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TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship - 1.HC/1.1
USA, June 7, 2009
Main Page Results & report Previous Race
Race 2 - June 7: Liberty Classic, 92.7km/57.6mi
Complete live report
Live commentary by Peter Hymas and Kirsten Robbins
08:47 EDT
Good morning and welcome to Cyclingnews' coverage of the men's Philadelphia International Classic and the women's Liberty Classic from downtown Philadelphia.
08:53 EDT
It's a beautiful, sunny day in Philadelphia today. There's hardly a cloud in the sky, there's a slight breeze and the daytime highs are expected to reach the low 80s Fahrenheit.
08:54 EDT
It's a nice change from last year in which the men and women faced one of the most sweltering days in the race's history.
The men are currently assembled on the start line awaiting call ups for a few of the more prominent riders in the field.
08:58 EDT
The men's call ups are taking place now. Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing), Floyd Landis (OUCH), Francesco Chicchi (Liquigas), Rory Sutherland (OUCH), Ivan Dominguez (Fuji-Servetto), Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas), Greg Henderson and Bernard Eisel (Team Columbia-Highroad), Jackson Stewart (BMC Racing)...
08:59 EDT
...and the rest of the men have rolled up to the line. We're about to get underway for the three opening parade laps around Logan Square and Eakins Oval.
The national anthem is being sung at the moment.
09:02 EDT
Each of the parade laps comprise one mile then the riders set out to complete 10 of the long circuits (14.4 miles per lap) out and back along Kelly Drive to Manayunk and its famous Manayunk Wall. On the way back from Manayunk the peloton makes two deviations off of Kelly Drive, taking loops to Strawberry Mansion and Lemon Hill.
09:03 EDT
Following the 10 large laps the men face three short, 3-mile laps comprising Lemon Hill and down around Logan Circle.
09:04 EDT
And the men are off!
09:04 EDT
We have one rider not starting the men's race today, Tim Henry of DLP Racing.
09:05 EDT
Momentarily the women's peloton will take the start line once the men have finished their parade laps.
09:06 EDT
Already there's an attack! Andrew Talansky from Amore & Vita.
09:07 EDT
Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) has already built up about a 20 second lead after the opening parade lap.
09:08 EDT
Mechanical for Greg Henderson (Team Columbia-Highroad).
09:10 EDT
Sorry, it's actually Talansky bridging to a rider from the US National Team. I'll have his number in a moment.
09:11 EDT
It's Daniel Holloway of the US National Team in the lead, currently 1:05 ahead of the peloton, with Talansky trying to bridge.
09:13 EDT
Holloway has completed his final parade lap with Talansky in pursuit.
09:14 EDT
The crowds gathered around Logan Circle are huge. The water fountain is blasting high.
The peloton just rolled through the finish line to set out on their trip along Kelly Drive to Manayunk. They were spread wide across the road with riders from Kenda Pro Cycling and the Danish National Team on the front. There doesn't seem to be any sense of urgency this early in a long day in the saddle.
09:15 EDT
The women competing in the Liberty Classic are rolling up to the line.
09:17 EDT
Holloway is in a time trial position, forearms resting on bars, making his way out along Kelly Drive.
09:18 EDT
Call ups are taking place for the women's field.
As in the men's race, the defending champion is absent and only two former champions are competing. Last year's winner, the Dutch Chantal Beltmam, is not here to defend her title but her team, Team Columbia-Highroad, returns with plenty of horsepower.
Germany's Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took top honors in 2005 and 2007 while her compatriot Regina Schleicher prevailed in 2006. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg is here with the powerhouse Team Columbia-Highroad squad with 7-time champion Petra Rossner as directeur sportif.
Regina Schleicher returns to Philadelphia as part of the formidable Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung, based in Germany.
09:19 EDT
The women have just started their 57.6 mile Liberty Classic which runs concurrently on the course with the men's event.
09:20 EDT
The women will tackle the long, 14.4 mile circuit four times without any opening parade laps or concluding short laps like the men.
09:22 EDT
The women's field is approaching the finish line after looping around Logan Circle. There's a Vanderkitten team member, Liz Hatch, on the front as the women begin their first lap of the course heading out to Manayunk along Kelly Drive.
09:25 EDT
Kelly Drive runs along the Schuylkill River. There are plenty of people out running and as well as numerous cyclists on the bike path.
Speaking of bike paths, Team Type 1's Fabio Calabria did not start today after crashing on the bike path yesterday while out on a training ride. He's out with a broken wrist.
09:28 EDT
The leader of the men's race has made the left turn onto Manayunk's Main Street up the false flat towards the Manayunk Wall.
09:29 EDT
Our race leader, Daniel Holloway, is on the Wall for the first time! He is weaving from left to right trying to make his way to the top. He's primarily known as a sprinter and he's in a bit of difficulty on the way up.
There are already thousands of screaming fans on the Wall urging Holloway to the top.
09:34 EDT
Daniel Holloway is back on Kelly Drive making his way back towards downtown.
09:37 EDT
Results of the first KOM on Manayunk Wall
1. Daniel Holloway (USA National Team)
2. Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness)
3. John Ebsen (Danish National Team)
09:38 EDT
The riders compete for King of the Mountain points each ascent of the Manaynunk Wall and Lemon Hill. Points on Lemon Hill are doubled on each of the three short laps at the conclusion of the men's event.
09:39 EDT
Chan McRae, directeur sportif for Daniel Holloway, gets permission to move up and chat to his rider.
Holloway is on Kelly Drive and approaching Strawberry Mansion.
09:40 EDT
Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) calls for assistance.
09:42 EDT
The women's field has negotiated their first ascent of the Manayunk Wall and we're getting reports the the field has shattered. We're trying to get more information from the women's event for you.
09:42 EDT
Daniel Holloway has passed the many boathouses lining Kelly Drive and is making his way up Lemon Hill for the first time.
09:44 EDT
Holloway has a long day of riding ahead of him today with 9 more ascents of the Manayunk Wall to tackle.
09:44 EDT
The women's field is on Strawberry Mansion.
09:45 EDT
Daniel Holloway has passed through the finish line in the opposite direction heading around Logan Circle.
09:46 EDT
Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) has just passed through the finish area heading toward Logan Circle 1:01 behind Holloway.
09:47 EDT 17.4miles/138.6miles to go
Daniel Holloway is in time trial mode and has completed his first large lap.
09:49 EDT
The sprinter Daniel Holloway has picked up full KOM points on Manyaynk Wall and Lemon Hill. I'm sure he wishes that his trip across the finish line was the last one heading in for a field sprint, but Holloway has nine more long laps to contend with.
09:50 EDT
Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) crossed the finish line still about 1:00 behind Holloway.
09:51 EDT
David Guttenplan (Team Moutain Khakis) and John Ebsen (Danish National Team) have attacked from the field and are working together.
09:54 EDT
The men's peloton just rolled through the finish line and the women's field is fast approaching!
09:54 EDT
The women's peloton is all together and making its way around Logan Circle.
09:55 EDT
If the men's peloton doesn't pick up the pace then the women's field is going to catch them.
09:56 EDT
A Webcor rider leads the women's peloton across the finish line. They're stretched out in a long line and have three more 14.4 mile laps to go.
09:58 EDT
Holloway is reaching into his pockets for food. Staying well fuelled and hydrated is of paramount importance in such a long race, 156 miles, the longest day in the saddle all season for many of the men's riders racing today.
10:00 EDT
Mike from Aspen, Colorado has supplied his prediction for today's men's race. He thinks Andre Greipel (Team Columbia-Highroad) will win with Kirk O'Bee (Bissell) in second and Jonathan Cantwell (Fly V Australia) in third.
10:01 EDT
Our solo race leader, Daniel Holloway (USA National Team), is back in Manayunk making his way along Main Street on the long, uphill drag towards the Wall.
10:02 EDT
It's the 25th anniversary of men's racing in Philadelphia, an event that soon established itself as the premier one-day event in the United States. Eric Heiden, racing for 7-Eleven, won the first edition of the race in 1985. The men's race also served as the national championship road race for US professionals from 1985 through 2005.
10:04 EDT
In previous years the men's event and the women's Liberty Classic were the concluding day of three days of racing comprising Philly Week. This year, unfortunately, as an effect of the general economic downturn, there is only this single day of racing.
10:06 EDT
In the women's Liberty Classic Rachel Warner (Salamander Racing) has attacked and established a solo break.
10:06 EDT
The women's field is not responding to Warner's attack. The women are currently two minutes behind the men's peloton.
10:07 EDT
Holloway is on the Manayunk Wall and he's hearing thunderous cheers of "USA! USA!" due to his US National Team kit.
10:08 EDT
Holloway weaved his way up the Manayunk Wall and earned top KOM points again.
He's negotiated the extremely fast descent off the Wall and is back on Kelly Drive once again making his way back towards the downtown.
10:12 EDT
Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) has slipped to 3:00 behind race leader Holloway.
10:13 EDT
Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) unzips his jersey. It's warming up but it's still about 20 degrees cooler than last year's race which saw the temperatures rise into the high 90s Fahrenheit.
10:14 EDT
If the women catch the men's field officials are going to neutralize the men's peloton. This would likely be the first time in race history that this scenario has taken place.
10:15 EDT
The team of defending champion Matti Breschel, Team Saxo Bank, is not taking part in the event this year. Only two former champions are on the start line: Greg Henderson (2006) and Fred Rodriguez (2001). Henderson and Rodriguez are currently racing for Team Columbia-Highroad and Rock Racing respectively.
10:18 EDT
Cyclingnews spoke to Gina Grain (Webcor Builders) prior to the start of the Liberty Classic. "I think it will be an aggressive race today. I hope to do well in the field sprint, but there might be a break today." Gina has competed in the Liberty Classic on six previous occasions.
10:19 EDT
Tim Johnson of Team OUCH told Cyclingnews, "I think it is going to be crazy attacking for the first half of the race. After that the field will get tired and the front group will be very small. I think the field will die down to only the strongest rider."
10:20 EDT
Race leader Daniel Holloway is approaching Logan Circle at the conclusion of his second large circuit.
10:22 EDT
Hilton Clarke (Fuji-Servetto) had this to say to Cyclingnews prior to the start today, "I used to struggle with the long distance but after all the long races in Europe I think I'll be going good today."
10:23 EDT 31.8miles/124.2miles to go
Daniel Holloway has completed his second large circuit.
10:24 EDT
In the men's peloton Danilo Wyss (BMC Racing Team) asks for assistance.
10:25 EDT
Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) has crossed the finish line, completing his second large circuit, and now sits 2:10 behind Holloway.
10:28 EDT
We have results from the first two KOMs in the women's race.
Manayunk
1 Ruth Corset (Jazz Apple Cycling Team)
2 Eva Lutz (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
3 Mara Abbott (Team Columbia-Highroad)
Lemon Hill
1 Mara Abbott (Team Columbia-Highroad)
2 Eva Lutz (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
3 Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders Cycling Team)
10:29 EDT
A break of 11 riders has about a 15 second lead on the women's field. I'll try to get IDs of the riders in the break.
10:30 EDT
The men's field has just completed it's second large lap and the women's field is about one minute behind.
10:33 EDT
The women's field is all back together as they cross the finish line. They are at the halfway point of the Liberty Classic having completed 28.8 miles.
There is now approximately a 45 second gap between the women's and men's pelotons.
10:33 EDT
2009 marks the 16th edition of the women's Liberty Classic. In previous years it was part of the Women's World Cup, but now the race in Montreal is the only World Cup stop for women in North America.
10:34 EDT
Several women who figured prominently in this year's Montreal World Cup are here to compete in the Liberty Classic: Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nuernberger Versicherung) finished third, Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light teammates Catherine Cheatley and Tiffany Cromwell placed sixth and seventh, Erinne Willock (Webcor Builders) finished eighth and Amber Neben (Equipe Nuernberger Versicherung) crossed the line in tenth.
10:34 EDT
The women's peloton is making good time along Kelly Drive, currently maintaining a pace of 32mph.
10:35 EDT
Back in the men's race, Daniel Holloway is still pushing to increase his lead. Manayunk is going to keep getting harder and harder.
10:37 EDT
The women's peloton is still gaining on the men's field and the men's peloton may soon be neutralized to let the women go by.
10:41 EDT
In the women's peloton, Evelyn Stevens (Velo Classic) calls for assistance.
10:43 EDT
Holloway is on the Manayunk Wall for the third time. Again, there's a rousing cheer of "USA! USA!" for the young American rider
The fans on the Wall are giving Holloway a tunnel of noise, he's definitely a crowd favorite today.
10:44 EDT
Evidently some rowdy fans on the Wall are letting the beer fly and the vehicles of the UCI officials are closing the sun roof to stay dry!
10:45 EDT
The women's peloton is all together in Manayunk.
10:49 EDT
For the first time in Philadelphia history, the women's peloton has passed the men! The men's peloton was neutralized to let the women go by. Things could get very confusing if the men happen to speed up, which will force the women's race to be neutralized in return.
10:50 EDT
Four riders are still off the front of the men's peloton and of course are unaffected by the neutralization.
10:53 EDT
Sam from Tulsa, Oklahoma was impressed with the racing he saw in the recently concluded Tulsa Tough event and think that Jelly Belly's Brad Huff will take the men's race today. He thinks John Murphy (Team OUCH) will take second followed by Fast Freddy Rodriguez (Rock Racing) in third.
10:55 EDT
We have results for the women's KOM on Manayunk Wall
1 Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
2 Mara Abbott (Team Columbia-Highroad)
3 Amber Neben (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
10:55 EDT
The women's peloton is on Kelly Drive heading back towards downtown and Logan Circle.
10:58 EDT
Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) is approaching Logan Circle, about to complete his third full circuit.
11:00 EDT
The men's field has caught the women, but the officials are not letting the men pass until the women's race has finished.
11:03 EDT 46.2miles/109.8miles to go
Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) has completed three full circuits for 46.2 miles. Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) passed the start/finish line two minutes behind.
11:04 EDT
The women's peloton is approaching Lemon Hill.
11:04 EDT
Daniel Holloway, riding solo along Kelly Drive at the head of the race, unclips one foot to stretch.
11:05 EDT
The women's field is approaching Logan Circle stretched in one long single file peloton. Six riders have a slim, five-second advantage.
11:06 EDT
David Guttenplan (Team Moutain Khakis) and John Ebsen (Danish National Team) cross the finish line together, 5:42 behind Holloway.
11:06 EDT
Thw women are approaching one lap to go!
11:07 EDT
The women's Liberty Classic peloton has crossed the start/finish line and heard the bell for one lap to go. They've completed 43.2 miles and have one, 14.4 mile lap to go.
11:08 EDT
Anne Samplonius (Team Lip Smacker) and Dotsie Bausch (Jazz Apple Cycling Team) were at the head of the women's peloton across the start/finish line.
11:09 EDT
An interesting note about the Liberty Classic is that an American rider has never been victorious. Current American road and criterium champion Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) finished second last year, winning the field sprint behind the solo winner Chantal Beltman of the Netherlands. Tina Pic (Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light) is another fast finisher who stood atop the podium in third place three years ago in 2006.
11:11 EDT
The men's peloton is approaching Logan Circle without any particular sense of urgency.
11:14 EDT
The men's peloton hits the start/finish line with 109.8 miles to go. The deficit to Daniel Holloway has stretched out to 13:10.
A Colavia Sutter Home rider and Team Elk Haus rider lead the peloton across the line as the riders glance up to see their time gap on the official race clock.
They're spread across the road taking it easy at the moment, not particularly concerned about the four riders off the front.
11:18 EDT
Daniel Holloway is once again on the Manayunk Wall. There are empty beer cups scattered across the road and a raucous crowd is urging Holloway to the top.
11:21 EDT
Cyclingnews just spoke to Ken Mills, team manager of Kelly Benefit Strategies, about this interesting development in Philadelphia in which the women's field has passed the men for the first time ever.
Mills seemed to think the fewer than normal amount of ProTour teams present today to really control and drive the pace is contributing to the slower pace.
There are three ProTour teams in attendance: Fuji-Servetto, Liquigas and Team Columbia-Highroad.
11:23 EDT
Holloway was using the entire road to weave his way up the Manayunk Wall. With his large lead he can definitely climb at his own pace.
Again, a huge roar of "USA! USA!" for Holloway whose decked out in the USA National Team kit instead of his usual Garmin-Slipstream development squad kit.
11:24 EDT
Holloway is more frequently unclipping from the pedals to stretch his legs. He's definitely feeling the effect of a long solo effort today, but he's earned quite a fan club in Manayunk!
11:29 EDT
We're working to figure out what's going on in the Liberty Classic on the race's last lap. We understand that a group of about 30 riders have moved clear on the Manayunk Wall and are now on Kelly Drive heading back towards downtown.
11:30 EDT
Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness), currently in second on the road behind Holloway, has closed Holloway's lead to one minute.
11:32 EDT
Daniel Holloway is on Strawberry Mansion hanging in there at the front of the men's race.
11:33 EDT
Before he turned off Kelly Drive onto Strawberry Mansion he had to contend with oncoming traffic in the form of VIP vehicles and race motos. He moved over to the left side of the road to give them clear passage.
11:34 EDT
We now understand that 11 women have gone clear in the Liberty Classic and now hold a 30 second lead. We're trying to get their numbers to ID them for you.
11:37 EDT
We have learned that the following riders are in the break as they climb Lemon Hill: Amber Neben (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung) , Nicole Evans (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) , Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung) , Catherine Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light) , Alison Powers (Team Type 1) , Dotsie Bausch (Jazz Apple Cycling Team) , Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad)
11:38 EDT
Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) and Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) are together and approaching Logan Circle.
11:39 EDT
Four Team Columbia-Highroad women are part of the lead women's group of 11.
11:40 EDT
Three Team Columbia-Highroad women are driving the break to Logan Circle!
11:40 EDT 60.6miles/95.4miles to go
The two leaders of the men's race have just crossed the start/finish line
11:41 EDT
The women are fast approaching!
11:42 EDT
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia-Highroad) has won the Liberty Classic for the third time!
11:45 EDT
Liberty Classic provisional top-five:
1 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia-Highroad)
2 Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO)
3 Shelley Olds (PROMAN Hit Squad)
4 Trixi Worrack (Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung)
5 Catherine Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light)
11:46 EDT
Chad Beyer (BMC Racing) leads the men's peloton across the start finish line with 95.4 miles to go. The gap has dropped inside of six minutes to the two leaders.
11:51 EDT
The main peloton has split in the men's race. There's a group of approximately 35 riders ahead of the rest of the peloton on Kelly Drive heading towards Manayunk.
11:54 EDT
The men's field has picked up the pace substantially after their 1.5 lap neutral period behind the women's peloton.
11:57 EDT
The two race leaders are just about to hit the Manayunk Wall.
12:02 EDT
This is likely the last time our two leaders, Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) and Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness), will crest the Manayunk Wall at the head of the race.
12:03 EDT
Our lead duo split up on their ascent of the Wall with Holloway cresting first. The two chasers behind have been absorbed.
12:13 EDT
Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) and Andrew Talansky (Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness) have only a 1:55 gap over a rejuvenated peloton.
12:14 EDT
Holloway has just dropped his breakaway companion Talansky as the gap to the peloton continues to drop, now down to about one minute.
12:17 EDT
Daniel Holloway is approaching Logan Circle with a raging peloton bearing down on him. BMC Racing's Steve Bovay is driving the peloton.
12:19 EDT 75miles/81miles to go
Daniel Holloway, 22-years-old, crosses the line with 81 miles to go. Holloway salutes the crowd as the three riders from the peloton try to bridge across.
12:22 EDT
Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) has sat up while a new break of three takes over the race lead on Kelly Drive on the way to Manayunk: Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling)
12:24 EDT
Congratulations to Daniel Holloway for such a spirited effort today. He managed to stay off the front for 75 miles, predominantly alone, and had plenty of support around the circuit...particularly on the Manayunk Wall.
12:26 EDT
Our three leaders, Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1)and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), now have a 25-second advantage over the peloton.
This looks like a good break, Kobzarenko is known for his stellar breaks and Zirbel is also a good man to have in a break due to his time trialing prowess.
12:27 EDT
All three are sharing the work load equally as Oss currently takes his turn at the front.
12:28 EDT
The peloton seems content with the composition of this move for the moment as the leading trio begin to lengthen their lead. The gap is now at 45 seconds and increasing.
12:33 EDT
Here are the top 12 finishers in the Liberty Classic comprising the break which went clear on the last lap on the Manayunk Wall.
1 Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia-Highroad 2.22.35
2 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Team TIBCO
3 Shelley Olds (USA) PROMAN Hit Squad
4 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
5 Catherine Cheatley (NZl) Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light
6 Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1
7 Ruth Corset (Aus) Jazz Apple Cycling Team
8 Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
9 Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung
10 Kim Anderson (USA) Team Columbia-Highroad 0.15
11 Mara Abbott (USA) Team Columbia-Highroad
12 Judith Arndt (Ger) Team Columbia-Highroad
12:36 EDT
The break has conquered the Manayunk Wall with Daniel Oss (Liquigas) leading the charge. Zirbel now uses his 200+ lb. frame to drive the break on the "Fall from the Wall"
12:38 EDT
Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) leads the front trio up and over Strawberry Mansion as their lead increases to two minutes.
12:39 EDT
This is not a break you want to let gain too much time. Teams not represented will no doubt want to work to bring this back as the lead climbs to 2:45.
12:41 EDT
Let's get back to some race history for a moment.
Eric Heiden came to Philadelphia in 1985 fresh off finishing the Giro d'Italia with 7-Eleven, the team's first trip to a Grand Tour. Five riders in the men's peloton have also come to Philadelphia with the 2009 Giro in their legs and perhaps they, too, will find their form conducive to a victory as did Heiden.
The riders include Team Columbia-Highroad teammates Marco Pinotti and Edvald Boasson Hagen, Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) and Fuji-Servetto teammates Ricardo Serrano and Davide Viganò.
12:42 EDT
Wolfgang Murer (Elk Haus) and Charles Dionne (Fly V Australia) have attacked the peloton in pursuit of the leading trio.
12:44 EDT
This is what Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia-Highroad) told Cyclingnews yesterday:
"Normally this is a good race to do after a Grand Tour. Maybe we lose explosiveness but we gain endurance. It's a long race so the endurance will help me in the last half when the other riders might be getting tired.
"I remember when I did this before and at the start I felt like everyone was stronger than me but after 200 kilometres my endurance came out, the others endurance went down and I felt great."
12:47 EDT
Pinotti's teammate Greg Henderson, himself a winner in Philadelphia, provided some insight into Team Columbia-Highroad's tactics for the day.
"We will be working for [Andre] Greipel. When he and Cavendish are at the race, that's usually what we do.
"I think how the sprint finish plays out really depends on how the rest of the race goes. There is no reason why we couldn't have a full team lead-out for Greipel at the finish."
12:48 EDT
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) approach Logan Circle with Zirbel taking his turn at the front.
12:51 EDT 89.4miles/66.6miles to go
The leading trio have just crossed the start/finish line working smoothly together. The riders have completed 89.4 miles and have 66.6 to go.
12:53 EDT
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) go through the feed zone and load up on food and drinks.
The temperatures have definitely increased since the start, but it's much more comfortable than last year's inferno.
13:00 EDT
The leading trio are attracting some attention from cyclists riding alongside Kelly Drive on the bike path. Some recreational cyclists are doing their best to maintain the break's pace for a stretch to snap some photos of their own.
13:07 EDT
The Liberty Classic podium ceremony is about to take place. In addition to the top three, Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia-Highroad, Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Team TIBCO and Shelley Olds (USA) PROMAN Hit Squad, awards will be given out for the best climber and best young rider.
Ruth Corset (Aus) Jazz Apple Cycling team claimed Queen of the Mountain honors while Amy Dombroski (USA) Webcor Builders was the best U-23 rider.
13:08 EDT
Back to the men's race, the three leaders have tackled the Manayunk Wall. Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) had some trouble, but sprinted back to Oss and Zirbel.
13:09 EDT
Tom Zirbel again takes the lead on the extremely fast descent off the Wall.
13:13 EDT
Oss, Zirbel and Kobzarenko carried enough speed on the "Fall from the Wall" that they caught the caravan vehicles in front of them carrying race officials and VIPs...speed up folks!
13:15 EDT
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), the leading trio, head up Strawberry Mansion and are all still taking even pulls.
No word yet about the gap to the two chasers and the peloton. We'll get that to you shortly...
13:21 EDT
Just an update on time gaps for the men's race.
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) lead Wolfgang Murer (Elk Haus) and Charles Dionne (Fly V Australia) by 4:50 and lead the peloton by 6:30.
When the riders cross the start/finish line the next time they'll have completed seven of the large circuits and raced 103.8 of 156 miles. There are still three more ascents of the Manayunk Wall and then the three concluding three-mile short laps.
13:22 EDT
Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing), a former Philadelphia race winner, spoke to Cyclingnews this morning prior to the start.
"It's all about the last time up the Manayunk Wall. It that doesn't work out then it's all about the last 300 metres.
"I feel as good as I've always been coming into this race. We have five guys so we don't need to control the race. I just need to play my cards when I need to play them. It's all an odds game and it's worked out pretty well so far."
13:25 EDT
Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) leads Daniel Oss (Liquigas) and Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) across the start/finish line with three large circuits (14.4 miles per lap) and three small circuits (3 miles per lap) remaining.
13:26 EDT
The two chasers have been swallowed up by the peloton which now finds itself 7:20 behind Oss, Zirbel and Kobzarenko.
13:28 EDT
Ivan Dominguez (Fuji-Servetto) took a lengthy pull for several miles to bring back the two chasers between the peloton and the leading trio.
13:29 EDT
The peloton is making its way to Logan Circle nearing the conclusion of its 7th large lap.
13:32 EDT 103.8miles/52.2miles to go
The peloton crosses the start/finish line 7:30 behind the three-man break.
Luca Damiani (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light), Gert Dockx (Team Columbia - Highroad) and Ivan Dominguez (Fuji-Servetto) are at the front of the field.
13:38 EDT
A couple of other former champions are here in the role of directeur sportif: Henk Vogels (2000) is with Fly V Australia and Roberto Gaggioli (1988) is with Amore & Vita Pro Racing Team Presented by Life Time Fitness.
This is what Vogels told Cyclingnews about his win.
"I attacked the crap out of the field, seven times, before I got away on the last lap and that's how I won I expect if it doesn't come down to a field sprint then that's how a solo move will go this year."
13:39 EDT
Fly V Australia's Jonathan Cantwell is one of the weapons in the team's arsenal today.
"The team that we have here is the best one that we could put on the playing ground," Cantwell told Cyclingnews. "We've definitely had the training for this with some great training camps and some racing down in Tulsa last weekend. I think if a sprinter wants to win this race, they need to have the depth and have put in the miles for a race like this."
13:40 EDT
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) reach the base of the Manayunk Wall with Kobzarenko leading.
13:43 EDT
It's always a raucous day on the Manayunk Wall. In addition to the wall of sound generated by spectators' vocal cords, evidently several bands are playing along the Wall as well. Will they take requests from the peloton?
13:44 EDT
Ivan Dominguez again put in a massive pull at the front of the peloton along Kelly Drive into Manayunk.
Daniel Oss of Liquigas is starting to take shorter pulls in the break.
13:49 EDT
Fuji-Servetto and OUCH p/b Maxxis have committed a few riders to ride tempo at the head of the peloton in their pursuit of Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), the three riders off the front.
13:51 EDT
The men's field is comprised of three ProTour teams, two UCI Professional Continental teams, 14 UCI Continental teams and three national teams for a total of 22.
13:54 EDT
The leading trio of Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) have reached Lemon Hill nearing the end of their 8th large circuit.
13:56 EDT
The weather is beautiful...plenty of sunshine, current temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit and a slight breeze. It looks like there'll be a tailwind for the finish if the wind maintains its current direction.
13:57 EDT
Our leaders Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) are making their way around Logan Circle very close to completing 118.2 miles of racing.
13:59 EDT 118.2miles/37.8miles to go
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) have crossed the start/finish with 37.8 miles remaining to race. They've been riding for slightly less than five hours, stopping the clock at 4:54:36 as they headed out to their penultimate trip to Manayunk.
14:01 EDT
Twelve riders have attacked the peloton and have about a 20 second gap as they approach Logan Circle.
14:03 EDT
Approximately 20 riders have crossed the start/finish line 4:46 behind the break and the peloton follows at 5:23 strung out single file.
14:05 EDT
Fly V Australia has massed at the front of the peloton and are setting a tough tempo.
14:09 EDT
These riders comprise the chase group between the three leaders and the peloton:
Ricardo Serrano (Fuji-Servetto), Davide Vigano (Fuji-Servetto), Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas), Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia - Highroad), Bernhard Eisel (Team Columbia - Highroad), Marco Pinotti (Team Columbia - Highroad), Vicente Reynes (Team Columbia - Highroad), Chad Beyer (BMC Racing Team), Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling), Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light), Alessandro Bazzanna (Fly V Australia), Bernard Van Ulden (Jelly Belly Cycling Team), Neil Shirley (Kelly Benefit Strategies), Scott Zwizanski (Kelly Benefit Strategies), Floyd Landis (OUCH p/b Maxxis), Nic Sanderson (Rock Racing), David Tanner (Rock Racing), Darren Lill (Team Type 1) , Shawn Milne (Team Type 1) , Caleb Fairly (USA National Team)
14:12 EDT
The chase group has split in two as they make their way along Kelly Drive towards Manayunk.
Daniel Holloway (USA National Team) has crossed the start/finish line alone about 12 minutes behind the break. His early effort has clearly had an effect. He needs to finish the race in order to apply all of his KOM points to the overall KOM for the day.
14:16 EDT
The break has crested the Manayunk Wall while the chase group has been absorbed by the peloton.
14:20 EDT
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) still lead the race with Kobzarenko doing quite a bit of work.
14:26 EDT
When our three-man break reaches the start/finish line it will be their final trip to Manayunk and the Manayunk Wall. They'll have 132.6 miles in their legs with 23.4 miles remaining.
Are they going the distance?
14:29 EDT
David Vitoria (Rock Racing) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia - Highroad) have attacked the peloton.
Boasson Hagen has had quite a season so far, claiming a stage in the recently concluded Giro d'Italia as well as Gent-Wevelgem earlier in the spring.
14:32 EDT
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) are nearing the end of their penultimate large circuit, currently approaching Logan Circle.
14:33 EDT 132.6miles/23.4miles to go
Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) have crossed the start/finish in that order to begin their final long lap out to Manayunk.
14:35 EDT
The break stopped the clock in 5:31:05 while the two chasers, David Vitoria (Rock Racing) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia - Highroad), begin their final lap 1:43 behind.
14:38 EDT
The peloton heads out on the last trip to Manayunk and the Wall with a deficit of 3:46 to the break. A solo rider, USA National Team member Caleb Failey, is between the peloton and the Vitoria/Boasson Hagen chase.
14:39 EDT
Colavita Sutter Home and Fly V Australia, absent from the moves up the road, has riders at the head of the peloton
14:45 EDT
The fastest time ever recorded for the 156-mile Philadelphia race took place in 2007 under very cool conditions. Juan Jose Haedo (Team CSC) stopped the clock in 5:45:51 while last year's race, won by Matti Breschel in sweltering heat, was one of the slowest in 6:14:47.
It appears that the 2009 edition will be finishing in approximately the same time as 2008. No records today!
14:47 EDT
Hmmm..it seems the tried and true Cyclingnews blimp is experiencing some difficulty on the race's final journey along Kelly Drive to Manayunk. We'll try to rectify the situation and send some information along as soon as possible regarding the events on the road.
14:49 EDT
Our three leaders, Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling), reach the Manayunk Wall for the last time with a 1:10 lead over two chasers, David Vitoria (Rock Racing) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia - Highroad).
14:51 EDT
No word yet on the distance to the peloton or the fate of Caleb Failey (USA National Team) last seen maintaining a 46-second lead over the peloton as third chaser on the road.
14:52 EDT
Caleb Failey (USA National Team) has been absorbed by the peloton.
14:55 EDT
The peloton is descending from the Manayunk Wall with Bissell and Fly V Australia on the front.
14:56 EDT
Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) was in difficulty on the Manayunk Wall but is still among the three leaders.
15:01 EDT
David Vitoria (Rock Racing) and Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Columbia - Highroad) have reduced to lead of Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) to 40 seconds.
15:03 EDT
Will those who have been patient, riding in the peloton, have their chance or will the five riders still off the front find a way to survive to the finish?
15:04 EDT
Zirbel has just been dropped from the lead break on Lemon Hill!
15:04 EDT
Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) pushes the pace with Daniel Oss (Liquigas) on his wheel.
15:07 EDT
Wow, the peloton really picked up the pace on that last lap. Team Columbia-Highroad and Jelly Belly are on the front closing in on Zirbel and then the two leaders Daniel Oss (Liquigas), Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1).
15:08 EDT
Two leaders begin first of three short laps with the peloton in hot pursuit.
Team Columbia-Highroad is driving the peloton with Vicente Reynes powering along at the front.
15:09 EDT 147miles/9miles to go
147 arduous miles have been completed with only nine miles remaining encompassing three trips up Lemon Hill and down and around Logan Circle to the finish.
15:11 EDT
It looks like the game plan discussed by Team Columbia-Highroad's Greg Henderson is coming to fruition. Their sprinter Andre Greipel has been hot lately, and it looks like he's being set up for the win today.
15:13 EDT
Daniel Oss has a slim 100 meter lead approaching Logan Circle being pursued by a peloton led by four Team Columbia-Highroad riders and then two Liquigas riders.
15:13 EDT 150miles/6miles to go
Two short laps to go! Six miles remain and the peloton is all together!
15:15 EDT
Four Team Columbia-Highroad riders head the peloton out to the penultimate ascent of Lemon Hill.
15:16 EDT
Tom Zirbel crosses through the start/finish line alone more than a minute behind the peloton, but if he finishes the race he'll likely win the day's KOM prize.
We believe that Daniel Holloway, who actually amassed more points, has abandoned.
15:17 EDT
There are KOM double points on Lemon Hill for each of the short laps.
15:17 EDT
Team Columbia-Highroad is absolutely drilling it at the front for Greipel.
15:18 EDT
There are six Team Columbia-Highroad riders on the front.
15:19 EDT
But don't forget Liquigas, who have former U23 world champion Francesco Chicchi. They're also prominently placed right behind Columbia-Highroad.
15:20 EDT
Two other teams with fast men on their rosters, Colavita Sutter Homes and Fuji-Servetto are also near the front trying to set up their sprinters.
15:20 EDT
Correction on KOM, Valeriy Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) has more points than Zirbel. He may end up with the KOM prize.
15:21 EDT 153miles/3miles to go
One three-mile lap to go!!! Team Columbia-Highroad, Colavita Sutter Homes, Liquigas and Fly V Australia are trying to set up their sprinters.
15:22 EDT
Which lead-out train will deliver their sprinter to victory?
15:23 EDT
Colavita Sutter Home has Alejandro Borrajo and Sebastian Haedo to do battle with Greipel and Team Columbia-Highroad.
15:24 EDT
Now Kelly Benefit Strategies has made their presence made at the front, probably in the service of last year's 5th place finisher Alex Candelario.
15:24 EDT
Two riders have attacked!
15:25 EDT
The speeding peloton will soon appear, crossing the start/finish line in the opposite direction towards Logan Circle.
15:26 EDT
Team Planet Energy has gotten around the Team Columbia-Highroad train heading towards Logan Circle!
15:26 EDT
The Fuji-Servetto train is at the front...
15:26 EDT
Crash...big crash just before Logan Circle
15:27 EDT
Planet Energy at the front with 500 metres to go...
15:28 EDT
One-two for Team Columbia-Highroad!
Andre Greipel takes the win with teammate Greg Henderson in second.
15:28 EDT
It appears a Bissell rider claimed third, no ID on him yet.
15:29 EDT
Kirk O'Bee (Bissell) has claimed his second consecutive podium finish with a third this year to follow last year's second place effort.
15:38 EDT
Thank you for joining Cyclingnews for its coverage of the 25th Philadelphia International Championship.
Cyclingnews will cover the 60th edition of the Dauphiné Libéré live as of stage 4 on Wednesday, June 10, at approximately 15:00 local Europe time (CEST)/ 23:00 Australian time (CDT)/ 9:00 (USA East).
Provisional results
Philadelphia International Championship 1 Andre Greipel (Ger) Team Columbia - Highroad 2 Greg Henderson (NZl)Team Columbia - Highroad 3 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Bissell Pro Cycling Liberty Classic 1 Ina Teutenberg (Ger) Team Columbia-Highroad 2 Joanne Kiesanowski (NZl) Team TIBCO 3 Shelley Olds (USA) PROMAN Hit Squad 4 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 5 Catherine Cheatley (NZl) Colavita Sutter Homes p/b Cooking Light 6 Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1 7 Ruth Corset (Aus) Jazz Apple Cycling Team 8 Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team 9 Amber Neben (USA) Equipe Nurnberger Versicherung 10 Kim Anderson (USA) Team Columbia-Highroad
