05-06-2008 19:26:07

High Road's Ina-Yoko Teutenberg successfully defended her title as winner of the Commerce Bank Reading Classic in 2007 winning the second round of the Triple Crown today.

Teutenberg has now won the first two rounds, with the third and most prestigious race coming up on Sunday in Philadelphia.

"Today was actually a good situation for me," explained Teutenberg who has raced alone at the first two rounds of the Triple Crown. "We had a break of five riders with one from each team so I wasn't isolated in the bunch against strong team."

"On the back straight of the last lap Alison [Powers] did a pretty good attack. I jumped on her wheel and we had a gap going into the second last corner."

Teutenberg was able to come around Powers on the long uphill finishing drag and hold off the rest of the group. The win makes it the fifth consecutive win for Teutenberg in the Commerce Bank series, including her sweep of last years events.

"Sunday is the most important race for us," said Teutenberg. "So now I really have to concentrate on that. Luckily my team-mates will join me for that after they finish Tour of Montreal."

Teutenberg is the defending champion of Sunday's Liberty Classic and also won the race in 2005.

Press Release