Some of the world’s top professional women cyclists are in Idaho this Memorial Day weekend to compete in the inaugural Exergy Tour. This marks the largest women’s five-day stage race in North America and is the last big race before cycling teams are chosen for the Olympics in London.
The Tour continued Sunday with a stage that took 81 riders through the mountains. The racers took off from Crouch and ended in downtown Idaho City. The 59.7 mile course included a nine-mile climb to Beaver Creek Summit and a three mile-climb to Mores Creek Summit. At the end of the day, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg of Team Specialized-lululemon sprinted across the finish line throwing her hands up into the air for the win.
Afterward, the German road champion told reporters "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 expressed how Idaho is a special place to hold such a race. " 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."
Hundreds of people turned out for Stage three of the inaugural Exergy Tour. Many waved flags from all over the world near the finish line and the sound of cowbells and cheering filled the air as the racers neared the finish line.
Teutenberg is now second overall while fellow teammate Amber Neben (USA) has the Exergy Race Leader jersey.
The Exergy Tour finishes Monday in Hyde Park in Boise. The 46.7 mile course will take racers through Boise's foothills along roads that local cyclists often ride.
You can follow updates about the final stage of the Exergy Tour on Twitter @sadiebabits and share your comments below if you're watching the race.