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Redlands Cycling Classic 2009

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Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took out the field sprint to win stage 2 of Redlands Classic.The win earned her time bonus seconds moving her closer to the overall tour lead.

The winds actually aided Amber Neben in her defense of a 27-second advantage over Mara Abbott and Ina Teutenberg (both Columbia-Highroad). While several women tried to open up gaps on during the three-lap course, the stiff gusts helped the peloton swallow breakaways up and split weaker riders out the back by the handful. With an average speed of 26 miles per hour during the 24-lap race, there were no successful attacks, but enough pressure in the peloton to blow about 15 riders off the back of the field about 32 minutes into the race. Columbia-Highroad and Tibco tried — Columbia placed 2008 winner Alex Wrubleski in a dangerous breakaway alongside Tibco’s Julie Beverage on the penultimate lap. But the Colavita and Webcor Builders teams chased the break down, and Neben set the tempo on the final climb to bring everything together. Tibo guttered the front group on the run-in to the finish line to set up Lauren Tamayo. Abbott was one rider who fell victim to the wind and lost contact, slipping to fourth in GC. But Columbia ’s Teutenberg showed she had the fastest kick on the day, taking the victory ahead of Tamayo. 

Ina Yoko Teutenberg (Team Columbia Highroad) was very pleased with her win,  “I didn’t go for points today,” said Teutenberg. “I wasn’t allowed to attack because I need to save my energy for tomorrow. It is very hard to pass people here. If you come around the corner second wheel, you will end second wheel.” 

Amber Neben (Nurnberger Sho Air) said after the stage, "I have two girls close to me but four girls who can win the overall,” Neben said. “I have a feeling we’re going to have to make a lot of decisions on the road tomorrow. I knew today was a dangerous day. A group could roll up the day and you could easily lose two minutes.“The wind made things a lot harder but it just made the group smaller by the end. A lot of teams used the crosswinds to try and make the peloton explode, which it did," added Neben

The decrease in her lead did not take Neben by surprise. “I knew after yesterday, I probably would have the yellow jersey by one second after today,” she said with a laugh while waiting for the podium presentation. “Ina’s probably the best sprinter in the world, or one of the best. I knew what to expect today,” said Neben.

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