TOUR DE FRANCE: HIGH ROAD’S TEAM COLUMBIA IN GREEN AND WHITE AFTER STAGE 4

(July 8, 2008) In another good day for High Road Sports’ Team Columbia Kim Kirchen put in an excellent performance in the Individual Time Trial to place second and retain the green Points Jersey. His team mate, 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.”
“I was actually a little surprised at how well I rode in the time trial,” he added. “I felt great on the bike and the crowds along the roads really helped me keep focussed.”
Columbia finished the stage not only with Kirchen in second, but also George Hincapie in ninth and Lövkvist in eleventh. In the GC, Kirchen sits in second place, :12 seconds behind leader Stefan Shumacher of Team Gerolsteiner. Hincapie is in seventh place and Lövkvist is in eighth place overall after 4 stages.
Team Owner Bob Stapleton was again pleased with the way all of the riders are riding. “It was another solid team performance,” he said. “It was our fourth top five performance in three days. We’re particularly proud of taking both the green and the white jerseys. The great teamwork and the performances position us well as the race continues.”
WOMEN’S GIRO D’ITALIA: TEAM COLUMBIA’S INA-YOKO TEUTENBERG THREE FOR THREE
(July 8, 2008) In their first tour in the new Columbia colors, 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).
“It feels pretty unreal to get the hat trick,” said Teutenberg. “I can’t believe it but I’m definitely happy about it. For sure though, it will be a different story tomorrow and another girl will be in pink.”
Tomorrow stage climbs twice up the famous Monte Serra and finishes at the top after 106km of racing.
“No matter how hard I try, it will be a different race tomorrow,” added Teutenberg.
Team Director Ronny Lauke was also pleased. “It’s quite hard to do it three days in a row,” he said. “The girls were great and I’m proud they pulled off the triple amongst such a strong field.”
The men and women of High Road’s Team Columbia ride the Giant TCR Advanced SL bicycle. Team Columbia has the most wins this season of any team in the pro peloton.
For more information on Team Columbia please visit www.highroadsports.com