Teutenberg going for World Cup wins

By Shane Stokes

T-Mobile rider Ina Yoko Teutenberg has said that she is to target World Cup wins again this season, having taking victories in Geelong and Rotterdam last year.

"The World Cups are the target," she told Cyclingnews at the team training camp in Cala Serena, Mallorca. "I can do well there. I am probably going to be fit early in the year and I will try to hold form until the Giro, then take little bit of a break before doing the second part of the season. I would like to win Philadelphia again."

Teutenberg and the ten other riders on the women's team underwent low heart-rate endurance training on the camp, as well as doing a lot of core bodywork in the gym. She said that she is satisfied with how things went.

"It was a bit busy at the start but it was good. It was fun. It was pretty much the same as last year, although for me, it wasn't as stressful this time. I think the atmosphere amongst the girls is better this year, so it has been more fun. That's probably due to the new faces, and the fact that the girls are very motivated."

After a quick trip back to Germany, the 32 year-old was due to fly out to Australia on Sunday, and will continue her pre-season preparations there. "I will keep taking things easy for now and then closer to the Geelong World Cup race I will go on probably one bunch ride a week, which is really intense. It is pretty much a bike race. Apart from that, I will still do lots of endurance.

"The Geelong Tour gives a good three days to build race fitness for the World Cups. That worked out really well last year so hopefully it will be the same again this time round."

Teutenberg finished second behind Nicole Cooke in the 2006 World Cup, with 311 points to Cooke's title winning 473 points.

A full interview with Ina Yoko Teutenberg will appear soon on Cyclingnews.