the sidelines. Two other riders in the race with Idaho connections, Kristin McGrath of Exergy Twenty12, now living in Boise, finished 8th overall, 2 minutes 1 second behind the Exergy Race Leader. Liza Racchetto of Forno D’Asolo Colavita, who attended Boise High School, started Stage 4 but finished after the time limit.

“If this is only the start of the Exergy Tour, I can’t wait for next year. It doesn’t get any better than that.  Idaho and Exergy can show the world how to celebrate women and their sports.  On behalf of the racers we can say thank you to everyone, thank you to Idaho,” Hughes, a resident of Glen Sutton, Quebec, added at the post-race press conference held at TRICA, Treasure Valley Institutue for Children’s Arts. She is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals in both Summer and Winter Olympic Games (cycling and speedskating for Canada).

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

Click Here for Stage 4 presented by Exergy Development Group 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

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

Stevens, who is the reigning U.S. National Time Trial Champion, is now second overall in the General Classificiation (G.C.), 11 seconds behind Neben.  Hughes not only finished third in the ITT, but moves to third overall on G.C., 14 seconds back.  Another Team Specialized – lululemon teammate, Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Germany), finished sixth in the time trial today and is 21 seconds back on G.C., relinquishing the Exergy Race Leader jersey to fourth position on G.C.

“I am on the best team in the world, between sponsors, equipment, staff and teammates.  It’s all the best. We all get along and want to see each other do the best, so we feed off that and then you see it in the results, too,” said Neben, who won the World Time Trial Championship in 2008.

Weather conditions made the out-and-back 10.4-mile (16.7 kilometer) Individual Time Trial more challenging than originally expected, with most riders being more conservatie in the tight, narrow turn at the halfway point.   A constant rain fell throughout the race and chilly temperatures hovered around the 45-degree (fahrenheit) mark.

About the time trial course, Neben added, “I was afraid it might be a little slick (due to the rain), so I was a little conservative going out. It was good in the sense that those first corners were pretty early. I was careful at the turnaround, it was kinda tight there. The good thing was essentially it was just straight out the whole time, turnaround, come back, so there wasn’t too much to worry about. I think that was where the race was going to be won, in the straightaway.”

The only award jersey to change hands was the Exergy Leader Jersey, now worn by Neben. The Colavita Queen of the Mountains jersey continues to be worn by Stevens and Teutenberg will wear the PowerBar Sprint jersey. Gillian Carleton, riding for the Canadian National Team, continues in the St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Best Young Rider jersey for a third day.  Elizabeth Newell (USA) of the NOW and Novartis for MS team will continue as the Exergy Most Aggressive Rider.

The “Queen Stage” of the Exergy Tour is a day for the climbers on Sunday, May 27. The riders will cover 4,520 feet of vertical gain in the Boise National Forest west of the Sawtooth Mountains, headed from Crouch/Garden Valley to Idaho City. This 59.7-mile (96-kilometer) road race Stage 3 presented by the USA Pro Challenge will begin at Noon MT and is expected to finish at 3 p.m.  The Exergy Tour 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 2 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

Teutenberg, who was fourth in the Prologue, will take over as the General Classification leader and wear the Exergy Race Leader jersey on Saturday. Tara Whitten (Canada) of Team TIBCO-To The Top is now second on G.C. and Gillian Carleton (Canada) of the Canadian National Team moves to third overall, both just six seconds behind Teutenberg.

“Well, I found it really hard today,” Teutenberg, a 11-year professional, said about Stage 1 at the Exergy Tour. She represented Germany in the 2000 Olympic Games and turned pro the next year. “It’s great to be an idol for little kids and give them a reason to ride bikes or another sport, to show them you can do it, even if you are a girl. I have a niece and nephew and they look up to everybody who races. It’s what future stars do, I mean they see that and start riding their bikes.”

The start of Stage 1 in Nampa, Idaho’s second largest city, greeted the peloton and crowds with temperatures in the 40′s and a steady rain. The route took 102 riders past Lake Lowell and Idaho wine country before two circuits along the Snake River to contest the first Colavita Queen of the Mountain points on Pump Road. Elizabeth Newell (USA) of the NOW and Novartis for MS team launched a solo attack on the first climb up Pump Road, with its challenging 10-12 percent gradient, and stretched her lead to 25 seconds. She was caught a half-hour later by the field, but was rewarded later as the Exergy Most Aggressive Rider.

As the sky turned from gray to blue, six riders crashed near the final turn in Nampa. World Champion Giorgia Bronzini (Italy) of Diadora-Pasta Zara was caught up in the incident, which kept her from contesting in the sprint finish.  Another favorite in the race who did not play a role in today’s finish was Exergy Twenty12′s Kristin Armstrong (USA), who withdrew because of a clavicle fracture suffered in the Prologue. She underwent successful surgery in Boise earlier in the day and came to Nampa to see the finish of the stage.

“We wanted to get her (Armstrong) into the yellow jersey by the end of the week. (Today) I definitely wanted to run off and give her a hug,” said Stage One winner Cliff-Ryan about learning her teammate was at the finish line after her win.

The first Colavita Queen of the Moutains jersey will be worn by American Evelyn Stevens of Team Specialized-lululemon.  Her teammate, Teutenberg, was also awarded the PowerBar Sprint jersey. Because she will wear the Exergy Race Leader jersey, Cliff-Ryan, who finished second in sprint  points today, will wear the PowerBar Sprint jersey in Stage Two.  Gillian Carleton, riding for the Canadian National Team, continues in the St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Best Young Rider jersey for a second day.

On Saturday, May 26, the 2012 Exergy Tour continues with Stage 2 presented by Union Pacific with the Individual Time Trial in downtown Kuna, Idaho.  The riders will embark on a 10.4-mile (16.7 kilometer) race against the clock that was designed to mimic the time trial course for the 2012 London Olympic Games.  The finish is expected close to 1:30 p.m.  The Exergy Tour 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 1 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

Kristin Armstrong, team leader of Exergy Twenty12 professional cycling team and pre-race favorite, crashed at the halfway point of the Prologue course in the 180-degree turn just beyond the Boise Train Depot.  The 2008 Olympic gold medalist finished the race in obvious pain, and holding her left shoulder, just eight seconds behind the winner for 13th place.

According to Jim Johnston, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon of St. Luke?s Sports Medicine, Armstrong has a mid-shaft clavicle fracture. Surgery is scheduled for Friday morning forcing Armstrong to withdraw from competition. The Exergy Twenty12 team issued a statement saying a swift recovery is expected, and she plans to be back on her trainer within a few days to continue her pursuit of another Olympic gold medal.

The Exergy Tour kicked off with thousands of spectators lining the downtown course, which had views of the state Capitol building, foothills and Boise River.  The loudest roar of the crowd was heard at 8:13 p.m. (Mountain Time) when Armstrong, a Boise native, set off down the time trial ramp.  The race featured 103 riders in the Prologue today representing 16 professional teams, including six of the top 11 teams in the world.

?My team has had quite a bit of interaction with the city (of Boise),” said Whitten, whose team discovered 14 of its bicycles and other equipment had been stolen early Wednesday morning.  Within hours, the Boise Police Department had recovered the team’s equipment, avoiding a disasterous situation. “(It was an) incredible effort people put forward. Police were cheering for us which was extra incentive.  They were admiring the bikes that they had recovered.?

The 2012 Exergy Tour continues Friday, May 25 with Stage 1 in Nampa, Idaho. This 76.7-mile (123.5 kilometer) road race features 1,800 feet of climbing through the hills and vineyards by the Snake River. The stage will begin in downtown Nampa at 11 a.m. MT and is expected to finish at 2:30 p.m. The race can be followed daily via Tour Tracker®, with live Web coverage and free downloads available for iPhones, iPads, Android devices.
For race results and more information, please visit www.ExergyTour.com.

Click Here for full Prologue 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

2012 Exergy Tour brings critical pre-Olympic ladies pro cycling race to worldwide audience

The inaugural Exergy Tour cycling stage race, taking place May 24-28, 2012 throughout Southwestern Idaho, is making history by becoming the first women’s race to provide its fans access to the state-of-the-art racing coverage platform, Tour Tracker®.

On iPhones, iPads, Android devices and via the Web, cycling fans world-wide will be able to watch live as the best women cyclists in the world compete on Idaho’s most scenic and challenging roadways. The Exergy Tour Tracker application is now available for free download from the race website at exergytour.com.

“The unique ability to bring the inaugural Exergy Tour to a world-wide audience through Tour Tracker and its innovative mobile video platform speaks to Exergy’s vision to further engage corporate sponsors, media, spectators, athletes and fans,” said Heather Hill, Marketing, Communications and Events Director for the Exergy Tour. “On site during the event, spectators will also be able to watch the live Tour Tracker video simulcast on big screens – allowing fans to watch start-to-finish coverage every day of the Tour whether they are at work, out and about, on the course or at the finish line.”

Exergy Tour fans will enjoy coverage previously reserved for only the largest and most prestigious international races such as the Tour de France, Tour of California and others. The live-action will feature exclusive video coverage, racer tracking along the route, professional commentary, photography and daily race standings. Fans will be able to share their experience via social media integration on Twitter and Facebook.

Tour Tracker founder and CEO, Allan Padgett is excited by the impact Exergy’s decision will have on the future of women’s cycling, ”We are thrilled to work with Exergy to balance the coverage between men’s and women’s cycling. Exposing women and girls round the globe to the best racing action is good for the sport, and we’re glad to be a part of the team making Exergy’s vision a reality. The racing will be world class and so will the coverage.”

The FREE Exergy Tour Tracker app can be downloaded from the Exergy Tour website. Share the app with your friends, sit back and enjoy the racing action!

Medalist Sports is overseeing the competition and technical production of the Exergy Tour. Medalist is also the event management arm for the Amgen Tour of California, USA Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado and the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah.

For more information, or to register to volunteer, please visit www.ExergyTour.com.

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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. Over 15 of the top ladies pro cycling teams from around the world are expected to participate 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 Tour Tracker

Tour Tracker® is the world’s premier mobile and online race viewing platform and offers an unmatched combination of features, flexibility and proven reliability. Tour Tracker provides race organizers and sponsors a customized platform for their event and their messaging. With award-winning applications for iPhone, iPad, Android and the Web, Tour Tracker reaches local, national and worldwide audiences. Combining live video, commentary, GPS tracking, rider biometrics, standings, photography and more, Tour Tracker has delivered cycling’s most prestigious events to well over 1.5 million engaged fans.

For more information, visit http://thetourtracker.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