Commerce Bank Triple Crown

USA, June 3-8, 2008

Photography

Stage 6 - June 8: Liberty Classic, 160.9km/100mi

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Images by Jonathan Devich/

Chantal Beltman (Team High Road) takes the day.
Dutchwoman Chantal Beltman (Team High Road) celebrates her win.
The women roll out of downtown Philly.
The women’s peloton rolls along Kelly Drive on the first lap.
Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita) sits comfortably in the field.
Close quarters in the women’s field.
Oenone Wood (High Road) looked a little worse for the wear after her crash.
Kristen Armstrong (Cervelo/Lifeforce) takes off on her own.
Meredith Miller (Aaron’s) goes on the attack.
Aaron’s was trying hard to shake things up.
Team High Road comes to the front to get things under control.
The ValueAct Capitol team was looking for another podium like they got last Sunday in DC.
Riders battled for position once the got to “the wall”.
Kristen Armstrong (Cervelo/Lifeforce) climbs the wall during her solo escape.
Chantal Beltman (High Road) climbing hard in Manayunk.
Christine Thorburn (Webcor) leads a group up the climb.
The Aaron’s team was back at it again, trying to get a rider up the road.
High Road comes to the front to bring back the Aaron’s rider.
The women getting strung out through Fairmount Park.
Chantal Beltman (High Road) does her work on the front of the field before going solo.
Passing by the historic boat houses along Kelly Drive.
Chantal Beltman (High Road) ended up taking the win later in the day.
Riders pass by the Philadelphia Art Museum.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo/LIfeforce) going it alone up Lemon Hill.
Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) was the race favorite but High Road was sneaky today.
The field slows up a little after a hard chase.
Sarah Duster (Cervelo/Lifeforce) focuses on getting up the wall.
Another break gets up the road.
Cheerwone leads a late race break.
Kim Anderson (High Road) gets a well deserved reward after a hot day on the road.

Images by CJ Farquharson/WomensCycling.net

The bunch approaches the climb together on the first lap.
The busy feed zone prior to the race start.
The Aaron's team ride 'The Wall' together early in the race.
The summit: Janel Holcomb (Webcor) searches skywards for the top.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Lifeforce) was a minute ahead as she climbed solo on the second lap.
Team High Road to the front: Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, Chantal Beltman and Mara Abbott chase Armstrong.
Joanne Kiesanowski (Tibco) looking comfortable.
Chrissie Ruiter (ValueAct Capital) climbs strongly on the Manayunk Wall.
Fresh from a strong performance in Montreal, Suzanne De Goede (Equipe Nurnberger) follows a team-mate's wheel.
Iona Wynter Parks (Colavita Sutter) the Jamaican road race champion.
Rachel Heal (Tibco)
Oenone Wood (High Road) and Sarah Duester (Cervelo Lifeforce) at the front of the group which broke away on the third lap.
Eventual winner Chantal Beltman (High Road) sits in the bunch before making her move.
Brooke Miller (Tibco) breathes heavily on the climb. She was to come second overall.
Tina Pic (Colavita Sutter). Her brake levers show evidence of an earlier crash.
Chantal Beltman (High Road) celebrates her win in the 2008 Liberty Classic.
The race podium: Teutenberg, Beltman and Miller.
Best under 23 US rider Kacey Manderfield.

Images by Zui Hanafusa/www.keirin.us

The first time up Manayunk Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Life Force) took the lead
Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita) set the pace up Manayunk
Joanne Kiesanowski (Tibco) made it look like there was a cool breeze
The third group of riders coming up just making contact to the second group
The heat began to take a toll
The ladies with one lap to go
The thermometer stayed at 100 degrees all day
Chantal Beltman (High Road) broke away right at the end of the last lap and she held on to finishing solo
Sprinters kept close together even mid race
Chantal Beltman (High Road) victorious with her last minute solo attack
Ina Teutenberg (High Road) rolls in third as she celebrates her teammate's victory
Chantal Beltman (High Road) very happy to share great news
Kristen Robbins (cyclingnews.com) covered the race and interviewed the athletes
The women's podium: Chantal Beltman (High Road), 2) Brooke Miller (Tibco), and 3) Ina Teutenberg (High Road)
The bag pipes played at the watering station which drizzled the riders as they climbed up Manayunk

Images by Marco Quezada/www.nyvelocity.com

Colavita DS Jack Seehafer Gives the women one more set if instructions.
Sarah Tillotson (Team Advil) gets manicure tips from Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita).
Yep that 100% correct
Australian National Champ Oenone Wood (Team High Road) took a hard fall and has the mud to prove it.
Mara Abbott (Team High Road) stays hydrated in 100 plus degree weather.
Two tickets to the Laura Van Gilder Gun Show Please.
Chantal Beltman (Team High Road) took a last minute flyer
It worked! Chantal Beltman (Team High Road) takes the win at the 2008 Liberty Classic.
Team High Road celebrates a team win.

Stage 5 - June 8: Philadelphia International Championship, 251.0km/156mi

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Images by Jonathan Devich/

Matti Breschel (Team CSC) was the fastest after 251 kilometres at the Philadelphia International Championship.
The podium (l-r): Kirk O'Bee (Health Net p/b Maxxis), Matti Breschel (Team CSC) and Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing).
Riders head for O’Brian’s watering hole as the temperatures rise.
The men make their way up the wall in front of the heavy crowds.
On the fall from the wall.
The heat started to take it’s toll on the riders later in the day.
Heading down Kelly Drive from downtown.
A Toshiba/Santo rider gets some encouragement from the crowd.
Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) goes up to the break.
Riders pass one of the historical mansions in Fairmount Park.
Edward King (Bissell) going with the break.
Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) takes his turn on the front of the break.
Edward King (Bissell) taking his pulls.
Daniel Ramsey (Time) rolling on the front of the break.
Temperatures continued to rise throughout the day.
The mens field gets stretched out near the top of the wall.
Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Home) leads the break and ended up taking the KOM points.
Fans were helping the riders give it their all on the wall.
Alex Candelario (Kelly Benefits) cools off with a sprinkler set up on the course.
Stephan Kincaid (Rite Aid) descends.
Will Frischkorn (Slipstream) had a good week of racing.
The High Road team gets on the front to bring back the break.
High Road still hammering on the front.
CSC got things set up well for team mate Mattie Breschel.
Mattie Breschel (CSC) sitting second wheel, comes to the front on the wall.
The peloton hits the steep section on Lemon Hill.
Rory Sutherland (Healthnet) going hard on Lemon HIll.
Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) carries a group up the steep little climb.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (High Road) on his last time up Lemon Hill.
Fans on Lemon Hill watch the race live on TV when riders aren’t passing by.
It was a close sprint at the line.
Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Home) took home a check for getting the most KOM points.
Mattie Breschel (CSC) 1st, Kirk O'Bee (Healthnet) 2nd and Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing) 3rd.

Images by Richard Schofield/Cyclingnews.com

The neutral support team from Mavic kept the racers in spares when their team cars were too far back to change a wheel.
Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) was a favourite for the race and active to the very last turn.
Rock Racing's Fred Rodriguez a former winner of the Philadelphia International Classic, came third this time around.
Daniele Bennati (Liquigas) came to Philly right off a successful campaign at the Giro d'Italia.
The 196-strong men's field squeeze through the feed zone - desperate for fluids and food to help them through their six-hour, hundred degree ordeal.
A couple thousand fans caught the show on the Lemon Hill climb.
A three-man break containing 2007 Americas Tour champion Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) stayed away for one of the final laps but was caught before the finish.
Even the guys who change wheels need a wheel change every once in a while.
Matti Breschel (Team CSC) interviewed by the press after the hottest Philadelphia International on record - 98 degrees Farenheit on race day.
Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) soaks the cast on his broken wrist in water immediately following the race.
Matti Breschel (Team CSC) wins the 2008 Philadelphia International Championship.

Images by Zui Hanafusa/www.keirin.us

Former US Pro Champion Chann McRae (Slipstream/Chipotle p/b H3O)
Single file up Manayunk on the first lap
The riders kept their cool and kept speeds consistent all day
Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) rocked on!
For the Jittery Joe's team it was definitely a day for iced coffee
CSC always close together and up towards the front
Rush hour in Philadelphia
Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) rode well throughout the race
Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream/Chipotle p/b H3O) rocketed away from the field
The field was as colorful as the flags
A break mid way into the race
The heat was unbelievable
The party did not stop up Manayunk
Today was HOT!!!
The men's podium: 1) Matti Breschel (CSC), 2) Kirk O'Bee (Health Net-Maxxis) and 3) Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing)

Images by Marco Quezada/www.nyvelocity.com

Oscar Sevilla (Team Rock Racing) shares a laugh with Daniele Bennati (Team Liquigas) before the start.
Ivan Dominguez (Toyota United) ran into an old friend from Cuba Jesus Ruiz and little Frankie
Rashaan Bahati. (Team Rock Racing) is happy with the new bike sponsor
Riders look for every possible way to stay cool. Here big Maggie B. (Team Slipstream/Chipotle P/b H3o) tries something new.
My crystal ball says it's going to be a hot one in Philly.
Team CSC kept the race animated all day long
Daniele Bannati (Team Liquigas) finds a spot a back of the peloton at the start of the wall.
Davide Frattini (Team Colavita) was very aggressive and it piad off. He won the best climber of the day.
Team High Road pushing the pace on Kelly drive.
Oscar Sevilla (Team Rock Racing) looked to repeat his win in Reading on Thursday.
Bird's eye view at the start of the wall
It was a colorful parade of riders at lemon hill.
It was the closest photo finish in years at the race
But Matti Breschel won the Philadelphia International.
Davide Frattini gets a well deserved kiss from Kirsten Robbins after winning best climber of the day
The mens podium (L-to-R) Kirk O'Bee (Team Healthnet) Matti Breschel (Team CSC) and Fast Freddy Rodriguez (Rock Racing)
O'Bee, Breschel and Rodriguez made up this year's podium.

Stage 4 - June 5: Commerce Bank Reading Classic (Women), 40.2km/25mi

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Images by Jonathan Devich/

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) takes her second win of the series.
Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) was on the hunt for a win again today.
Catherine Cheatley (Cheerwine) is going after another win after last weekends win at the CSC Invitational.
Amber Rais (Tibco) lays into a turn.
Susy Pryde (Jazz Apples) focuses on the task at hand.
Advil/Chapstick was on hand for today’s race.
Local team Verducci/Breakaway Racing.
Cervelo/Lifeforce patrolled the front of the field with their leader up in the break.
The break comes through with Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) setting the pace at the front.
A couple riders go down at the back of the field.
Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) continues to drive the pace at the front.
The field starts to pick up their pace in hopes of bringing back the front group.
Riders get strung out on the back side during the chase.
Kristen Armstrong (Cervelo-Lifeforce) giving it her all on the front of the break.
Vanderkitten comes to the front.
Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) looks to see what Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) will do next.
The field comes through with 1 lap to go.
The break begins to get set up with 1 one to go.
Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) keeps the pressure on.
Kristen Armstrong (Cervelo-Lifeforce) gets ready for the sprint.
Ina Yoko-Teutenburg (High Road) 1st, Joanne Kiesanowski (Tibco) 2nd and Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) 3rd.

Images by Emory Ball/Cyclingnews

Alison Powers (Colavita) early in the race.
Jenette Williams (HPC) got caught out behind a split.
The Cheerwine team was attentive at the front.
Amber Rais (Team Tibco) on a solo move which set her teammate up to be in the winning break.
Amber Rais (Team Tibco) on her solo breakaway.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo) closed down Rais' move and led what was about to become the winning breakaway.
Melissa Sanborn (Vanderkitten) was hoping for a field sprint.
The Value Act Capital team missed the break but didn't quit trying to bridge.
Kiesanowski saved her strength to try go beat Ina in the sprint.
Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine) tucked in behind Alison Powers in the break.
Ina Teutenberg (High Road) looks through the turn.
The break of five: Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo), Alison Powers (Colavita), Joanne Kiesanowski (Tibco), Teutenberg and Van Gilder.
Teutenberg powers through the turn.
Cheerwine controls the bunch since Van Gilder made the break.
Alison Powers (Colavita) leads out the sprint.
Ina Teutenberg (High Road) looks back to check the position of Laura Van Gilder.
Kiesanowski can't get past the Teutenberg express.
Teutenberg hits the front and never looks back.

Stage 3 - June 5: Commerce Bank Reading Classic (Men), 119.1km/74mi

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Images by Jonathan Devich/

Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) takes a huge home victory for Rock Racing.
Magnus Backsted (Slipstream) and Greg Henderson (High Road) have a chat on the start line.
Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United) welcomes tuesdays winner Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds Pro Cycling Team) to the line.
The whole field takes to the line.
And the men are off.
The group passes a historical scene along the route.
A break gets some time on the field.
The field takes up chase.
The mens field rolls through downtown Reading.
Things get spread out in the large bunch.
Jason Donald (Slipstream/Chipotle) corners with Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United) by his side.
Riders head up and out of downtown.
Mark Walters (Team Race) will be after a repeat win on Sunday.
The bunch heads toward the hilltop historic area of Reading.
Bernardo Colex (Tecos) goes solo.
The peloton heads away from the Reading city skyline.
Ben Brooks (Team Type 1) heads towards the feed zone.
Liquigas made the long trip over the pond for this weeks racing.
The field takes a breather.
Karl Menzies (Healthnet) was hoping to better his 2nd place from tuesday.
Riders tackle the incline heading towards the park.
Ben Brooks (Team Type 1) climbing in the field.
Omar Cervantes (Tecos) on his way to the climb.
Riding next to the park nearing the feed zone.
Ian McGregor (Team Type 1) leads the break.
Michael Friedman (Slipstream/Chipotle) heads up to the feed zone.
Tyler Wrenn (Colavita) sitting in the bunch today.
The peloton passes cemetery gates across the street from a historic mansion.
A large breaks gets a little bit if a gap on the field.
Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) leads the break.
Things get organized at the front of the break.
Luis Amaran Romero (Colavita/Sutter Home) takes up work at the front.
Flags draped the streets along the party section of the course.
Urban racing on the back side of Reading.
The final break that tried to get up the road.
High Road comes to the front to bring back the break.
Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) was all smiles on the podium.
Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) 1st, Edvald Boasson Hagen (High Road) 2nd and Bernard Eisel (High Road) 3rd.

Images by Emory Ball/Cyclingnews

Steve Cozza (Slipstream) in the opening laps.
Tommy Nankervis (DLP Racing) showing the strain of the fast pace.
Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing) blasts away from the breakaway the first time up the climb.
The rest of the break makes its way up the steep switchbacks.
Did we mention it's steep?
Michael Stevenson (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) breaks away from the peloton on the climb.
At 600 meters to go Sevilla is alone out in front.
The effort is showing but the race is all but won at this point.
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team High Road) jumped away but too late to catch Sevilla.
The main field snakes its way through the final turns.
Team High Road has its lead out train up front.

Stage 2 - June 3: Lehigh Valley Classic (Women), 40.2km/25mi

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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.

Stage 1 - June 3: Lehigh Valley Classic (Men), 136.8km/85mi

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Images by Jonathan Devich/

Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds Pro Cycling Team) outguns Karl Menzies (Health Net) for the win.
The men get on the line in Allentown for the Lehigh Valley Classic.
Magnus Backstedt (Slipstream/Chipotie p/b H3O) concentrates at the start.
Dominique Rollin (Toyota-United) looked happy to get things underway.
The men roll out of downtown for the first of the 132 kilometres.
Heading into the scenic part of Allentown.
Please keep those pedals out of the spokes.
The peloton passes under the huge trees of Hamilton St.
Checking the gap on the field.
Tyler Wren (Colavita-Sutter Home) goes solo early.
The Colavita team got some special support from an elementary school along the route.
Things slow up on the 8th street bridge.
Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) leads the mid-race break.
The break gets organized as it attempts to hold off the peloton.
Svein Tuft (Symmetrics) keeping the pace high.
Jackson Stewart (BMC) sitting in the pack.
Bissell played its cards by sitting in.
Jackie Simes (TIME Pro Cycling) rolling through the park.
The Kelly Benefits team will be looking for big things week.
The windy turns heading up through the park.
Local boys from the Rite Aid team hope to sneak in for a win this week.
Ivan Stevic (Toyota United) launched an attack to bridge to the break.
Luis Amaran (Colavita-Sutter Home) leading the break.
Jeff Louder (BMC) gets on the front of the break.
The field starts to get strung out in search of the break.
Another group tried to get away late in the race.
Jason McCartney (Team CSC) picks it up at the front.
Riders start to have a hard time on the little rollers heading in towards the finish.
Brad Huff (Jelly Belly) looked really happy with his third place today.
Today's winner Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita/McDonalds) could hardly contain himself on the podium.

Images by Kurt Jambretz /www.actionimages.cc

Karl Menzies (Health Net) signs in prior to the race.
Luca Damiani (Colavita/Sutter Home) is called to the line.
There were several enthusiastic fans out this afternoon.
The riders roll out down Hamilton Street.
The time board says it all...
Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly) flies through the park.
Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Home) leads the peloton down the hill into the park.
Frank Pipp (Health Net) descends into the park.
Ben Jaques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) attempts to stay in the top half of the field.
The field stretches out across the bridge on the way out of town.
There was no shortage of attacks today.
Tyler Wren (Colavita/Sutter Home) has a go in the opening laps.
Team Tecos covers the move.
The pace was amazingly fast throughout today's race.
Mike Friedman (Slipstream/Chipotle) screams down the hill into the park.
Ivan Stevic (Toyota-United) was active in a few breaks this afternoon.
Dan Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast) was wondering when the pace was going to subside.
The peloton winds its way through the park at speed.
Luis Amaran (Colavita/Sutter Home) climbs the final hill on Hamilton Street.
Henk Vogels (Toyota-United) powers his way up the hill.
Will Frischkorn (Slipstream/Chipotle) gets a push after a wheel change.
Will Frischkorn (Slipstream/Chipotle) makes his way back to the peloton after a mechanical.
Frank Pipp (Health Net) leads the break through the line with two laps to go.
Tim Johnson (Health Net) focuses on the riders up the road as he crosses the line.
Glen Chadwick (Team Type 1) drives the small breakaway as it dangles 30 seconds off the front.
Daniel Ramsey (Successful Living) moves up as he crosses the start/finish line.
Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) sprints out of the charging field for the win.
Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) receives a congratulatory hug from his director.
An elated Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) celebrates on the top step of the podium.
The men's podium (l-r): Karl Menzies (Health Net), Yuri Metlushenko (Amore & Vita-McDonalds) and Brad Huff (Jelly Belly).