Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Colavita/Forno d’Asolo Pro Cycling Team Presented by Cooking light triumphs at Liberty Classic

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News Cycling Pro Road & Mtb 2011

Published on Tuesday, 07 June 2011 11:23

Written by Luca Salvatelli

The Colavita/Forno D’Asolo Pro Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light achieved the results it had long sought – victory at Philadelphia’s Liberty Classic, the most prestigious women’s cycling race in North America.

With an international powerhouse squad consisting of World Road Champion Giorgia Bronzini of Italy, 2010 Liberty Classic runner-up Theresa Cliff-Ryan of Philadelphia, NRC Champion Cath Cheatley of New Zealand, Andrea Dvorak of Virginia, Barbara Guarischi of Italy, and Modesta Vzesniauskaite of Lithuania. The six women represent all of the major cycling disciplines: sprinting, climbing, and endurance – all of which are necessary for the 57.7-mile course, which includes four laps of a 14.4-mile circuit through downtown Philadelphia with four climbs up the grueling Manayunk Wall with its 17% slope.

"Keep the sprinters protected and make sure the race finishes in a sprint," is how Colavita/Forno D’Asolo Director Rachel Heal explained the team’s strategy. Despite a mechanical problem for Vzesniauskaite early in the race, the Colavita/Forno D’Asolo squad executed the plan flawlessly.

Strong teams like HTC-Highroad drove up the pace on the final ascent of the Manayunk wall and a small breakaway group formed, with Cheatley representing Colavita/Forno D’Asolo. But with less than 10km to the finish, the sprinters were not to be denied their glory and the field was soon back together again. As the attacks came thick and fast in the final kilometers, Vzesniauskaite and Guarischi protected Bronzini and Cliff-Ryan as they got into position for the final sprint down Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Barreling down the finishing straight, it was Bronzini in the world champion’s jersey crossing the line, arms raised, to take Colavita/Forno D'Asolo's first victory in North America's biggest one-day race.

"We are extremely proud of every single rider and staff member," said John A. Profaci, Vice President of Marketing for title sponsor Colavita USA. "We know our entire squad worked together to put World Champion Giorgia Bronzini across the finish line first."

"We congratulate Dave Chauner and his team at Pro Cycling Tour for making the Liberty Classic a ‘must-race’ event for the top women’s cyclists in the world," Profaci continued. "We look forward to defending our title at the 19th edition of the Liberty Classic next year."