Team Columbia-Highroad's André Greipel and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg sprinted to victory in their respective Philadelphia International Championship and Liberty Classic events on Sunday, while Greipel's teammate Greg Henderson also claimed second in the men's event.
Greipel won the 25th TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship on Sunday, uncorking an unmatched burst of speed over the final 200 metres of Benjamin Franklin Parkway pavement to best Columbia-Highroad teammate Greg Henderson and Bissell Pro Cycling's Kirk O'Bee.
Team Columbia-Highroad's pre-race game plan was to deliver fast man Greipel to the line in a field sprint and the team executed the lead-out to perfection, despite the confusion of a crash at the head of the race within the final kilometre approaching Logan Circle.
"Every race we are at we are one of the best teams but that doesn't mean that we get the win easily," Greipel told Cyclingnews. "We always have to work hard and play our tactics correctly in order to win any race. It was a bit dangerous, there was a crash and we lost each other a little bit at the end, but everything worked out well.
"Hendy [Greg Henderson-ed.] started his sprint with 400 metres to go and I came around him with 200 metres to go. He did a really good lead-out and it was a team victory," said Greipel, who is in a rich vein of form.
While Henderson told Cyclingnews about the team's plan to set up Greipel, the Team Columbia-Highroad one-two finish was an unexpected bonus.
"It's pretty good when we end in a sprint with Greipel," said Henderson. "I started my sprint really early with Greipel on my wheel. I caught Kirk O'Bee and passed him. There was no one else there and I thought, 'Well heck, I have to keep going.' One guy passed me and it was Greipel so it doesn't get much better than that."
In the women's category, Teutenberg came into the 13th annual Liberty Classic as the race favourite, and she did not disappoint her teammates or the crowds that flocked to watch her sprint. The German jumped ahead of a late race break with a commanding lead ahead of Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) and Shelley Olds (Proman-Hit Squad).
"I like Philly and I'm happy to win again here," said Teutenberg who scored her third victory at the famed women's event. "My girls went very hard on the last time up the Wall. Once we were at the top they kept going and we had a gap. I had four girls left with me all the way to the finish so they controlled the front. I think it was the hardest Philly that I've ever done."
