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Wachovia Cycling Series
USA, May 31-June 5, 2005
Main Page Results Race Details & Start List Live report Previous Race
Liberty Classic - June 5: Liberty Classic, 90.56km
Teutenberg takes the win herself
A change of strategy for the women's race
By Kristy Scrymgeour
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Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) has been in the winning team of the Liberty Classic every time she has participated. Starting in 1996 when Petra Rossner won the race for the first of seven years, Teutenberg has been there for five of Rossner's seven wins and was instrumental in the win of Lyne Bessette, who won the race in 2003. This time however, was a little different, as Teutenberg had the chance to win the race herself.
Covering four laps of the course in Philadelphia for a total of 92km, the women's race split up on the very first lap. T-Mobile put the pressure on the first time up the infamous Manayunk wall and a group of 14 riders got a gap on the field.
"I looked back," explained Teutenberg, "and all of a sudden I couldn't see anybody behind me. We had three riders up there so I told the girls we had to work."
Missing the break was Judith Arndt and Regina Schleicher (Nurnberger), as well as other big players. Kristin Armstrong and Kimberly Baldwin set the pace for T-Mobile in the break forcing Nurnberger to chase.
"I wanted to make sure we got over the second climb before anyone could bridge across," said Teutenberg.
On the second climb Arndt attacked taking her teammate Schleicher with her as well as Edita Pucinskaite (Nobili) and Laura Van Gilder and Tina Pic (Quark), and the break became a group of about 20. Holden also came across with this group giving T-Mobile yet another rider to play with. By this time the gap to the rest of the field was over a minute. Victory Brewing has Amy Moore in the break, but knowing that her chances up there alone were slim, it was their job to start the chase. With the help of Colavita Olive Oil, they spend the remainder of the race on the front in attempt to bring things back.
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With Holden and Bruckner working on the front, as well as Erinne Willock (Webcor) working for her teammate Christine Thorburn and Edita Pucinaskaite and Sigrid Corneo working for their sprinter Joanne Keisanowski, the break never looked like coming back. It was in the last lap, going up Lemon Hill that Nurnberger started to play their cards. Judith Arndt attacked hard getting a convincing gap, but T-Mobile used their horsepower to bring it back. After getting caught, Arndt didn't waste any time and counter attacked her own move, forcing T-Mobile to chase yet again.
When Arndt was caught, Armstrong kept the pace high until they rounded the last bend and Tina Pic started the lead out for Van Gilder. Teutenberg was on the wheel of Van Gilder with Schleicher on her wheel and came around with 100m to go. Schleicher tried to come around her, but Teutenberg held her off to take her first win at the Liberty Classic, clocking a total of ten wins for the year.
"I knew Schleicher was on my wheel, as she was there for the whole last lap, but Tina did a really good job in the leadout," explained Teutenberg. "I hopped on Van Gilder's wheel and with 100m to go I was waiting for her to go and she hesitated, so I went around. She was slightly on the right of Tina's wheel so she had to wait for me to pass. I could see Schleicher closing on me but she didn't make it. Maybe another 30 meters and she would have passed me."
Rarely showing emotion at the end of bike races, this win certainly put a smile on Teutenberg's face. "I'm really happy," she told Cyclingnews after the race. It's really nice to win a big bike race like this."
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"T-Mobile was amazing today," she added. "They did such an amazing job. I felt really good all day and I didn't have to do a thing. It was a good situation that the break went up the road. It made things much safer and I felt comfortable. I was worried the last time up the climb but its seems everyone was tired so nothing went."
Cyclingnews also caught up with Rossner who was very excited by the result, despite the fact that it wasn't a win for her team. "I have won this race seven times and Teutenberg has helped me win it five of those time. During the race I had a feeling she would win it and I'm very happy for her."
Of her teams' tactics, Rossner was also pleased. "We had a perfect race and the girls did everything right, they just didn't have it in the end. It was a good result and I think the girls are happy with it."
Tina Pic was a little disappointed with the finish, but still pleased that her teammate Van Gilder placed third. "I tried to lead Laura out," she explained. "We were both sitting in the wind so I started to lead her out. I think she is a bit bummed but I think she did well. It's a good result.
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Having just come back from racing in the 10-day Tour de L'Aude in France, Pic said she was a bit worried. "I took two weeks off the bike when I got home because I was so fried. But today I felt good. It was a great race," she added. "I was so surprised that break stayed away."
Van Gilder had more than one word to say when Cyclingnews caught up with her, but the first word was "disappointment."
"I felt like the team had a great ride," she added. "Tina and I made the selection and that was the race, but then there we were sprinting and I guess it just wasn't my day to be on the top spot of the podium. But I guess I was in good company."
In the sprint Van Gilder explained, "I didn't want to go too early because it was windy, but then all of a sudden Ina was sprinting and I though, oh darn I should have gone. But it's a long sprint you know and you can see it from a long way out. The situation in the race came down exactly how I wanted it to, a small group. Maybe I just didn't execute the sprint well enough."
Van Gilder still hopes her performance here will help her get selected for World Championships. "I've been on the podium here more times than anyone except Petra [Rossner], which is a pretty good thing, so I guess third is not too bad."
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us
- Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) wins the Liberty Classic
- The women make their way up the wall on the first lap.
- Errine Willock (Webcor) rides at the front.
- The break that finally gets up the road.
- Judith Arndt (Equipe Nurnburger) leads the bunch.
- Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) rides next to second place finisher Regina Schleicher (Equipe Nurnburger).
- The group chases the leaders.
- Breakaway riders make their way up Lemon Hill.
- A well known Philly statue rears up as the bunch goes by.
- Kristen Armstrong (T-Mobile) leads the bunch on the wall.
- Errine Willock (Webcor) feels the pain on the wall.
- Riders make their way up the step climb of Manyunk.
- Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) leads the sprint.
- Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) takes the win.
Images by Nancy Wright/www.wAbbiOrca.com
- The women's field makes its way up Manayunk Wall
- Judith Arndt (Equipe Nurnberger) sports her world champion jersey
- Sara Bamberger (Touchstone Climbing)
- Christine Thorburn (Webcor Builders) leads it up Lemon Hill
- Ina Yoko Teutenberg (T-Mobile) wins the Liberty Classic
- T-Mobile teammates celebrate Ina Teutenberg's victory
Images by Mitch Friedman/www.mitchophoto.com
- Mari Holden (T-Mobile) with Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) and Christine Thorburn (Webcor)
- Sherri Stedje attacks early on
- Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) goes up the hill
- Joanna Kiesanowski (Nobili) on the Wall
- Erinne Willock of Webcor
- Tina Pic tries to get away
- Joanna Kiesanowski (Nobili) drinks
- Daniella Fusar Poli (Nobili)
- Arndt attacks
- Kim Baldwin (T-Mobile)
- Mackenzie Dickey struggles on the wall
- Some race carnage as riders crash
- Deb Elliot after crashing
- The manhole cover that was broken
- Three men work on the manhole cover to get it fixed
- Judith Arndt (Nurnberger) drinks
- Ina Teutenberg just gets the win at the line
- Ina talks to the TV
- Cooling off after the race
- T-Mobile girls are a happy bunch
Images by Todd Leister
- Ina Yoko Teutenberg (T-Mobile) looks calm and confident before the race.
- May Britt Hartwell (Diet Cheerwine) pitches a smile for the camera.
- The large women's field is staged.
- Judith Arndt (Equipe Nurnberger) picked the correct color kit to deal with the 90 degree heat.
- The women crest Lemon Hill as the Channel 6/Philadelphia Zoo Balloon hovers overhead.
Results
Provisional 1 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 2.24.47 2 Regina Schleicher (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger 3 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Team Quark 4 Oenone Wood (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger 5 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Nobili Rubinetteri 6 Edita Pucinskaite (Ltu) Nobili Rubinetteri 7 Judith Arndt (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger 8 Sigrid Corneo (Ita) Nobili Rubinetteri 9 Tina Pic (USA) Team Quark 10 Lynn Gaggioli (USA) East Coast Velo 11 Amy Moore (Can) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta 12 Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor Builders 0.03 13 Kimberly Baldwin (USA) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 0.06 14 Kristen Armstrong (USA) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 0.17 15 Rochelle Gilmore (Aus) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta 0.53 16 Melissa Sanborn (USA) Subway 17 Gina Grain (Can) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta 18 Olga Slioussareva (Rus) Nobili Rubinetteri 19 Lauren Franges (USA) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta 20 Kori Seehofer (USA) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 21 Daniela Fusar Poli (Ita) Nobili Rubinetteri 22 Kimberly Cunningham (USA) Morgan Stanley 24 Hr Fitness 23 Sarah Bamberger (USA) Touchstone Climbing 24 Nicolle Freedman (Isr) Ford/Basis 25 Katherine Carroll (USA) BMW Bianchi 26 Meredith Miller (USA) Nobili Rubinetteri 27 Kathleen Billington (USA) Diet Cheerwine 28 Allie Warfel (USA) Morgan Stanley 24 Hr Fitness 29 Liza Rachetto (USA) Team Lipton 30 Annette Beutler (Sui) Team Quark 31 Nicole Wangsgard (USA) Subway 32 Kristen Sanders (USA) East Coast Velo 33 Julie Belanger (Can) Diet Cheerwine 34 Michele Beltran (USA) Colavita Cooking Light 35 Nancy Lux (USA) BMW Bianchi 36 Leigh Valetti (USA) Travelgirl Magazine 37 Mari Holden (USA) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 38 Rhonda Stickle (Can) Diet Cheerwine 39 Christina Dekraay (USA) Team Fuji 40 Leigh Hobson (Can) Diet Cheerwine 41 Karen Brems (USA) Webcor Builders 42 Iona Wynter (Jam) Travelgirl Magazine 43 Sarah Bresnick Zacchi (USA) Ford/Basis 44 Kristin Lasasso (USA) Team Lipton 45 Catherine Malone (USA) Webcor Builders 46 Hiroko Shimada (Jpn) Velo Bella 47 Jennifer Stephenson (Can) Team Biovail 48 Heidi Goldberg (USA) Easton Specialized 49 Starr Falk (USA) Easton Specialized 50 Katheryn Curi (USA) Webcor Builders 51 Lara Kroepsch (USA) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 52 Kate Sherwin (USA) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta 53 Maggie Shirley (USA) Travelgirl Magazine 54 Katie Mactier (Aus) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 55 Kim Anderson (USA) Colavita Cooking Light 56 Felicia Greer (Can) Webcor Builders 57 Erin Mirabella (USA) Bicycle John's 58 Suzanne Macht (Can) Canadian National Team 59 Helen Kelly (Aus) Team Quark 60 Errine Willock (Can) Webcor Builders 61 Audrey Lemieux (Can) Team Quark 62 Sarah Uhl (USA) Team Quark 63 Brenda Lyons (USA) Touchstone Climbing 1.13 64 Cindy Carroll (USA) Morgan Stanley 24 Hr Fitness 65 Kristen Robbins (Can) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta 66 Rebecca Much (USA) T-Mobile Pro Cycling Team 67 Sarah Sauvayre (USA) Velo Girls 1.27 68 Tammy Sadle (USA) Easton Specialized 69 Kim Geist (USA) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta 70 Sandra Kolb (USA) Bicycle John's 71 Sima Trapp (USA) Subway 72 Candice Blickem (USA) Team Quark 1.30 73 Sarah Tillotson (USA) Velo Girls 74 Mai Britt Hartwell (Nor) Diet Cheerwine 75 Jill Mclaughlin (USA) Velo Bella 76 Megan Esmonde (USA) Colavita Cooking Light 77 Mackenzie Dickey (USA) Verducci Breakaway 2.02 78 Kristin Caldwell (USA) Morgan Stanley 24 Hr Fitness 79 Dotsie Cowden (USA) Colavita Cooking Light 80 Christina Peick (Den) Colavita Cooking Light 81 Brooke O'Conner (USA) Hub Racing 2.22 82 Mo Devlin (USA) Touchstone Climbing 83 Laura Downey (USA) Kenda Tire 3.23 84 Kimberly Sawyer (USA) Travelgirl Magazine 85 Daniele Staskal (USA) BMW Bianchi 86 Robin Farina (USA) Ford/Basis 87 Allyson Brandt (USA) Team Fuji 88 Liz Begosh (USA) Velo Bella 89 Jennifer Reither (USA) Bicycle John's 90 Sinead Fitzgibbons (USA) Team Lipton 91 Shawn Heidgen (USA) Amoroso's Bicycle Therapy 92 Sherri Stedje (USA) Bicycle John's 93 Jenette Williams (USA) Easton Specialized 4.23 DNF Penny Avril (Gbr) Touchstone Climbing DNF Marie Per Bedard (Can) Canadian National Team DNF Ann Bell (USA) Kenda Tire DNF Sarah Bickerstaff (USA) East Coast Velo DNF Betsey Bloom Galenti (USA) Bicycle John's DNF Michele Bote (USA) Hub Racing DNF Kari Bradley (USA) Travelgirl Magazine DNF Sarah Caravella (USA) Team Fuji DNF Allison Carter (USA) Kenda Tire DNF Diane Castor (USA) Velo Bella DNF Amanda Leigh Cox (Can) East Coast Velo DNF Dani Dembrak (USA) Ford/Basis DNF Mary Downing (USA) Kenda Tire DNF Kristin Drumm (USA) Morgan Stanley 24 Hr Fitness DNF Debbie Dust (USA) Kenda Tire DNF Andrea Dvorak (USA) Touchstone Climbing DNF Deborah Elliott (USA) Ford/Basis DNF Sandy Espeseth (Can) Victory Brewing Cycling Team/Safi Pasta DNF Sheba Farrin (USA) Hub Racing DNF Alison Fischer (USA) East Coast Velo DNF Grace Fleury (USA) Team Quark DNF Kim Foland (USA) Travelgirl Magazine DNF Sami Fournier (USA) Velo Bella DNF Pauline Frascone (USA) Verducci Breakaway DNF Elisa Gagnon (Can) Team Lipton DNF Genevieve Gagon (Can) Canadian National Team DNF Anna Garnett (Can) Team Biovail DNF Oliva Gollan (Aus) Equipe Nurnberger DNF Stefanie Graeter (USA) Webcor Builders DNF Jenn Green (USA) Travelgirl Magazine DNF Tracey Grimshaw (Can) Travelgirl Magazine DNF Caroline Hacker (USA) Velo Bella DNF Susan Hefler (USA) Easton Specialized DNF Pam Hinton (USA) Velo Girls DNF Nonnie Howard (USA) Verducci Breakaway DNF Shannon Hutchison (USA) BMW Bianchi DNF Angela Johnson (USA) Bicycle John's DNF Ashley Kimmet (USA) Colavita Cooking Light DNF Rebecca Koh (USA) Velo Girls DNF Katherine Lambden (USA) Team Lipton DNF Heather Lamson (Can) Canadian National Team DNF Rebecca Larson (USA) Colavita Cooking Light DNF Amanda Lawrence (USA) Verducci Breakaway DNF Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Equipe Nurnberger DNF Mandy Lozano (USA) BMW Bianchi DNF Jennifer Magur (USA) Team Biovail DNF Lynn Maldonado (USA) Amoroso's Bicycle Therapy DNF Mindi Martin (USA) Velo Girls DNF Veronica Martinez (Arg) Amoroso's Bicycle Therapy DNF Rosy McCall (NZl) Team Fuji DNF Cara McCauley (USA) BMW Bianchi DNF Leeanne Menderson (Aus) Hub Racing DNF Anna Mikowski (USA) Team Lipton DNF Diane Miller, (USA) Easton Specialized DNF Elizabeth Morse (USA) Team Fuji DNF Ellen Moses (USA) Velo Girls DNF Rebecca Nelson (Can) Team Biovail DNF Shiela Orem (USA) Kenda Tire DNF Zoe Owers (USA) Team Lipton DNF Sue Palmer Komar (Can) Colavita Cooking Light DNF Lynn Patchett (Can) Amoroso's Bicycle Therapy DNF Martina Patella (USA) Easton Specialized DNF Melissa Petty (USA) Team Fuji DNF Catherine Powers (USA) Amoroso's Bicycle Therapy DNF Niiki Raspa (USA) Hub Racing DNF Beth Renaud (USA) Velo Girls DNF Chrissy Saraceni (USA) Verducci Breakaway DNF Kristy Scheffenacker (USA) Velo Bella DNF Patricia Schwager (Sui) Subway DNF Betsy Sellers (USA) Kenda Tire DNF Amanda Shaw (Can) Team Biovail DNF Patty Shoaf (USA) BMW Bianchi DNF Diana Sosnowski (USA) East Coast Velo DNF Lisa Sweeney (Can) Canadian National Team DNF Irene Thomas Johnson (USA) Bicycle John's DNF Jenney Trew (Can) Canadian National Team DNF Christine Vardaros (USA) Velo Bella DNF Tara Walhart (USA) Verducci Breakaway DNF Emily Westbrook (USA) Subway DNF Lindsey Wetzel (USA) Velo Girls DNF Anke Wichmann (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger
