Teutenberg wins third Liberty Classic

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Ina Yoko-Teutenberg (Columbia-Highroad) came into the Liberty Classic Sunday in Philadelphia as the race favourite and she failed to disappoint. The German jumped ahead of a late-race break to win ahead of Joanne Kiesanowski (TIBCO) and Shelley Olds (Proman-Hit Squad).

"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," said Teutenberg, who scored her third victory at the famed women's event.

Columbia-Highroad set a pace so fast on the fourth and final time over the infamous Manayunk climb, known simply as "The Wall", that only eleven riders could hang on. The split included Teutenberg along with three teammates – Kim Anderson, Mara Abbott and Judith Arndt and Kiesanowski – Trixi Worrack and Amber Neben (Nurnberger-Versicherung), Catherine Cheatley (Colavita-Sutter Home), Alison Powers (Team Type 1), Ruth Croset (Jazz Apple), Chrissy Ruiter (Value Act Capital). Olds was the twelfth rider to join the front group.

"Columbia-Highroad kept driving it," said Olds, who made a name for herself by winning the Tulsa Tough omnium last weekend. "I actually didn't make the split and I had to close it on the down hill. As soon as I saw four Columbia-Highroads on the front I just knew that was it. They didn't ask for help from anyone and no one had to do anything."

Teutenberg's teammates dropped her off with 250-metres to go with Kiesanowski on her wheel. Olds started her sprint from further back and passed two riders at the line to take third place.

"This is always a hard race and nervous at the start," said Kiesanowski. "It's one of my favourite races and it was just great that we got someone on the podium. After the last climb it was up to me to get the results for the team and I just tried to be smart and find the right wheel."

Fast and fabulous women's peloton

It's an atypical day when the women's peloton catches the men's peloton on a circuit race, something that happened for the first time in the history of the Liberty Classic/TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championships on Sunday.

Some 150 women gathered at the staging area to watched the professional men complete three parade laps around Logan's Circle. Once the men set off on course toward Manayunk, the women's race got underway.

"I was a little confused why we were not crossing the men's peloton in the opposite direction like we usually do," said Teutenberg. "And then I saw the back of their caravan and I knew that we were going to catch them."

The women's field was off to a fast start with attacks coming from Trixi Worrack and Kristy Scheffenacker (Altarum) on the first two laps. A threatening break of eleven riders separated themselves from the field at the end of the second lap. TIBCO, not represented in the move, put its power on the front of the field and brought it back before it could gain too much time.

The average speeds were so fast that they collided with the back of the men's field, who were traveling at an unusually slow speed, mid-way through the third lap on Kelly Drive. "We only do four laps so it's on the whole time. These girls are European road racers and they are used to doing four hour rides full gas. This was more like a circuit race to them," said Olds.

The men's peloton was neutralised until the women completed the final lap and half, leaving the roads wide open for the finale. The women made their way over the cobbled chicane and up the fourth and last climb of the race. Columbia-Highroad lined up their climbers Mara Abbott, Kim Anderson and Judith Arndt to set the pace that few could follow.

"The last lap was all together going into the climb," Olds said. "They got up to the front and drilled it hard into the bottom so that the field was completely strung out. Then they used riders to jump over the climb. By the top they had four girls all at the front and used them to make a separation in the field."

After a strong performance from Columbia-Highroad, Teutenberg hopes to return the event next to take a fourth victory. "I hope this race is around next year because I really like it," Teutenberg said.