Teutenberg Sprints to victory in Idaho City.
Sunday in Boise dawns overcast but dry. There is much rejoicing. At the start in Crouch Idaho, an hour northeast of Boise, it was still cool and dry. On the summit of the second QOM, there is mixed snow and rain. The final descent in to Idaho City was wet and potentially hazardous.
The stage followed a fairly standard script with a series of break-aways forming and being absorbed. Janel Holcombe (Optum KBS) played a role in each aggressive move during the day. The break that fainlly stuck until the first QOM was, Holcombe, Lindsey Meyers (TIBCO), Kristin McGrath (Exergy Twenty 12) Trixi Worrack (Specialized lululemon), Fabiana Luperini (Faren Honda) and Tiffany Cromwell (GreenEdge). At the first QOM it was Luperini followed by Holcomb and Cromwell. Luperini took the QOM jersey off the shoulders of Evie Stevens of Specialized lululemon. For her efforts in the break Cromwell would garner most aggressive rider honors. With a gap of only 30 seconds on the field the break did not last and was brought back after the first QOM.
A unified field went up to the second QOM. Beth Newell made a bid for freedom at 1 km from the summit. Exergy Twenty 12 denied her attempt. Evie Stevens, Carmen Small (Optum KBS) and Claudia Hausler (GreenEdge) took points at the second QOM and the field began the 20 km run-in to Idaho City. With the climbs not playing a significant role in splitting the field the stage was set for a bunch gallop up Main Street to the finish.
With Specialized rider Clara Hughes controlling the tempo, Beth Newall (NOW and Novartis) put in one last effort to animate the field, but was unsuccessful. A field of 50 strong took the last 90º corner to lead up the final 500 meters. Headed to the line it was Megan Garnier (TIBCO), Leah Kirchmann (Optum KBS) and Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Specialized lululemon). Teutenberg took the sprint by a bike length over Kirchmann, with Guarnier bringing the field in another length behind.
Amber Neben (Specailized lululemon) remains in the leaders Jersey headed into tomorrow circuit race that begins and ends in Boise. The big change on GC saw Canada's Gillian Carleton drop out of fourth overall. Teutenberg stepped into second overall with Stevens and Hughes dropping to 3 and 4 respectively. 14 seconds separate the four Specialized lululemon teammates siting on top of the General Classification.. The race will head north east into a hilly three lap course that will decide the final victor of the 2012 Exergy Women's Tour. Best young rider honors go to Jasmin Glaesser of Team Canada. Teutenberg holds on to the sprint leaders jersey. The climbers Jersey is still in contention with 2 QOM included in the circuits Monday. Stevens trails Luperini by 2 points and leads Small by 4.