Liberty Classic - June 5: Liberty Classic, 90.56km

Teutenberg takes the win herself

A change of strategy for the women's race  By Kristy Scrymgeour

Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile)
Photo ©: Jon Devich

Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile) has been in the winning team of the Liberty Classic every time she has participated. Starting in 1996 when Petra Rossner won the race for the first of seven years, Teutenberg has been there for five of Rossner's seven wins and was instrumental in the win of Lyne Bessette, who won the race in 2003. This time however, was a little different, as Teutenberg had the chance to win the race herself.

Covering four laps of the course in Philadelphia for a total of 92km, the women's race split up on the very first lap. T-Mobile put the pressure on the first time up the infamous Manayunk wall and a group of 14 riders got a gap on the field.

"I looked back," explained Teutenberg, "and all of a sudden I couldn't see anybody behind me. We had three riders up there so I told the girls we had to work."

Missing the break was Judith Arndt and Regina Schleicher (Nurnberger), as well as other big players. Kristin Armstrong and Kimberly Baldwin set the pace for T-Mobile in the break forcing Nurnberger to chase.

"I wanted to make sure we got over the second climb before anyone could bridge across," said Teutenberg.

On the second climb Arndt attacked taking her teammate Schleicher with her as well as Edita Pucinskaite (Nobili) and Laura Van Gilder and Tina Pic (Quark), and the break became a group of about 20. Holden also came across with this group giving T-Mobile yet another rider to play with. By this time the gap to the rest of the field was over a minute. Victory Brewing has Amy Moore in the break, but knowing that her chances up there alone were slim, it was their job to start the chase. With the help of Colavita Olive Oil, they spend the remainder of the race on the front in attempt to bring things back.

Arndt attacks
Photo ©: Mitch Friedman

With Holden and Bruckner working on the front, as well as Erinne Willock (Webcor) working for her teammate Christine Thorburn and Edita Pucinaskaite and Sigrid Corneo working for their sprinter Joanne Keisanowski, the break never looked like coming back. It was in the last lap, going up Lemon Hill that Nurnberger started to play their cards. Judith Arndt attacked hard getting a convincing gap, but T-Mobile used their horsepower to bring it back. After getting caught, Arndt didn't waste any time and counter attacked her own move, forcing T-Mobile to chase yet again.

When Arndt was caught, Armstrong kept the pace high until they rounded the last bend and Tina Pic started the lead out for Van Gilder. Teutenberg was on the wheel of Van Gilder with Schleicher on her wheel and came around with 100m to go. Schleicher tried to come around her, but Teutenberg held her off to take her first win at the Liberty Classic, clocking a total of ten wins for the year.

"I knew Schleicher was on my wheel, as she was there for the whole last lap, but Tina did a really good job in the leadout," explained Teutenberg. "I hopped on Van Gilder's wheel and with 100m to go I was waiting for her to go and she hesitated, so I went around. She was slightly on the right of Tina's wheel so she had to wait for me to pass. I could see Schleicher closing on me but she didn't make it. Maybe another 30 meters and she would have passed me."

Rarely showing emotion at the end of bike races, this win certainly put a smile on Teutenberg's face. "I'm really happy," she told Cyclingnews after the race. It's really nice to win a big bike race like this."

Ina Teutenberg
Photo ©: Mitch Friedman

"T-Mobile was amazing today," she added. "They did such an amazing job. I felt really good all day and I didn't have to do a thing. It was a good situation that the break went up the road. It made things much safer and I felt comfortable. I was worried the last time up the climb but its seems everyone was tired so nothing went."

Cyclingnews also caught up with Rossner who was very excited by the result, despite the fact that it wasn't a win for her team. "I have won this race seven times and Teutenberg has helped me win it five of those time. During the race I had a feeling she would win it and I'm very happy for her."

Of her teams' tactics, Rossner was also pleased. "We had a perfect race and the girls did everything right, they just didn't have it in the end. It was a good result and I think the girls are happy with it."

Tina Pic was a little disappointed with the finish, but still pleased that her teammate Van Gilder placed third. "I tried to lead Laura out," she explained. "We were both sitting in the wind so I started to lead her out. I think she is a bit bummed but I think she did well. It's a good result.

Kim Baldwin (T-Mobile)
Photo ©: Mitch Friedman

Having just come back from racing in the 10-day Tour de L'Aude in France, Pic said she was a bit worried. "I took two weeks off the bike when I got home because I was so fried. But today I felt good. It was a great race," she added. "I was so surprised that break stayed away."

Van Gilder had more than one word to say when Cyclingnews caught up with her, but the first word was "disappointment."

"I felt like the team had a great ride," she added. "Tina and I made the selection and that was the race, but then there we were sprinting and I guess it just wasn't my day to be on the top spot of the podium. But I guess I was in good company."

In the sprint Van Gilder explained, "I didn't want to go too early because it was windy, but then all of a sudden Ina was sprinting and I though, oh darn I should have gone. But it's a long sprint you know and you can see it from a long way out. The situation in the race came down exactly how I wanted it to, a small group. Maybe I just didn't execute the sprint well enough."

Van Gilder still hopes her performance here will help her get selected for World Championships. "I've been on the podium here more times than anyone except Petra [Rossner], which is a pretty good thing, so I guess third is not too bad."