With strong competition, attendance, Philadelphia International Championship bike race in its prime

IF YESTERDAY'S TD Bank Philadelphia International Championship bike race was the last one in this city after 25 years, it certainly put on a memorable finale.

Team Columbia-Highroad turned in a sweep, as Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, of Germany, took the women's 57.6-mile Liberty Classic, and fellow German Andre Greipel sprinted to his first title here in the 156-mile men's race. It was the third win in 5 years for the 35-year-old Teutenberg, while Greipel had to overcome a huge early breakout and steamy weather.

"We were in very good position when we came down the stretch," said the 26-year-old Greipel, who finished in 6 hours, 24 minutes and 4 seconds. "[Teammate Chris] Henderson and I were there together down the end and we felt strong that we would be able to hold on and win. Chris could have won the race, too, but it's not about the individual, it's all about the team. And I was able to win this for the team."

Henderson admitted after the race that Greipel was picked beforehand to win for the team, had it come down to a sprint. As the next to final lap ascended from Lemon Hill, Henderson and Greipel were part of a group of five Columbia-Highroad teammates who headed the pack. It seemed a foregone conclusion that someone from the world's top-ranked team would grab the $13,500 grand prize. But when the peloton came down from Lemon Hill for the final run, Greipel had a slew of obstacles to overcome.

"We were pretty confident that it was going to come down to the sprint, and I'm very comfortable going down there with Greipel," Henderson said. "With about 400 meters to go, I finally felt Andre on my wheel, and it doesn't get much better than that. Earlier in the sprint, there was quite a bit of traffic and I was beginning to wonder if we would be OK. But we got past it."

Just to go off yesterday, the race had to overcome more obstacles than any racer will ever see. Sponsorship money was short and only the last-minute additions of Sugarhouse Casino and Foxwoods, who each donated $100,000, allowed the race to take place - and that all happened just about a month ago.

But fans were lined three-deep near the start around 9 a.m. on the Ben Franklin Parkway, and the people watching the race leading up to and around the famed Manayunk Wall were partying the way only Philadelphians can.

If the race is indeed in peril, fans seemed to come out in force to show their support.