Commerce Bank Triple Crown Series

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Race 1

Lancaster - criterium, 25 miles 

Race Writeup

Spectators were treated to an exciting first race of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling as the Pro/Elite Women flew around the tight 6/10 mile criterium course in historic downtown Lancaster .  In the end, the day belonged to Ina Teutenburg (T-Mobile) as she charged up the final straight-away to take the win from a large and talented field of riders.  

For the first time in its long history, a Pro/Elite Women’s race was added to the traditionally men only Lancaster event.  With all the best US teams on hand, as well as select European teams represented, the race stacked up to be an early showcase for the Commerce Bank Liberty Classic scheduled for next Sunday.   

As expected, attacks went from the gun but nothing was allowed to go until the halfway point of the race when a group of six got away with local favorite Laura Van Gilder (Team Lipton).  They worked well together but T-Mobile and Colavita/Cooking Light started applying the pressure from the field and with three laps to go in the race the field was all back together.

As the teams with strong sprinters began to scramble for positioning heading into the final laps all eyes were on Teutenberg as her team brought her to the front.  Up the final straight she waited until 100 meters to go before unleashing her powerful sprint and spectators were treated to a familiar sight in professional women’s racing, Ina with her arms in the air.  

Rounding out the podium were Gina Grain (Colavita/Cooking Light) in second and the aggressive Laura Van Gilder taking a well deserved third place.  

Riders will be back to action on Thursday where they will again tackle a 25 mile criterium in the second leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling in Reading , PA.  

Results