San Luis Obispo, CA, 12 September 2008 – Despite their unbeatable lead in both the team and individual classifications of the World Cup, Team Columbia have no plans to take a back seat in Sunday’s eleventh and final round of the series, the Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt in Germany.
Columbia’s Judith Arndt will start the race wearing the World Cup leader’s jersey and with a margin of 88 points over second-placed Suzanne De Goede, whilst in the team classification, Columbia have an advantage of 317 points.

“We can start off feeling pretty relaxed and go there to enjoy the race, given we don’t have to defend either the teams or individual classification.” comments team sports director Petra Rossner.
“We’ve already taken three World Cups [Flanders, Montreal and Drenthe] this season, so we’ve shown what we can do in individual events as well as overall.”

“But at the same time, we’ll be pushing for the win, just like we always do. I know all the riders are motivated and focussed, even if it is late in the season.”

“We can have a good feeling about what we’ve done this season but we won’t be taking it easy as a result.”

Rossner says that the expected outcome is a bunch sprint, although Columbia will be keeping a sharp eye on the breaks.

“The course is really like a criterium, with ten laps of a largely urban circuit and a lot of twists and turns and a few cobbled sections. It’s great for the spectators, they get to see the race lots of times.”

”The finish is not complicated, though, flat and wide open – good for the sprinters.”

“There’s the men’s event as well, of course, and the public can have a great day out at the races.”

Team Columbia for the Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt: Judith Arndt (Ger); Emilia Fahlin (Swe); Luise Keller (Ger); Alex Rhodes (Aus); Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Ger); Anke Wichmann (Ger)