The predicted temperatures in the mid 90s were within an arms reach at the 9 AM start of the men’s race with the thermostat already reading 80 degrees. Toward the end of the racing, one official reported the temperature as 120-degrees on the road.
Commerce Bank Liberty Classic
The women were first to contest for podium spots. After completing four laps of the 14.4 mile course, Team High Road’s Chantal Beltman would solo across the line to lay claim to the 2008 Commerce Bank Liberty Classic title.The race that featured several early breakaway attempts was not truly decided until the final pass up “The Wall” in Manayunk. Using a three pronged attack [seemingly a favorite tactic from the team formerly known as T-Mobile], Beltman, along with teammates Kim Anderson and Mara Abbott, would isolate Team TIBCO’s Joanne Kiesanowski after cresting the climb.
On the flats of Kelly Drive, it was Anderson who would have the first go, followed by Abbott. Kiesanowski, who placed second at the Commerce Bank Reading Classic three days prior, was strong in covering the first two moves, but was unable to mark the final effort by Beltman.
“As soon as Joanne caught Mara, I went on my own just before Lemon Hill,” explained the Dutchwoman, alluding to the short climb that precedes the final run in to the finish. “From there I just gave it my all because I knew I had nothing to lose. If the field catches me, then we have Ina for the sprint. We had it under control all day. It was awesome.”
For all her effort, Kiesanowski would still finish strong coming in seventh. TIBCO teammate Brooke Miller would take the field sprint and second place.
Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Team High Road) who won all three events of the Triple Crown last year and the first two events this year, would round out the podium.
“I would have been sad if my teammate didn’t win,” said Teutenberg, who won the Liberty Classic in 2005 and 2007. “But since High Road won, that’s all that matters. We wanted to win the race and that’s what we did.”
Teutenberg and company also grabbed the lion’s share of the women’s $27,200 prize purse, which included $5,000 for the overall series winner – a prize the German did win.
Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Championship
In a race that lasted a record 6 hours, 14 minutes and 47 seconds, the longest it has ever taken to cover the 156 miles of the Commerce Bank Philadelphia International Championship, CSC’s Matti Breschel was the main survivor in this battle of attrition.
The heat would take its toll as only 81 of the 190 strong field would complete the mandatory 10 laps. Notably missing from the final sprint was Liquigas fastman, Daniele Bennati who dropped out of the race fairly early on, reportedly with knee tendonitis.
Similar to the women’s race, several breaks attempted to go up the road but none would stick.
The most significant was a seven man break that featured Rock Racing’s Tyler Hamilton, Davide Frattini (Colavita/Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light), Ed King (Bissell), Brian Jensen (Team Successful Living), Dan Ramsay (Time), Ben Kneller (Jittery Joe’s), and Richard Geng (Rite Aid). The group stayed away for the majority of the race only to be pulled in toward the end.
It would all come down to a field sprint with the 23-year-old Breschel taking it at the line. With his win in Philadelphia and the finishing consistency he showed over the week, Breschel would also net the top prize in the three-race series’ overall standings.
“I was all by myself on the last lap,” explained Breschel, who did not have the benefit of a full lead-out train like some of his competitors. “But I got myself in a good position going through [Logan Circle] and was able to make a long sprint to the finish.”
Americans Kirk O’Bee (Health Net-Maxxis) and Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing) were second and third respectively.
“It was a crazy last lap,” explained O’Bee, who was contesting his eighth Philadelphia race. “As soon as I exited the last round-about, my teammate John Murphy led me up the left side and took me all the way to the 200-meter-to-go sign. I took it from there and almost had it, but I probably went a little early and Breschel was able to come over the top of me.”
Unfortunately for Rodriguez, he lost momentum when he rode over a steel grate at the 150-meter mark on the final stretch of Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
“I hit the infamous pothole that’s been there every year since I started doing this race and it threw me off balance for the finish,” he said.
Rodriguez’s third place in the final race of the Commerce Bank “Triple Crown of Cycling” follows a pair of outright victories in the event that was once known as the USPRO Championship in 2001 and 2004, a second place finish in 2000 (as the top American finisher), third place in 1996 and fourth in 2005.
Photos: Leonard Basobas (first, second, and fourth); Vero Image (third)
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