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Commerce Bank Triple Crown
USA, June 3-8, 2008
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Race 2 - June 3: Lehigh Valley Classic (Women), 40.2km/25mi
Teutenberg solos to win
By Mark Zalewski, North American Editor in Allentown, Pennsylvania
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While the rest of her team-mates are busy dominating Le Tour du Grand Montréal, High Road's Ina Teutenberg once again came down to Philly week to get some speed training by contesting the two criterium races before Sunday's Liberty Classic. But unlike the past two years with smaller fields of domestic teams and elite amateurs, this year's series has more firepower in it - including riders such as former world champion Kristin Armstrong and her European Cervelo-Lifeforce team.
Also in the field were domestic powers like United States of America Criterium Champion Tina Pic (Colavita-Sutter Home) and Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine). One would think Teutenberg at a disadvantage without a lead-out - lead-out, schmeede-out, as the German simply rode away from the entire field for a solo victory.
"I think everyone wanted to get a break away without me, because they knew I didn't have any team-mates," she told Cyclingnews. "So it was pretty hard racing and I had to be clever to get in the breaks."
The race finally came down to four with Teutenberg and Van Gilder riding with Allison Powers (Colavita-Sutter Home) and Sarah Duster (Cervelo-Lifeforce) sitting on.
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"The other two weren't really working," said Teutenberg. "Laura already attacked off the front and they both looked at me and I said, 'Ya know, at least one needs to work'. But I attacked them a little later so their tactic didn't really work."
Then it was two going into the final lap of the 30 mile race. On the backside of the course was a small hill, which ended up making the difference in the end.
"I attacked on the hill so I had an initial gap, and I pushed it because I wasn't so sure how fast I was after all what I did," she said. "It was a very strong field and it created a lot of opportunities, and it was a taxing course, so it was a good tactical race. The wind added another element, so that with the hill made a difference."
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Van Gilder was enthused by the turnout of the women's field, at least double last year's, and hoped the organizer took notice. "I hope they increase the prize so that it is competitive with the men," she said. "With a field of this caliber I think we are deserving of proper compensation, and I am happy we are here in Allentown."
Armstrong finished in the field with a team-mate up the road, but is content just to get the racing legs moving again as the riders start their training for the Olympics.
"The promoter asked if we wanted to come to the two crits, and we thought the girls would have a good time," said Armstrong. "And we are just starting to now build up to training for Beijing coming out of a training camp. A lot of the girls hadn't been to America before so it would be fun for them!"
"I was really impressed with the race, because I had told the girls to expect around 40 starters," she said. "And then I get to the start line and I saw 85 on the start list...I was impressed. Ina was definitely the strongest out there."
The women's criterium series continues in Reading on Thursday, while the rest of the women's peloton will be on hand Sunday for the Liberty Classic.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by
Jonathan Devich/
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) crosses the line solo for victory in the Lehigh Valley Classic.
- The women are off in downtown Allentown, PA for the Lehigh Valley Classic.
- Value Act Capitol tried hard to figure into today's hard race.
- Sarah Duster (Cervelo-Lifeforce) going after the break.
- Iona Wynter-Parks (Colavita-Sutter Home) gave it all for the team today.
- Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) making the break.
- Colavita-Sutter Home kept on top of things at the front.
- Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) kept the pressure on the other diers.
- The Juice Plus team was on the scene today too.
- Iona Wynter-Parks (Colavita-Sutter Home) bringing back the break.
- Tina Pic (Colovita) and team-mate Iona Wynter-Parks going after the group up the road.
- Tina Pic (Colovita) never made it up to the break.
- The Vanderkitten girls were also trying to make it up to the fast moving break.
- Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) powering the break.
- One of the chase groups that split off of the main bunch.
- The peloton comes through on the back side.
- The break comes up the small rise on the back.
- The chase was on in the women's event at the Lehigh Valley Classic.
- Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) gets congratulations from kids on the sideline after her big win.
- Podium (L-R): Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine Cycling), Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road - Women) and Alison Powers (Colavita/Sutter Home - Cooking Light).
Images by Kurt Jambretz /www.actionimages.cc
- Erica Allar (Aaron's Pro Cycling) straightens her jersey and prepares for battle.
- Fresh from a victory last week at the CSC Invitational, Catherine Cheatley (Cheerwine) was looking for a return trip to the podium.
- Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) fastens her helmet on the line.
- Emily Zell (ValueAct Capital) out of the saddle on the home stretch as the pace intensifies.
- Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) keeps a close eye on the action up the road.
- Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) leads the women's field up the hill.
- Alison Powers (Colavita/Sutter Home) explodes of the front of the field.
- Ina Teutenberg (Team High Road) bridges solo to the break.
- Marni Hambleton (ValueAct Capital) sprints out of turn one.
- Suddenly disaster struck for a few riders in the chase group.
- Alison Powers (Colavita/Sutter Home) leads the chase group through the final corner.
- A Cervelo-Life Force rider accelerates after a small break is off the front.
- Iona Wynter (Colavita/Sutter Home) picks up the pace and strings out the field.
- Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home) flies up the road toward the break away group.
- Chrissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital) leads the chase up the hill.
- Erica Allar (Aaron's Pro Cycling) went down in the final turn while chasing the break.
Results
1 Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Team High Road - Women 2 Laura Van Gilder (USA) Cheerwine Cycling 3 Alison Powers (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 4 Sarah Duster (Ger) Cervelo-Lifeforce 5 Tina Pic (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 6 Kelly Benjamin (USA) Cheerwine Cycling 7 Martina Patella (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team 8 Erica Allar (USA) Aaron's Professional Women's C 9 Catherine Cheatley (NZl) Cheerwine Cycling 10 Laura Mccaughey (USA) Juice Plus/NC cycling 11 Kristin Armstrong (USA) Cervelo-Lifeforce 12 Rebecca Larson (USA) Aaron's Professional Women's C 13 Melissa Sanborn (USA) Vanderkitten Racing 14 Christina Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team 15 Robin Farina (USA) Cheerwine Cycling 16 Liz Hatch (USA) Vanderkitten Racing 17 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce 18 Susy Pryde (NZl) Jazz Apple 19 Holli Steelman (USA) Juice Plus/NC cycling 20 Steph Roorda (Can) Juice Plus+ Cycling Team 21 Sharon Allpress (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team 22 Kate Veronneau (USA) Kutztown Cutters 23 Marple Stacy (USA) Cheerwine Cycling 24 Marni Hambleton (Can) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team 25 Catherine Powers (USA) Aaron's Professional Women's C 26 Sarah Caravella (USA) Team TIBCO 27 Emma Rickards (Aus) Cervelo-Lifeforce 28 Jacquelyn Crowell (USA) Team Kenda Tire 29 Kate Flore (USA) HPC powered by Altarum 30 Jessie Maclean (USA) Verducci/Breakaway Racing 31 Dale Tye (NZl) Hub Racing 32 Sarah Bamberger (USA) Cheerwine Cycling 33 Pascale Schnider (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce DNS Anna Lang (USA) Aaron's Professional Women's C DNS Andrea Dvorak (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooki DNS Nichole Wangsgard (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooki DNS Liz Leyden (Aus) Hub Racing DNS Lauren Ellis (USA) Jazz Apple DNS Belinda Goss (Aus) Jazz Apple DNS Sarah Tillotson (USA) Team Advil-ChapStick DNS Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO DNF Christy Blakely (USA) BMW-Bianchi DNF Laura Weislo (USA) BMW-Bianchi DNF Sonja Evers (USA) C3-Sollay.com DNF Diane Grim (USA) C3-Sollay.com DNF Lorraine Lipfert (USA) C3-Sollay.com DNF Beth Mason (USA) C3-Sollay.com DNF Janet Olney (USA) C3-Sollay.com DNF Heidi Von Teitenberg (USA) C3-Sollay.com DNF Patricia Schwager (Swi) Cervelo-Lifeforce DNF Lenore Imhof (USA) Colavita Racing, Inc. DNF Shontell Gauthier (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooki DNF PARKS, Iona Wynter (USA) Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooki DNF Kristy Swope (USA) EPS/CSS/Riptide Cycling DNF Lorena Candrian (USA) HPC powered by Altarum DNF Lesley Golenor (USA) HPC powered by Altarum DNF Jennifer Rasmusson (USA) HPC powered by Altarum DNF Kristy Scheffenacker (USA) HPC powered by Altarum DNF Jenette Williams (USA) HPC/LIST DNF Alison Fischer (USA) Hub Racing DNF Emma Giddens (USA) Hub Racing DNF Leeanne Manderson (Aus) Hub Racing DNF Brooke O'connor (USA) Hub Racing DNF Nonnie Howard (USA) Human Zoom/Pabst Blue Ribbon DNF Malindi Maclean (NZl) Jazz Apple DNF Amity Elliot (USA) Juice Plus DNF Rachel Warner (USA) Juice Plus/NC cycling DNF Yukie Nakamura (USA) Team Kenda Tire DNF Veronica Martinez (Arg) JVR Sports DNF Colleen Hayduk (USA) Kutztown Inn / Bicycling World DNF Kimberly Geist (USA) Metro Volkswagen DNF Natalie Klemko (USA) Team Advil-ChapStick DNF Marjan Huizing (USA) Team Kenda Tire DNF Jennifer Maxwell (USA) Team Kenda Tire DNF Rushlee Buchanan (USA) Team TIBCO DNF Sinead Miller (USA) UPMC Cycling Performance DNF Lara Kroepsch (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team DNF Flavia Oliveira (USA) Vanderkitten Racing DNF Jennifer Wilson (USA) Vanderkitten Racing DNF Theresa Cliff-Ryan (USA) Verducci Breakaway Racing DNF Kacey Manderfield (USA) Verducci Breakaway Racing DNF Tricia Carnila (USA) Verducci/Breakaway Racing DNF Lisa Jellett (USA) Verducci/Breakaway Racing DNF Kele Murdin (USA) Verducci/Breakaway Racing DNF Jacqueline Paull (USA) Watchung Wheelmen/High Gear Cy
