Columbia scoops top three places in Saxony

July 27, 2008 | Read Full Article

Strong team work allowed Columbia to successfully retain their top three places overall in the Tour of Saxony in a gruelling final day's racing. After moving into the lead with a time trial win on stage four, Bert Grabsch retained his number
one spot in on stage five, a hilly 146 kilometre trek starting and finishing in Dresden. Second on the final podium was German Tony Martin, with Michael Rogers of Australia in third.

Arndt wins Thuringen for the second year running

July 27, 2008 | Read Full Article

Columbia's Judith Arndt successfully defended her title as winner of the Thüringen Rundfahrt Sunday riding into the yellow jersey on the penultimate stage and keeping the lead on the final stage.

Arndt won the Tour by less than a second in the 2007 edition with the difference between her and Amber Neben coming down to a countback seconds in the time trial times.

Arndt moves into the race lead at Thuringen Rundfahrt

July 26, 2008 | Read Full Article

Columbia's Judith Arndt placed third in Saturday's penultimate stage of Thuringen Rundfahrt moving herself into the overall race lead with one stage remaining.

Arndt finished behind Karin Thürig and Christiane Soeder of Cervelo Lifeforce in the 18.6km time trial, earning the yellow jersey by a margin of 22 seconds over Nürnberger's Trixi Worrack.

Grabsch Heads Top Three Triumph for Columbia

July 26, 2008 | Read Full Article

Columbia’s Bert Grabsch, Tony Martin and Michael Rogers turned in a superb collective performance in the Tour of Saxony time trial on Saturday - scooping the top three places and simultaneously moving into the top three places overall.
German national time trial champion Grabsch was the fastest on the 36 kilometre out-and-back course in Grossenheim, with Martin second at 21 seconds and Rogers third at 42 seconds.

Andre Greipel takes another stage win in the Sachsen Tour

July 25, 2008 | Read Full Article

Columbia sprinter Andre Greipel took a tough win on Friday’s stage three of the Tour of Saxony  - simultaneously bouncing back into the race's overall lead.
Greipel’s tenth win of the season came after three laps of a challenging finish circuit in the city of Frohburg, Germany and at the end of a gruelling 242 kilometre stage.

“There was a break of eight away with two of our guys, Tony Martin and Bert Grabsch, in the move.” Greipel, who also won the opening stage of the five-day race, said.

Burghardt wins sprint duel for Columbia's fifth tour stage

July 24, 2008 | Read Full Article

A powerful acceleration gave Marcus Burghardt his first victory of the 2008 season and Columbia’s fifth stage win in the 2008 Tour de France. At the end of a long break, the German comfortably outpowered Spaniard Carlos Barredo in a
two-way battle for a convincing stage victory at St. Etienne. For Burghardt the win had particular importance following a tough spring where knee injuries left him out of one of his other big objecitves, the Belgian Classics.

Greipel Takes Opening Stage of Tour of Saxony

July 23, 2008 | Read Full Article

Greipel Takes Opening Stage of Tour of Saxony

Columbia fastman Andrei Greipel blasted to victory in stage one of the Tour of Saxony from Dresden to Niesky on Wednesday. The German took win number nine of the  season in a bunch sprint at the end of the 188 kilometer stage- a victory which has him into the overall lead of the five-day race.

 "This is definitely my best year so far." Greipel said

"It's always an extra motivation for me to be racing and winning in Germany, on home soil, too."

"The sprint itself wasn't too difficult, a little uphill and on a wide street in a good warm weather.  The only problem was there was a very strong headwind so I had to go from a very long way out. But I still won by three bike lengths."

"The team did exactly what they had to as well, bringing back a break two kilometers from the line and then setting things up for a bunch sprint.  Our tactics were perfect."

Greipel says he will try to hold the race lead, "but I'm not a time triallist and Saturday's race against the clock should decide everything, so it's best to be cautious."

"I'll take it on the day by day, tomorrow [Thrusday] could well be another bunch sprint, and we'll try to make that happen and to keep the lead at the same time.  The weather forecast is for a lot of headwind so that should be good for keeping the race together."

Greipel started winning races this year in January he took the overall and four stages in the Tour Down Under. That has been followed by a stage victory in the Giro in May and another in the Tour of Austria earlier this month.  He recognises thathe is having and exceptional season.

"It just shows that with a great team supporting me what I can do.  They are really performing brilliantly- and this year is one I won't forget in a hurry!" 

Mark Cavendish wins stage 13 at the Tour de France

July 18, 2008 | Read Full Article

CAVENDISH POWERS TO FOURTH STAGE WIN IN TOUR

A baking hot day in southern France saw Mark Cavendish scorch to a fourth stage win in the Tour on Friday. Despite temperatures of over thirty degrees centigrade, the Columbia pro powered across the line more than two bike lengths clear of Australian Robbie McEwen and Romain Feillu of France. For the 23-year-old Britain, his stage win in Nimes is his eleventh road win of the season the same total as he took in the whole of 2007.

“I had to do it in two accelerations.” Cavendish confirmed. “First I kicked out with 150 metres to go and then again closer to the line.”

Mark Cavendish wins his third stage during the Tour de France

July 17, 2008 | Read Full Article

Mark Cavendish blasted to his third stage win in the Tour on Thursday, a victory which confirms his overwhelming superiority in the race’s bunch sprints.
For Cavendish stage 12’s win at Narbonne was his tenth road win of the season, and Columbia’s 50th for their men’s team in 2008.

“It makes me very proud to be the first British rider to win three stages in a major Tour.” Cavendish said afterwards.

Columbia's Teutenberg Finishes the Giro with Four Stage Wins and the Points Jersey

July 13, 2008 | Read Full Article

Columbia’s Ina-Yoko Teutenberg won the final stage of the Giro d’Italia Femminile today finishing the ten day tour with four stage wins and the Points Jersey.

“I think this week was something that happens once in a lifetime,” said Teutenberg. “I’ve never won four stages in a tour before and I’m pretty sure it won’t happen again. It was a great week and it’s really nice to finish in the Points Jersey.”

Cavendish and Ciolek clinch first and second for Columbia

July 12, 2008 | Read Full Article

A torrential downpour could not stop Briton Mark Cavendish from clinching a powerful bunch sprint win in the Tour de France on Saturday, with Team Columbia team-mate Gerald Ciolek in second.

For the 23-year-old Cavendish, his Toulouse stage win was his second victory in five days racing on the Tour, his ninth of the season and the 20th on the road in just 18 months as a professional.

Grabsch and Boasson-Hagen take first and second in Austria

July 12, 2008 | Read Full Article

Team Columbia powered to the top two places in the Tour of Austria’s crucial time trial on Saturday thanks to German Bert Grabsch and Norwegian Edvald Boassen Hagen. In the 26 kilometre time trial in Podersdorf, Grabsch finished 43 seconds ahead of his team- mate Boassen Hagen and 45 ahead of Dane Michael Blaudzun.

Time trialling success is not new for either Columbia rider - both Grabsch and Boassen Hagen are reigning national champions in the speciality. Grabsch also won a time trial in the Tour of Spain last year and Boassen Hagen the time trial in the Criterium International this March.

Kirchen retains Tour de France yellow and green jersey in stage 7

July 11, 2008 | Read Full Article

KIRCHEN AND LOVKVIST RETAIN JERSEY'S

Team Columbia's Kim Kirchen held on to the yellow jersey today in the seventh stage of the Tour de France.  Kirchen finished in the front group, just seconds behind solo winner Luis Sanchez.  

On an undulating and challenging course Team Columbia worked hard to defend the jersey. Continual attacks made the job a tough one.

Kirchen wins Tour de France yellow and green jersey in stage 6

July 10, 2008 | Read Full Article

KIRCHEN TAKES YELLOW IN TOUR DE FRANCE

Team Columbia’s Kim Kirchen stormed into the race lead of the Tour de France on Thursday’s summit finish at Superbesse. Seventh in the 2007 Tour, Kirchen is the first rider from Luxembourg to take the yellow jersey since Charly Gaul won the race overall almost half a century ago, back in 1958.

“It’s been an exceptionally good Tour for me and Team Columbia so far, I was holding the points jersey for several stages and now I’m in yellow.” Kirchen  said.

Andre Greipel wins stage 4 of the Tour of Austria

July 10, 2008 | Read Full Article

German speedster Andrei Greipel took his eighth win of the season today with a classy bunch sprint victory in stage four of the Tour of Austria. The winner of four stages and the overall in the Tour Down Under as well as a stage in the Giro,  at the finish of stage four from Lienz to Wolfsberg Greipel successfully outgunned Austrian Rene Haselbacher and German Danilo Hondo. 

“It was a good win, I took it by more than a bike length after Edvald Boasson Hagen had given me a great lead out.” Greipel said.

 

Mara Abbott takes her first european victory

July 10, 2008 | Read Full Article

Columbia's young USA National Champion achieved a big personal goal, of obtaining her first european victory.  Abbott attacked with 3 kilometers to go
in the first stage of Krasna Lipa and followed up to the mountain top to finish and take the stage and the yellow jersey.

"Its very exciting to get my first european win" said Mara Abbott

Mark Cavendish wins stage 5 Tour de France

July 09, 2008 | Read Full Article

CAVENDISH HITS THE JACKPOT IN TOUR DE FRANCE

Team Columbia’s Mark Cavendish blasted to a first stage win in the Tour de France on Wednesday’s stage from Cholet to Chateauroux. The 23-year-old Briton finished over a bike length ahead of three-times World Champion
Oscar Freire of Spain, with German Erik Zabel in third.

It was Cavendish eighth road-race win of 2008 and 19th road-race victory of his career. In a remarkable year so far for Team Columbia, Cavendish win is the  46th of 2008 for the men’s team.

“This is far and away the biggest win of my career.” Cavendish said afterwards.

“Everyone knows what the Tour is, when you’re a kid you watch it on tv, you dream of being there. I’ve always known how important the Tour is.”

Strongly supported by all eight Columbia team-mates in the frantic finale, Cavendish said their hard work “shows just how self-sacrificing they are.”

“They did everything they could do to help me there, and I had to do my best to pay them back and win.”

“They’ve worked with total commitment all week. Today we had to top the podium. I couldn’t really come away without the victory.”

Although Olympic ambitions are high on Cavendish’s list of priorities this year, he is adamant that he has no plans to abandon.

“I want to go all the way to Paris. To plan to do otherwise would be disrespectful to the organisers, my team, the other riders and the race.”

Discussing the team’s role in the finale, Cavendish said that German team-mate Gerald Ciolek “led me out from 600 metres. That’s a long way to go in the headwind, but you saw how fast he went past the other guys.”

“Then when [rival rider Mark] Renshaw went with [sprinter Thor Hushovd] with 250 metres  to that was a bit early in the sprint for me to accelerate.”

“But after Renshaw had given Hushovd a good lead-out then my own final acceleration would have been less efficent if I had waited for my usual distance.”

“So I had to go for it when they did.”

“Fortunately my strength was enough to take me all the way to the line. I was able to hold it all the way there and it all paid off.”

Columbia takes the Green and the White Jersey at the Tour de France

July 08, 2008 | Read Full Article

In another good day for Team Columbia Kim Kirchen put in an excellent performance in the Individual Time Trial to place second and retain the green Points Jersey, whilst teammate Thomas Lövkvist had the ride of his life to finish with the white Young Riders jersey.

Kirchen was very pleased with his ride crediting Team Director Rolf Aldag for the motivation. “I felt really good today and I had Rolf in my ear giving me very good information. It was really motivating.”

Team Columbia women take three stages in a row at the Giro

July 08, 2008 | Read Full Article

In their first tour in the new Columbia colours, Team Columbia’s women’s team has won three consecutive races in the Giro d’Italia Femminile this week.

Sprinter Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took out the first three stages in bunch sprints, earning the leader’s maglia rosa. Teutenberg now leads the tour by 17 seconds over Kirsten Wild (AA Drink).

Teutenberg wins another stage of the Giro

July 07, 2008 | Read Full Article

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took her second consecutive stage of the Giro d'Italia Femminile today, defending the Maglia Rosa going into Stage Four.

"I'm psyched to win the the pink jersey and be able to ride with it another day," said Teutenberg. "We couldn't have had a better start in the giro and hopefully we can keep playing a big role in the race."

NEWS FLASH - Kirchen earns the Green Jersey

July 06, 2008 | Read Full Article

Team Columbia's Kim Kirchen had another good day to place second in Stage Two of the Tour de France. The result earned Kirchen the Green Points Jersey and moved him up into second place in the general classification, one second behind race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne).

Team-mate Gerald Ciolek place third in the stage.

Teutenberg wins at the Giro and earns the Maglia Rosa

July 06, 2008 | Read Full Article

Ina-Yoko Teutenberg won the first race for Team Columbia today taking out the bunch sprint in Stage One of the Giro d'Italia Femminile. The win moves her into the Maglia Rosa going into the second stage.

"It's great to take a win on the second day in our new colours," said Team Director Ronny Lauke. "We had great success as Team High Road and we hope to continue that success as Team Columbia."

Great start for Team Columbia at the Tour de France

July 05, 2008 | Read Full Article

In a great start for the newly named Team Columbia, Kim Kirchen took fifth place today in the first stage of the Tour de France.

Making his move with 600 meters to go in the uphill finish to Plumelec, Kirchen caught Schumacher with 400 meters to go and proceded to ride solo toward the finish line. In a dramatic stage finish however, he was caught by Alejandro Valverde who took the win and the first yellow jersey of Tour.

New York Times - Tour de Torture: Who Is Prepared to Suffer the Most?

July 03, 2008 | Read Full Article

NEW YORK TIMES 

TOUR DE TORTURE: WHO IS PREPARED TO SUFFER THE MOST?
 
By MICHAEL BARRY
Published: July 3, 2008

GIRONA, Spain — A coach once told me, “Go until you see Jesus.” Another told me, “Pedal until you taste blood.” Everybody in the Tour de France will suffer; the winner will probably be the one who is prepared to suffer the most.

In Brest, 189 of the world’s best cyclists are cooped up in small French hotels, anxiously awaiting the start of the race Saturday. They have been preparing to suffer for the past six months.