Women's Challenge
Encyclopedia
The Women's Challenge bicycle race (most commonly known as the Ore-Ida Women's Challenge, after its leading sponsor of "Ore-Ida" brand frozen potato products) was held annually in and around southern Idaho
beginning in 1984 until its demise in 2002. During much of its 19 year history, it was the most prestigious women's cycle race in North America. From 1995, when it first obtained sanctioning from the Union Cycliste Internationale
(UCI), the international governing body for cycling, it developed into one of the strongest races in the world, attracting numerous World and Olympic Champions.
Prior to that, in 1990, the UCI had refused to sanction the event, citing as their reason the "excessive climbing, stage distances, number of stages, and duration of event".
The following year (1991) marked the debut on the international scene of a team representing Lithuania
, which had just recently declared its independence and was still awaiting recognition as a country.
The race, which was run almost entirely by volunteers, set a very high standard in terms of technical administration and conduct of the race itself. Jim Rabdau, the race founder, served as chief organizer of the race throughout its entire history.
By the late 1990s, the race was able to attract sufficient sponsorship money to offer the richest prize fund ever in women's cycling and, for a while, was the richest prize fund race in North America, men's or women's. At its peak, it offered $125,000 in prizes.
However, cuts in sponsorship forced a reduction in prize money to $75,000 in its last year (2002) and no title sponsor could be found to replace the outgoing sponsor for the following year, forcing the cancellation of the race. Race organizers cited a downturn in the economy as the reason.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
beginning in 1984 until its demise in 2002. During much of its 19 year history, it was the most prestigious women's cycle race in North America. From 1995, when it first obtained sanctioning from the Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale
Union Cycliste Internationale is the world governing body for sports cycling and oversees international competitive cycling events. The UCI is based in Aigle, Switzerland....
(UCI), the international governing body for cycling, it developed into one of the strongest races in the world, attracting numerous World and Olympic Champions.
Prior to that, in 1990, the UCI had refused to sanction the event, citing as their reason the "excessive climbing, stage distances, number of stages, and duration of event".
The following year (1991) marked the debut on the international scene of a team representing Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, which had just recently declared its independence and was still awaiting recognition as a country.
The race, which was run almost entirely by volunteers, set a very high standard in terms of technical administration and conduct of the race itself. Jim Rabdau, the race founder, served as chief organizer of the race throughout its entire history.
By the late 1990s, the race was able to attract sufficient sponsorship money to offer the richest prize fund ever in women's cycling and, for a while, was the richest prize fund race in North America, men's or women's. At its peak, it offered $125,000 in prizes.
However, cuts in sponsorship forced a reduction in prize money to $75,000 in its last year (2002) and no title sponsor could be found to replace the outgoing sponsor for the following year, forcing the cancellation of the race. Race organizers cited a downturn in the economy as the reason.
Women's Challenge Past Winners
| Year | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Rebecca Twigg Rebecca Twigg Rebecca Twigg is an American former racing cyclist, who won six world track cycling championships in the individual pursuit... |
Cindy Olavetti | Inga Thompson Inga Thompson Inga Thompson is a road bicycle racing professional from Reno, Nevada. She started professional cycling at 20, in 1984. That year she rode the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics road race and finished 21st. Her career ran from 1984 to 1993... |
| 1985 | Rebecca Twigg Rebecca Twigg Rebecca Twigg is an American former racing cyclist, who won six world track cycling championships in the individual pursuit... |
Inga Thompson Inga Thompson Inga Thompson is a road bicycle racing professional from Reno, Nevada. She started professional cycling at 20, in 1984. That year she rode the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics road race and finished 21st. Her career ran from 1984 to 1993... |
Sally Kittredge |
| 1986 | Rebecca Twigg Rebecca Twigg Rebecca Twigg is an American former racing cyclist, who won six world track cycling championships in the individual pursuit... |
Madonna Harris | Susan Ehlers |
| 1987 | Inga Thompson Inga Thompson Inga Thompson is a road bicycle racing professional from Reno, Nevada. She started professional cycling at 20, in 1984. That year she rode the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics road race and finished 21st. Her career ran from 1984 to 1993... |
Katrin Tobin | Susan Ehlers |
| 1988 | Katrin Tobin | Jane Marshall | Sara Neil |
| 1989 | Lisa Brambani (GBR) | Ruthie Matthes Ruthie Matthes Ruthie Matthes is an American professional bicycle racer who won the World Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championship in 1991. She is also a road cyclist, having twice finished in 2nd place in the Women's Challenge bicycle stage race... (USA) |
Jane Marshall |
| 1990 | Inga Thompson Inga Thompson Inga Thompson is a road bicycle racing professional from Reno, Nevada. She started professional cycling at 20, in 1984. That year she rode the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics road race and finished 21st. Her career ran from 1984 to 1993... (USA) |
Ruthie Matthes Ruthie Matthes Ruthie Matthes is an American professional bicycle racer who won the World Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championship in 1991. She is also a road cyclist, having twice finished in 2nd place in the Women's Challenge bicycle stage race... (USA) |
Lisa Brambani (GBR) |
| 1991 | Jeannie Longo Jeannie Longo Jeannie Longo is a French racing cyclist, multiple French champion and 13 times world champion. Longo is still active in cycling as of 2011 and is widely considered one of the greatest female cyclists of all time... (FRA) |
Dede Demet Dede Barry Deirdre Demet Barry is an American female cycle racer, six times U.S. champion . She has won two World Cup races, two World Championship medals, and, in 2004, the silver medal in the time trial in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She is married to fellow professionial cyclist Michael Barry... (USA) |
Diana Cepeliene (LTU) |
| 1992 | Eve Stephenson (USA) | Inga Thompson Inga Thompson Inga Thompson is a road bicycle racing professional from Reno, Nevada. She started professional cycling at 20, in 1984. That year she rode the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics road race and finished 21st. Her career ran from 1984 to 1993... (USA) |
Jeanne Golay Jeanne Golay Jeanne Golay is a former American road bicycle racing professional from Coral Gables, Florida. She won the 1992, 1994 and 1995 United States National Road Race Championships, and the 1992 world team time-trial championship, and competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.In... (USA) |
| 1993 | Jeanne Golay Jeanne Golay Jeanne Golay is a former American road bicycle racing professional from Coral Gables, Florida. She won the 1992, 1994 and 1995 United States National Road Race Championships, and the 1992 world team time-trial championship, and competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.In... (USA) |
Eve Stephenson (USA) | Karen Kurreck (USA) |
| 1994 | Clara Hughes Clara Hughes Clara Hughes, OC, OM is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater, and has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. Hughes won two bronze in the Summer Olympics in 1996 and four medals over the course of three Winter Olympics... (CAN) |
Anne Samplonius (CAN) | Karen Kurreck (USA) |
| 1995 | Dede Demet Dede Barry Deirdre Demet Barry is an American female cycle racer, six times U.S. champion . She has won two World Cup races, two World Championship medals, and, in 2004, the silver medal in the time trial in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She is married to fellow professionial cyclist Michael Barry... (USA) |
Jeanne Golay Jeanne Golay Jeanne Golay is a former American road bicycle racing professional from Coral Gables, Florida. She won the 1992, 1994 and 1995 United States National Road Race Championships, and the 1992 world team time-trial championship, and competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and 1996 Atlanta Olympics.In... (USA) |
Mari Holden Mari Holden Mari Kim Holden is an American cycle racer. She won the world time trial championship in 2000 after winning a silver medal in the Olympic Games time trial in Sydney, Australia. She also won six U.S. championships, becoming the first American woman to win three consecutive U.S... (USA) |
| 1996 | Anna Wilson Anna Millward Anna Millward, née Wilson, is an Australian female cycle racer. She holds an LLB/BSc degree from Monash University . During her cycling career, she won the overall UCI points title in 2001, and twice was UCI overall World Cup points champion, winning a total of 5 World Cup races in her career... (AUS) |
Clara Hughes Clara Hughes Clara Hughes, OC, OM is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater, and has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. Hughes won two bronze in the Summer Olympics in 1996 and four medals over the course of three Winter Olympics... (CAN) |
Dede Demet Dede Barry Deirdre Demet Barry is an American female cycle racer, six times U.S. champion . She has won two World Cup races, two World Championship medals, and, in 2004, the silver medal in the time trial in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She is married to fellow professionial cyclist Michael Barry... (USA) |
| 1997 | Rasa Polikevičiūtė Rasa Polikeviciute Rasa Polikevičiūtė is a Lithuanian cycle racer. She was one of the first in a long line of Lithuanian cyclists who, together, established Lithuania as one of the powerhouses of women's cycle racing in the 1990s and beyond... (LTU) |
Linda Jackson Linda Jackson (cyclist) Linda Jackson is best known as a former Canadian professional bicycle road racer. She is now a coach, having previous experience as an investment banker. Jackson won the bronze medal at the 1996 World Road Racing Championships... (CAN) |
Zulfiya Zabirova Zulfiya Zabirova Zulfiya Zabirova is a Russian professional cycle racer who won the Gold medal in the time trial event in the 1996 Olympics and later, in 2002, won the World Time Trial Championship.-Biography:... (RUS) |
| 1998 | Linda Jackson (CAN) | Valentina Polkhanova (RUS) | Diana Žiliūtė Diana Žiliute Diana Žiliūtė is a Lithuanian racing cyclist who dominated the sport in the late 1990s, and continues to be a formidable force in road cycling to this day.... (LTU) |
| 1999 | Jeannie Longo Jeannie Longo Jeannie Longo is a French racing cyclist, multiple French champion and 13 times world champion. Longo is still active in cycling as of 2011 and is widely considered one of the greatest female cyclists of all time... (FRA) |
Mari Holden Mari Holden Mari Kim Holden is an American cycle racer. She won the world time trial championship in 2000 after winning a silver medal in the Olympic Games time trial in Sydney, Australia. She also won six U.S. championships, becoming the first American woman to win three consecutive U.S... (USA) |
Zulfiya Zabirova Zulfiya Zabirova Zulfiya Zabirova is a Russian professional cycle racer who won the Gold medal in the time trial event in the 1996 Olympics and later, in 2002, won the World Time Trial Championship.-Biography:... (RUS) |
| 2000 | Anna Wilson Anna Millward Anna Millward, née Wilson, is an Australian female cycle racer. She holds an LLB/BSc degree from Monash University . During her cycling career, she won the overall UCI points title in 2001, and twice was UCI overall World Cup points champion, winning a total of 5 World Cup races in her career... (AUS) |
Diana Žiliūtė Diana Žiliute Diana Žiliūtė is a Lithuanian racing cyclist who dominated the sport in the late 1990s, and continues to be a formidable force in road cycling to this day.... (LTU) |
Sarah Ulmer Sarah Ulmer Sarah Elizabeth Ulmer, ONZM is the first New Zealander to win an Olympic cycling gold. She won a gold medal and set world records at the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens,.... (NZL) |
| 2001 | Lyne Bessette Lyne Bessette Lyne Bessette is a professional bicycle racer from Quebec, Canada. She was a member of the Canadian Olympic team in 2000 and 2004. She won the Tour de l'Aude Feminin in 1999 and 2001 and the Women's Challenge in 2001... (CAN) |
Judith Arndt Judith Arndt Judith Arndt is a German professional cyclist for the T-Mobile Women cycling team. She won the bronze medal in the 3000 m pursuit event at the 1996 Summer Olympics when she was 20... (GER) |
Rasa Polikevičiūtė Rasa Polikeviciute Rasa Polikevičiūtė is a Lithuanian cycle racer. She was one of the first in a long line of Lithuanian cyclists who, together, established Lithuania as one of the powerhouses of women's cycle racing in the 1990s and beyond... (LTU) |
| 2002 | Judith Arndt Judith Arndt Judith Arndt is a German professional cyclist for the T-Mobile Women cycling team. She won the bronze medal in the 3000 m pursuit event at the 1996 Summer Olympics when she was 20... (GER) |
Genevieve Jeanson Geneviève Jeanson Geneviève Jeanson is a former professional bicycle racer from Quebec, Canada. She won the world junior road and time trial championships in 1999 and the Tour de Snowy in 2000. Later that year she won La Flèche Wallonne World Cup race. She joined the Canadian Olympic team that year... (CAN) |
Kim Bruckner (USA) |
External links
- Official Site of event (contains info on why event ended)
- Cycling News article on 2002 event