2009 Season Review: Team Columbia - HTC Women 2009

The Columbia-HTC Women's Team has concluded another highly successful season in 2009, totaling 46 victories for the year and 152 wins over the last three seasons, far more than any other team. A disappointment for the team was falling from number one to number two in the world as Cervelo ended the year as number one. But the year was far from bad at all. "I'm very proud of the riders for what they achieved, both as a team and in terms of the winning results," comments Columbia-HTC sports director Ronny Lauke. "If you look back on the year, we did very well. Equally importantly, we battled through some really difficult times together when key riders got injured or sick. Everybody really stepped up to make sure we stayed united and on track. The team spirit this year really has been amazing."

The Columbia-HTC team was the second best team after Cervelo in 2009
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

"Look at Ina-Yoko Teutenberg," added Lauke. "She won 24 races this season" - more than any other professional bike racer in 2009 - "and she's still progressing as an athlete, winning races like the Tour of Flanders and the Overall General Classification in Redlands. People always thought that Flanders was too hilly for Ina, but she's proved them totally wrong. She's a dedicated, 100-percent professional, and the results are there for everybody to see."

Ina Teutenberg wins a stage in the Profile Ladies Tour
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

After a highly successful 2008, Columbia-HTC's Judith Arndt suffered three major injuries this season, but as Lauke points out "every time, Judith fought back to regain her status as one of the bunch's top riders. She crashed in April, breaking her scaphoid, but still came back to win three stages and the overall of the Emakumen Bira race in Spain. After that she took a very difficult stage of the Giro as the finale to some amazing teamwork by Columbia-HTC. Then when Judith had another crash in July, breaking her arm, she bounced back again to put in a strong ride at the World's. Other riders would have cracked under the strain and pressure of so many accidents in one year, but not Judith."

Ina Teutenberg adds the Ronde van Vlaanderen to her impressive victory list
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Lauke also singled out Linda Villumsen and Kim Anderson as two of the Columbia-HTC riders who have clearly moved up a level this season. "Linda's victory in the Tour of Thuringen, one of the hardest stage races there is, was a particularly exceptional result. She really went for it there. I think Linda has made a big move in the right direction. I was equally pleased for Kim, one of the most reliable team workers in the peloton, who finally got an opportunity to win a race for herself in the Route de France. One good thing about a tough year like 2009 is that the entire team is even more united than they were before. The riders are stronger, both individually and as a unit, and we're going to see more positive results from that in 2010."

Linda Villumsen had a good season too with the Danish title in both the RR as the ITT and the overall win in Thüringen
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

New Signings 2010
Thus far the Columbia-HTC team has four new signings for 2010. The new signings are Italian World Championships medalist (both time trial and road) Noemi Cantele (Bigla Cycling Team(, the second of the Route de France American Evelyn Stevens, Dutch track and road rider Adrie Visser (DSB Bank) and Australian rising sprinter Chloe Hosking (Moving Ladies). The latter one rode already as trainee for the team in the Giro della Toscana. Discussions with (possible) additional riders are underway. A introduction of the new signings:

Kate Bates and Ellen van Dijk
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Noemi Cantele, 28 years of age, is coming from the stopped Swiss Bigla Cycling Team. Cantele rode for Bigla Cycling Team since 2006. Before her Bigla period she was a member of the Acca Due and the Safi Pasta Zara team. Cantele is an all rounder as she can do well in both one-day races and stage races. Stapleton believes that Cantele can build on the success she had at the Worlds this year where she won silver in the individual time trial and bronze in the road race. "

New signing Noemi Cantele finished as third at the Road World Championships in Mendrisio (Road Race)
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Next to her success at the Worlds she was the best in a stage of the Giro d'Italia, Durango-Durango, Gran Premio Brissago and the Italian time trial Championships. She was also 4th in a.o. the Trophee D'Or, 4th in the road race at the Italian nationals, 2nd in a stage of the Tour de L'Aude, 5th in the Fleche Wallonne, 8th in the Ronde van Vlaanderen and 2nd in the Omloop het Nieuwsblad.

In her career she won lots of races among them the GP Plouay (2005 and 2007), a stage in Thüringen (2008), two stages and the overall ranking in the Giro della Toscana (2007), Trophee D'Or (2007) and another two stages in the Giro della Toscana in 2006.

Evelyn Stevens drives the bunch at the Worlds. In one year from Wall Street to a Professional Cyclist.
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

For Evelyn Stevens, 26 year old, 2009 was her first year as a cyclist. Last year Stevens was working at a Wall Street investment firm (investment banking at Lehman Brothers) and trying to stay in shape by doing some jogging. In June 2008 she participated in a women's cycling clinic in Central Park and participated in her first race. After that she started to do some regional races and started to become pretty good. In 2009 she was a guest rider for the Webcor Builders Cycling Team and the Lipsmacker team. She immediately showed her great potential by winning the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic (NRC) and the Cascade Cycling Classic and finishing second at the American ITT Nationals behind Jessica Phillips. In August she was picked up by the USA National Team to ride the Route de France in Europe. She surprised everyone to win the fourth stage and to finish as second overall behind compatriot Kimberly Anderson. After that she finished 12th overall in the Tour de L'Ardeche and 11th in the Giro della Toscana. At the Worlds she did an impressive job for the team and was the absolute animator in the race. She finished as second American (Armstrong was the best American at rank 4) at rank 15th.

Australian rising sprinter Chloe Hosking is another addition for the 2010 team
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Stapleton is very pleased about this new signing "We are very optimistic about what Evelyn can do. She still has a lot to learn about racing but she's got good instincts and good ability and she will come along very quickly. She's mature and she has confidence and that is going to do well when it comes to adapting to races in Europe."

Adrie Visser is coming from the Dutch DSB Bank - Nederland Bloeit team. After the sponsor announced in August, in the meantime the DSB Bank is bankrupt, not to prolong its sponsorship the riders were free to search for other teams. She could stay with the successor of the team of Marianne Vos, but decided to join the Columbia-HTC team. She signed a contract for one season. Visser will be the second Dutch rider on the team next to Ellen van Dijk. Another Dutch rider on the team Chantal Beltman decided to quit her career after the Profile Ladies Tour in September. Visser is both active on the road and the track. On the road she won amongst others the World Cup Ronde van Drenthe and on the track she won 13 national titles, two bronze medals at Track World Championships and she participated for The Netherlands in the points race at the 2004 Olympics.

New signing: Adrie Visser
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

The past season Visser had no wins on the road but finished as sixth in the Omloop het Nieuwsblad, 6th in the 7-Dorpenomloop van Aalburg, 4th in the Parel van de Veluwe, 3rd in the Therme Kasseienomloop, 3rd in the TTT of the Blauwe Stad and 4th at the Dutch National Road Championships.

Chloe Hosking had a really good season. Hosking, in her first year as an elite rider, took six wins and lots of top 10 results. Chloe won the Wellington Women's race, won two stages and the overall ranking in Chongming Island, won a stage in the Westfriese Wieler-2-daagse and was the best in the Omloop der Kempen. Next to that she had a lot of top ten results in a.o. the Jayco Bay Classic, the Women's Tour of New Zealand, the Omloop van Borsele (6th), GP Stad Roeselare (4th), the Therme Kasseienomloop (2nd) and the Sparkassen Giro in Bochum (3rd). This all resulted in a trainee period with Columbia-HTC as from 15/9/2009. She started in the Giro della Toscana for the team and did a very good job for the team.

Chantal Beltman retired after the Profile Ladies Tour in September
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Departures
Chantal Beltman retired as a professional cyclist after the Profile Ladies Tour in September. After turning pro in 1995, Beltman said her four World Cup wins as well as a silver medal in the World Championships in 2000 were the high points of her career.

"I wanted to retire on home soil and after deciding in early August that it was time to hang up my wheels, this was the race I wanted to do in," Beltman said before the start.

Swedish Champion ITT Emilia Fahlin
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

"My family and friends have all come to see me on this stage, and it's a great way to end my career."

"But if I had to single one World Cup victory out then that would have to be the Ronde Van Drenthe which I won last year, it's a Dutch race and winning at home was very special.

"As for the sport itself, I'd say it's changed a bit over the years during the time I've been racing, for the better. It's more professional and bigger name sponsors like Columbia Sportwear and HTC have come in to women's cycling."

Winner of the ITT in the Profile Ladies Tour: Ellen van Dijk
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

At 33 Beltman has no doubts in her mind that it is time for her to retire, but says she'd like to continue to be linked to cycling.

"Even though I'll miss the racing and my team-mates, it's the right moment to go and I'm finishing my career with the best team in the world. In three days time I'll start a two year course to become a sports director, so that should help me keep in touch as well."

Mara Abbott
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

"Chantal has been such an important part of the team," said Team Director Ronny Lauke. "Her talent, knowledge and experience, as well as her calm influence is invaluable. She will be missed."

More on her impressive career can be found on her website

Click on photos for a larger image:

Judith Arndt - Kate Bates
Photo © 2008 Bart Hazen

Uncertain
Thus far it's uncertain if Mara Abbott, Alex Wrubleski and Katherine Bates will ride in 2010 for Team Columbia-HTC as well. In the preliminary roster for 2010, given on 7 September, they were not lined-up in the team.

Alex Wrubleski started the season well with a eight rank overall in the Redlands Bicycle Classic and a twelfth position in the Fleche Wallonne. Since early June Wrubleski didn't rode a single race for the team anymore.

Alex Wrubleski
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Katherine Bates is a domestigue rider for the team. The 27 year old had her best results in The Netherlands; 15th in Borsele, 19th in the Novilon Eurocup Ronde van Drenthe and 3rd in the Criterium of Stiphout.

Mara Abbott had a really good season. She won the Monte Serra stage in the Giro D'Italia and finished as 7th in the Fleche Wallonne, 3rd overall in the Emakumen Bira, 2nd overall in the Giro D'Italia and 8th overall in the Giro della Toscana.

Mara Abbott had a great season with a stage win and second overall in the Giro D'Italia
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

The 2010 roster:
Kim Anderson
Judith Arndt
Chantal Beltman
Emilia Fahlin
Chloe Hosking
Luise Keller

2008 German Champion Luise Keller
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Ina Teutenberg
Ellen van Dijk
Linda Villumsen
Evelyn Stevens
Adrie Visser
Noemi Cantele

Emilia Fahlin
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Uncertain
Mara Abbott
Alex Wrubleski
Katherine Bates

Current CQ Ranking (27/09/2009)
Rank Prev. Rider Team Date of birth CQ
4. (3) TEUTENBERG Ina TCW 28/10/1974 701
10. (1) ARNDT Judith TCW 23/07/1976 434
15. (28) VILLUMSEN SERUP Linda TCW 09/04/1985 364
16. (-) HOSKING Chloe TCW 01/10/1990 316
29. (44) ABBOTT Mara TCW 14/11/1985 210
36. (48) ANDERSON Kimberly TCW 28/01/1968 158

German Champion Ina Teutenberg
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

54. (79) VAN DIJK Ellen TCW 11/02/1987 98
83. (102) FAHLIN Emilia TCW 24/10/1988 54
86. (19) BELTMAN Chantal TCW 25/08/1976 52
326. (42) WRUBLESKI Alex TCW 31/05/1984 6
503. (17) KELLER Luise TCW 08/03/1984 1
- (144) BATES Katherine TCW 18/05/1982 0

New signings
7. (24) CANTELE Noemi BCT 17/07/1981 510
47. (-) STEVENS Evelyn - 09/05/1983 110
91. (80) VISSER Adrie DSB 19/10/1983 49

* Marianne Vos leads the ranking with 1410 CQ points.

Teutenberg won 24 races in 2009
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

Most Important (UCI) Victories 2009
19/09/2009: Giro della Toscana - Stage 5, Ina Teutenberg
5/09/2009: Holland Ladies Tour, Stage 5, Ina Teutenberg
2/09/2009: Holland Ladies Tour, Stage 2 (ITT), Ellen van Dijk
14/08/2009: La Route de France, Kimberly Anderson
12/08/2009: La Route de France, Stage 3:, Ina Teutenberg
10/08/2009: La Route de France, Stage 1, Ina Teutenberg
26/07/2009: Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt, Linda Villumsen
23/07/2009: Internationale Thüringen Rundfahrt, Stage 3, Linda Villumsen
9/07/2009: Giro d'Italia Femminile, Stage 6, Judith Arndt
7/07/2009: Giro d'Italia Femminile, Stage 4, Ina Teutenberg
6/07/2009: Giro d'Italia Femminile, Stage 3, Mara Abbott


Kim Anderson won the Route de France over her new 2010 teammate Evelyn Stevens
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

1/07/2009: European Championships U23 (I.T.T.), Ellen van Dijk
28/06/2009: National Championships Germany R.R., Ina Teutenberg
27/06/2009: National Championships Denmark R.R., Linda Villumsen
25/06/2009: National Championships Denmark I.T.T. , Linda Villumsen
24/06/2009: National Championships Sweden (Götene) I.T.T., Emilia Fahlin
20/06/2009: RaboSter Zeeuwsche Eilanden, Ina Teutenberg
18/06/2009: RaboSter Zeeuwsche Eilanden, Stage 1 (ITT), Linda Villumsen
14/06/2009: Iurreta-Emakumeen Bira, Judith Arndt
14/06/2009: Iurreta-Emakumeen Bira, Stage 4, Judith Arndt
13/06/2009: Iurreta-Emakumeen Bira, Stage 3a (ITT), Judith Arndt
11/06/2009: Iurreta-Emakumeen Bira, Stage 1, Judith Arndt
7/06/2009: Liberty Classic, Ina Teutenberg

Teutenberg and Wild were the most succesful riders in 2009 together with Marianne Vos
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

24/05/2009: Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Stage 9, Ina Teutenberg
18/05/2009: Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Stage 3, Ina Teutenberg
16/05/2009: Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Stage 1, Ina Teutenberg
15/05/2009: Tour de l'Aude Cycliste Féminin, Prologue, Linda Villumsen
2/05/2009: Gracia - Orlova, Stage 4: Ina Teutenberg
18/04/2009: Ronde van Gelderland, Ina Teutenberg
10/04/2009: Drentse 8 van Dwingeloo, Ina Teutenberg
5/04/2009: Ronde van Vlaanderen (CDM), Ina Teutenberg
22/03/2009: Trofeo Costa Etrusca: GP Comuni Santa Luce, Linda Villumsen

Next to that the team won lots of races on American soil with the Redlands Classic and the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium.

Linda Villumsen in her final race for Denmark. In 2010 she will race for New Zealand.
Photo © 2009 Bart Hazen

All victories and podium places, click here

Links to riders websites:
Linda Villumsen
Ellen van Dijk
Chantal Beltman
Judith Arndt
Chloe Hosking
Adrie Visser
Noemi Cantele

Teams website

• Discuss the sport with fans from around the world on the Daily Peloton Forums & Chat Room.
• Sponsor the daily peloton - advertise your product - contact us.
• Would you like to try your had at writing about the sport? contact us.
• Link your site or blog to www.dailypeloton.com
  
  

• Discuss this race and the sport with other cycling fans from around the world on the Daily Peloton.com Forums and Chat Room.
• Sponsor the daily peloton & advertise your product - contact us.
• Do you have a passion for cycling and a yen to write? contact us.