July 24, 2003 (Vancouver, BC) – The top teams in North America were out to race for over $10,000 in winnings last night for the Steamworks Tour de Gastown. In the women's field, over forty riders showed up to race, including the Team Saturn, Rona-Esker, Snow Valley, Opus, and Kappa racing teams. The men's field maxed out at just fewer than one hundred and twenty riders.

The women's race was the first off in the Steamworks Tour de Gastown Criterium, and organizers were determined to shake things up right away. After lap one a prime was announced to the pack right away. Saturn's Ina Teutenberg, a crit-specialist hailing out of Germany, took on the pack and captured the prime as she warmed up her legs for what was to come.

Two laps later another prime was announced, this time, Subway rider Mindy Hall was the winner. Teutenberg capitalized on the sprint and immediately counter-attacked after crossing the finish line. Hot on her wheel was Trek-Volkswagen rider and top international mountain biker, Alison Sydor. The two pulled away from the pack and in one lap opened up over five seconds on the group.

Five laps later the duo had opened another twenty seconds on the field. The race announcer offered a prime for the pack to get things rolling.

The pack didn't seem to want to get organized and their lack of cohesiveness allowed Teutenberg and Sydor to gain more time. Attacks from Rona and Snow Valley were attempted, but none were successful.

With ten laps to go the break had the pack in view and it looked like they were going to lap the field. The announcer offered two hundred and fifty dollars to either Sydor or Teutenberg if they could pass the field within one lap of catching them.

Teutenberg took on the challenge after catching the pack. During this lap a prime was offered to the pack as well, for two hundred dollars. Within this one lap the Saturn rider arrived ten seconds ahead of the pack, claiming the four hundred and fifty dollars in primes!

 Sydor kept on chasing for the final five laps but didn't have the strength to catch Teutenberg. The pack sprint for third place was fierce and Rona-Esker's Andrea Hannos took the final podium spot.

“I wasn't in a good position when they took off. Sydor and Teutenberg took off at the same time. The pack was fast and slow, trying to bridge, lots of attacks.” Hannos commented on some of the race tactics throughout the race and was ultimately pleased with her third place result.

Sydor gave kudos to Teutenberg, acknowledging her as the best crit racer in North America, maybe the world. She noted the crowd as well, jokingly stating she could have raced with her eyes closed. “The crowd was so loud, I didn't have to open my eyes, I just followed the sound!”

Final Women's Results:

1. Ina Teutenberg (Saturn)
2. Alison Sydor (Trek-Volkswagen)
3. Andrea Hannos (Rona-Esker)
4. Catherine Powers (Snow Valley)
5. Lisa Sweeney (Team Kappa)
6. Marni Prazsky (Trek VW)
7. Mindy Hall (Subway)
8. Elizabeth Begosh (Snow Valley)
9. Erinne Willock (Rona-Esker)
10.Mandy Poitras (Rocky Mountain/Power Bar)