REDLANDS, California (April 14, 2024) — Brendan Rhim stormed across the finish line to celebrate yet another stage victory, the fourth out of five days of racing for Project Echelon at the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by the San Manual Band of Mission Indians. The team entered the finishing circuits with four riders, including the yellow jersey Tyler Stites, who finished 11thon the stage securing the overall title for a third year. Brody McDonald was second on the line for Aevolo Cycling, followed by Tyler Williams in third once again for Denver Disruptors.

“The team was absolutely unbelievable; so strong!” Stites said. “We were always in control the whole day. I think we had four guys in the crit laps, something that I have never seen before from a leading team – to be able to defend the lead that well. It was a really good day, and then to come away with the stage is icing on the cake.”

The pro men started under looming rain clouds and dropping temperatures. It wasn’t long before the rain began, pelting the riders as they began their first loop around Sunset. There was an early time bonus and king of the mountain points available on the first of 12 laps on tap for the day.

A small break of three escaped shortly after, including Eder Frayre (Williams Racing Devo), Miles Hubbard (Voler Factory Racing), and Alan Schroeder (CS Velo). Hubbard had begun the day with only one point deficit in the KOM classification. He sprinted to the line to earn seven points as the first rider to cross, making him the virtual red jersey leader for the rest of the day.

“It was a really tight competition coming in, with four people within two points of each other,” Hubbard said. “We went for the early break; my teammates set me up super well going up the first climb on Sunset Loop. We ripped it up the climb, and came away with two other riders and we stuck it for about two hours. Luckily they were up there for other reasons, so I scooped up the majority of points throughout the day and locked down the red jersey.”

Teams had different objectives on the final day of competition, including defense of the Best Amatuer jersey, to sprint, and the KOM. Aevolo was defending the Best Amatuer competition with Quinn Felton in the lead, while fighting for a stage win for McDonald. Felton would secure the white jersey in the end. Ryan Gorman took enough points on the first two intermediate sprints to secure his green sprint jersey before calling it a day, riding in with the grupetto.

Stites had a healthy 43-second advantage ahead of Joe Laverick of Ribble Rebellion at the start of the day. Project Echelon hovered at the front of the field, driving the pace in defense, keeping the break within a safe distance despite there being no threat to the overall GC.

Their pace would soon absorb the trio just after the third KOM of the day. Up next was Reid Kinniburgth of TaG Cycling who tested his legs, escaping solo from the field. He would dangle off the front, gaining up to a 15” gap at one point, before he too was caught.

What was left of the field had dwindled down to just over 20 rider, all of which who would make it to the final downtown city circuits. Project Echelon held the advantage with four teammates, including the yellow jersey, in the front group.

Brendan Rhim was first to jump making the turn onto the circuit, launching an attack that would soon be countered by his teammate, Sam Boardman. They raced for 5 laps in total before Rhim would catapult to the line for the win.

“Tyler Stites joined some elite names in history today and he did it with an amazing team of people behind him. I couldn’t be more proud,” Project Echelon Director Sportif said at the finish. “We are a veteran, non-profit organization. Our mission is to educate and empower veterans and help them through physical activity. To connect with a community like Redlands and our veteran community back home is extremely important to us.”

The team had begun their season with a racing block overseas, competing against some of the best riders in the world, before arriving to Redlands.

“It makes a huge difference going overseas,” Stites said. “We were racing against the best riders in the world over in Europe, so it definitely ups our level to come back here and we’re able to show how strong we are.”

The pro men’s race wrapped another successful year for the Redlands Bicycle Classic organization. Mostly made up of volunteers, they put their time and hard work into allowing the race to return each year, celebrating the Redlands community, while hoping to inspire the next generation of pro cyclists.

Complete Pro Men’s Stage 5 Results

Women’s Stage 5 Recap: Roldan Wins Redlands Finale for Cyclisca Cycling

REDLANDS, California (April 14, 2024) — Mara Roldan embraced her breakaway companion, Jenaya Francis of TaG Cycling, celebrating another win for Cynisca Cycling at the Redlands Bicycle Classic finale on the Sunset Loop. Roldan bookended her participation in Redlands winning the opening stage in Highland and the finale in Downtown Redlands. Jenaya Francis cross the line just behind for second, followed by Marlies Mejias in third for Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24.

“I think we just kept believing, we just kept saying to each other we’re Van der Poel,” Francis said, referring to the recent winner of Paris-Roubaix Matthieu van der Poel, who earned victory after a lengthy solo breakaway. “The gap just kept increasing,” Roldan added. “I took a wrong turn coming into the first corner of the circuit. I had to turn around and pull for my life to get back on her wheel; we just kept working together until the end.

“I was not expecting this. I knew we had a good team; we were on good form coming into this.” Roldan said. “We didn’t necessarily have expectations for ourselves, but we wanted to show who Cynisca is and what we can do. I think we did just that.”

The women set out for the 68-mile trek at 10 AM following the completion of the inaugural junior stage race in downtown Redlands. Marlies Mejias and Emma Langley both lead their classifications for sprint and the QOM by a healthy margin.Taking into account that anything can happen on the Sunset Loop, Virginia’s Blue Ridge took to the front from the gun, allowing Langley to solidify her QOM lead.

Emma Langley would garner top points on three of the four QOM sprint lines available on the final stage, securing her win in the classification.

“It was a really hard week but that means it was really great racing,” Langley said. “I had a couple of days off in fighting for the QOM jersey with no points available in the time trial or crit, but those were still brutal days on the legs just to make today that much harder. We had so much fun out on the course, fighting for a stage win as well as trying to bump up on GC, but to secure the QOM jersey is also really special.”

The battle for the GC ensued between the top five in the overall classification. Gontova had begun the day 50-seconds ahead of Alia Shafi of Found Cycling Guild and an additional 30 seconds ahead of Natalie Quinn. Shafi managed to breakaway early on, with two other riders – Emma Langley and former Colombian National Road Champion, Diana Peñuela of DNA Pro Cycling. The trio managed to gain up to a 30-second gap, with Peñuela sat on the back monitoring the situation for DNA.

Though Shafi gave a valiant effort, the break was caught due to the driving force of DNA Pro Cycling. Shafi would end the day 48-seconds behind Gontova. Roldan moved up in the overall standings to secure third place on GC after her stage win on Sunday. Meanwhile, Cecile Lejeune finished just inside the top ten for CCB p/b LLG, allowing her to secure the Best Amateur Competition.

Gontova had successfully defended her GC leaders jersey through to the finish, with numerous teammates emptying their tank while working towards their common goal. The victory is the most prestigious in Gontova’s young life.

“I’m really stoked we were able to pull it off. My teammates were really doing a lot of work for this today. I am so grateful for the team I had around me this week,” Gontova said after finishing. “I’m really happy we were able to hold onto it in the end. There were some moves that were very threatening to the GC but my teammates did a really good job on the front reeling it in and setting the pace.

“I didn’t expect myself to be in this position; I didn’t think I would be able to make it or hold on to the yellow jersey. I was so happy to start this stage in yellow and hold on to it until the end getting the biggest win of my career by far.”

Many teams now head to New Mexico for the Tour of the Gila, one of three stage races held in the United States each year, after wrapping another historic 5 days of racing at the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Complete Pro Women’s Stage 5 Results

Women’s Stage 4 Criterium Recap: Skylar Schneider wins stage 4 criterium for a second year

REDLANDS, California (April 13, 2024) — Skylar Schneider catapulted herself around the DNA Pro Cycling’s sprint train in the final meters to cross the line, marking her first win of the season for Williams Racing Devo in Downtown Redlands. Schneider had won stage 4 last season in similar fashion in her Redlands debut. DNA Pro Cycling Makayla Macpherson was second, followed by Marlies Mejias in third.

“Every year is a new challenge; we always look forward to Redlands,” Schneider said at the finish. “It’s one of the first races we do all year, so it sets the stage to give us the momentum to keep going.

“DNA did a phenomenal lead out. They were very fast and very smooth; we knew exactly where we wanted to jump. They made it hard for us because they were going so fast but we were on a mission today to get this first win for WRDevo. Two weeks ago I was doing all-nighters in my bakery so I’m really happy to be here and feeling good.”

The professional women took to the stage at 2 PM local time, after a morning filled with cycling events including the kids’ school duel races and the Plain Wrap Charity Ride at 8 AM. The first race began with stage 2 of the junior stage race at one, followed by the pro women.

The 75-minutes of racing included five sprint competitions – four intermediate sprints and points offered at the finish. Virginia’s Blue Ridge Marlies Mejias led the classification by five points ahead of her teammate Emily Ehrlich, and 7 points ahead of Cynisca Cycling’s Chloe Patrick. With Mara Roldan (Cynisca) sitting in fifth on GC and the team focused on moving her up on GC, it would be Mejias jersey to lose.

Twenty24 sent Emily Ehrlich to monitor moves at the front of the race, keeping Marlies on her wheel to be ready for the first sprint of the day. The Cuban sprinter crossed first to earn top points in both the first two of five points available. Once she had gained enough points in the first few intermediate sprint to gain a healthy margin in the classification, she switched focused to the finish – eager to gain a stage victory before the race ends on Sunday.

“The goal was to maintain the lead with the jersey,” Mejias said. “The finish didn’t go as planned but tomorrow is another day where we will try again. We’re in a good position, so I hope tomorrow will be a great day for the team.”

DNA Pro Cycling controlled the pace of the field, following the first intermediate sprints. The squad made sure the yellow jersey of Nadia Gontova was kept safe and out of trouble. They monitored the front of the field and kept the race moving, making it difficult to go around them with such a tight and technical circuit.

As the laps began to wind down, teams began positioning themselves for the finish. DNA Pro Cycling was given the green light, ready to battle for the stage win. With one lap to go, Schneider was sitting sixth wheel just behind her older sister Sam and four other DNA jerseys. Rounding the final corner, Schneider launched her sprint, surfing wheels to get into the DNA slipstream before jumping for the win.

“I think the team did really, really well,” Macpherson said, despite missing out on the top step. “We wanted to keep Nadia safe. The team worked amazing in doing that, but we also wanted to get a result for the day. We were able to get on the podium so it was a great day out there.”

There were no changes in the overall top five on GC, with Gontova maintaining a 50-second lead heading into the final day of race.

“It was really hard, not my favorite day,” Gontova said. “I’m really grateful for some awesome teammates keeping me safe. I’m happy to have made it through today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow, which is a little more up my alley. I really liked it last year, though I suffered a mechanical on the last lap. I’m hoping this year will be a better results in the end.”

There was no queen of the mountain points available on the stage, while Cecile Lejuene maintains her lead in the Best Amateur competition.

The finale for our pro women will begin at 10 AM in Downtown Redlands for the City of Redlands Sunset Road Race.

Complete Pro Women’s Stage 4 Results

Men’s Stage 4 Recap: McGill Takes Third Stage Win for Project Echelon

REDLANDS, California (April 13, 2024) — Scott McGill stole a third stage victory for Project Echelon at the 2024 Redlands Bicycle Classic on Saturday. Denver Disruptors were just behind, finishing second and third with Noah Granigan and Tyler Williams. Project Echelon arrived in Southern California after spending time in Europe for a short block of racing to help gain racing fitness and strength before the start of the season back home.

The Arrowhead Orthopaedics Criterium for stage 4 was a chaotic day of racing, with a massive crash in the peloton within 10 laps to go. After a short neutralization of the race to allow riders to visit the pit for service and others to be seen by medical, all riders were up and the race was started once again. Two laps were added to leave the peloton with 10 laps to go for another try. The stage 4 victory marks the third win out of the four days of racing for Project Echelon.

“The final few laps were probably the least stressful of the whole race, because I was just sitting behind the team,” McGill said. “When we were further back in the bunch, there was a lot of fighting for position. The team was super strong, we were just going to ride until two laps to go to keep the GC safe, but we were able to ride into the final lap with four guys. They were amazing today; I can’t thank them enough. We were able to win today and hold on to the GC so, yea a really stressful day.”

The team had dominated the race keeping a watch on the front of the field, marking any moves that escaped. A few riders tried their hand, including Will Gleason of CS Velo Racing, and Tyler Williams for Denver but were soon absorbed by the field.

“Tyler and I were going in it in the last lap; you can win it with three corners to go where we were one and two there,” Granigan said after the finish. “Scott is one of my really good friends, he was crafty and able to get by and get around Tyler in the head wind into the finish. It ended up working out for him. We had some small mistakes in those last two turns.”

Project Echelon kept their focus, keeping the yellow jersey safe at the front of the race. Other tactics came into play, marking the intermediate time bonus where Stites picked up two seconds behind Ryan Gorman (Voler Factory Racing) who held his lead in the sprint classification. Stites was happy, hoping to gain every second possible before the Sunset circuit finale.

“It was a stressful crit, quite a few crashes but after the restart we were able to take to the front as a team which really kept us safe,” Stites said after finishing. “It’s hard to pass a train once we’re up to speed on this course with so many turns. Scott was able to take the win, which was amazing.”

The last two years, the final stage on the Sunset circuit has delivered exciting racing for the finale, finishing within 30 seconds for the overall GC margin. Stites will start the final stage with a 43-second margin ahead of Ribble Rebellion’s Joe Laverick.

“It’s a really tough race where anything can happen,” Stites said. “We’ll need to come with our best legs and give it our best to defend.”

Meanwhile, after earning podium spots nearly every stage, Denver Disruptors will have one more chance for a stage win.

“We had the numbers [today], but it’s the first big stage race of the season,” Granigan said. “Scott’s a good rider so I can’t be too upset. I definitely wanted that one, but we’ll have numbers tomorrow so we’re looking for that.”

Complete Pro Men’s Stage 4 Results

Women’s Lake Perris Individual Time Trial Recap:

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California (April 12, 2024) – Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24 Emily Ehrlich rode to victory for a second year running in the time trial for the stage 3 Toyota of Redlands Lake Perris individual TT. She won with a blazing time of 24:21. Moving to a new course this season at Lake Perris, riders rode a technical, 11.7-mile course starting atop the lake dam, winding their way around the lake via portions on a bike path and taking a couple tight turns before powering up to the finish to complete the third stage at the 2024 Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Ehrlich arrived to Redlands following her first ever Pan American Track Championships where she earned two gold medals in the individual pursuit and team pursuit respectfully. Her teammate Marlies Mejias was second with a time of 23:05, followed by Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling) in 23:11. Ehrlich had been feeling under the weather, trying to recover from the effort on the track, not sure if she would be able to race through Sunday.

“It’s been really tough coming from the track, I’ve been just taking it day but day. I’m feeling a little bit better today, even though yesterday really wiped me out,” Ehrlich said before her start. Speaking of the course ahead for the TT Ehrlich was excited for the change in venue and the new course.

“I’m really excited about the course; it’s very technical but going to be fun. I think there are a lot of opportunities to gain time where a lot of people might not think. We’ll see what happens.”

The defending overall champion was sitting far out of contention on the GC recovering from illness. She started within the first group of riders rolling down the start house. The heat had finally subsided on Friday, with a slight wind keeping the riders cool but thankfully did not play much of a factor for the finish.

Current U23 National Road Champion, Natalie Quinn had a solid day racing with the USA Cycling Redlands Development squad. She finished 12th on the day with a time of 25:59, enough to move her into third overall. Emma Langley struggled after a tough day in the mountains on stage 2, finishing the TT in 27:26, dropping down to 9th overall.

Alia Shafi moved up to 2nd overall on GC after a strong showing in the time trial on Friday. The Fount Cycling Guild rider won the Joe Martin time trial last season, surprising her rivals and even herself. The confidence built from last season is evident this season, making her climb up the GC riding consistent each day. Shafi was 5th on GC at the start of the day, down 1:26 from Gontova (DNA Pro Cycling). The yellow jersey managed to defend her lead, with a 50-second advantage ahead of Shafi.

“It was a little scary around those corners but I pushed it where I felt I could and was safe,” Shafi said. “It was awesome to end on the podium. The wind played a factor a little, but I took that into account in my strategy moving up slowly on GC. We’ll see where I am for tomorrow.”

The race returns to Downtown Redlands on Saturday for a full day of festivities beginning with the kid’s school duel races. The pro women will take to the start later in the afternoon at 2:15 PM local time.

Complete Pro Women’s Stage 3 Results

Men’s Lake Perris Individual Time Trial Recap: Project Echelon Goes 1-2 on Stage 3, Stites Extends Overall Lead

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California (April 12, 2024) – Another change of the course was on the menu for the Lake Perris Individual Time Trial for stage 3. The past two years the Redlands Bicycle Classic has held the time trial on a traditional out-and-back course along Route 66. Race organizers decided to change it once again, moving it this time around to Riverside County for an 11.7-mile technical course beginning on the Lake Perris dam and winding around the lake before climbing up a short, punchy hill to the finish.

Project Echelon’s Tyler Stites won the stage for a third year in a row, dashing across the finish clocking a time of 22:20. His teammate Brendan Rhim was just behind in second finishing in 23:35.45, and Ribble Rebellion’s Joseph Laverick in 23:35.89. Denver Disrupter’s Stephen Bassett had started the day in second on GC after the queen stage, but struggled to find a rhythm, ending the stage in 23:54 over 1:34 down from Stites. The results dropped Bassett out of the top ten on GC.

“It was a really fun course today, lots of twists and turns which was completely different than last year’s straight out and back,” Stites said after finishing. “I didn’t know if I was going to perform the same. I had a lot of fun out there in the turns and giving it my all.”

The TT specialist has stepped up to the challenge each year, whether facing strong winds like last season, or a twisty, technical course set for this year. He ended the day gaining important time on GC, now holding a 41-second advantage over the new second place overall, Laverick of Ribble Rebellion.

“The time trial is something we focus a lot on; our sponsors give us great equipment so we’re able to excel in this discipline,” Stites added.

It was Project Echelon who dominated the stage, at one point leading the standings with fiver riders, with Rhim sitting in the hot seat for most of the day. Rhim has returned to Redlands after racing for several years overseas. His last participation was in 2018, while he made his debut 10 years ago in 2014.

“It was a tricky course, you had to really push on the slower sections, push on the headwind sections and float on the shallow/easier sections with the tail wind,” Rhim said of the course. “It was probably the least consistent effort I have done in a while in a TT. I definitely came close to the edge of the road a couple times, but everyone was dealing with the same course.”

The race moves to Downtown Redlands for the final two stages, beginning with the downtown crit tomorrow afternoon. The course offers a technical 9-turn, 1-mile circuit; set for 90 minutes of racing for the pro men.

It will be a day for the sprinters and crit squads, with five sprint lines on tap. Many of the GC favorites will hope to stay safe and get through the stage looking ahead to the Sunset Loop finale on Sunday.

“Anything can happen on Sunset,” Stites said. “We’ve got to show up with our best legs and give it all in defense.” Rhim agreed, flashing a big smile, “We’re going to have fun tomorrow and Sunday!”

The men take to the line at 4 PM PDT.

Complete Pro Men’s Stage 3 Results

Women’s Trek Bicycles Onyx Summit Race Recap

SAN BERNARDINO, California (April 11, 2024) — The pro women showed up and showed out for the Queen stage, racing up to the Onyx Summit for the first time in Redlands Bicycle Classic history. Nadia Gontova soared to victory for DNA Pro Cycling in a similar fashion as last year on Oak Glen, finishing solo with a solid 55-second gap ahead of second place finisher, Emma Langley of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24. Langley also maintained the Queen of the Mountains classification lead, nearly doubling her points on stage 2. Eleanor Wiseman was third for Fount Cycling.

“The plan was to go for the win, try to get some time on the finish if I was feeling good,” Gontova said. “My teammates all rode such an amazing race from start to finish. It all played out so perfectly, I was really happy to have the legs to bring home the win in the end.”

The women raced for 40 miles, going full gas from kilometer zero. DNA Pro Cycling were one of several teams that had their riders warm up on the trainers prior to the roll out. The peloton saw the first and only intermediate sprint of the day at 5-miles into racing. Marlies Mejias of Virginia’s Twenty24 was first to jump, out sprinting her rivals to earn the first green jersey of the Redlands Classic. Many teams in the bunch were focused on the climb ahead, conserving their legs for the long trek up the mountain.

Daphne Karagianis of Denver Disrupters was first to test her legs, attacking the field shortly before the turn onto Highway 38 and the first mountain sprint line of the day. She managed to gain up to a 30-second gap, until the road began to pitch up ever so slightly and she was caught.

The climb had begun as one by one, riders began losing contact at the back of the peloton. Soon it was dozens, as riders were strewn throughout the caravan, trying to keep the field within their sights facing a long day ahead. Making their way up the climb, the field had dwindled down to roughly 40 riders from the 123 that had started the day.

“My expectations was that it was going to be hard, and it definitely lived up to that,” Langley said. “We knew all day that it was going to be a game of conserving and being smart on the wheels, and so especially through to the finish.”

Nearing the halfway mark and the second QOM of the day, DNA Pro Cycling decided it was their time to go. The plan from the start had been the stage win and yellow jersey, allowing other teams to battle for the QOM; they set their sights on the finish.

Former Mexican National Road Champion, Anet Barrera, increased the tempo as more and more riders were losing contact. Soon it was Diana Peñuela’s turn for the team, taking over the pace near the feed zone. By then, the group had been cut in half, with roughly 25 riders following. Nearing 10km to go, Barrera dropped off having done her work for the day, letting Sara Poidevin take over.

“It was a pretty big field going in the last little uphill,” Gontova said. “I knew it wasn’t the best finish for me, so I told my team, whoever could really drilled it on the front to bring the pace up. It really whittled it down. I could see people were getting tired. When I saw 4km to go, I got out of the headwind a little bit, the road went up and I knew it was now or never. It was very difficult and hot. I was really feeling the altitude, but I just told myself everyone was feeling it so it ended up playing out well in the end.”

The yellow jersey of Mara Roldan (Cynisca Cycling) had managed to maintain the tempo in the front group, but after being isolated was dropped close to 3km to the finish. Gontova took notice and launched her attack with such strength no one was able to follow. Jenaya Francis (Orion Racing) was the only rider who attempted to follow. Gontova eyed the move, and launched a second attack, but this time Francis had spent her final matches and was soon pedaling backwards.

“There was a small group, so I was motivating us to keep working together,” Langley added. “I knew that we would be stronger if we were still rotating as much as we could, try and limit the losses at that point. Nadia was gone, but we emptied the tank, I know I sure did.”

Gontova will start the Lake Perris individual time trial with a 55-second advantage ahead of Langley. Emily Erhlich remains a heavy favorite for the TT stage win, though she is out of contention for the overall general classification. Katherine Lin of A Quick Brown Fox team will be the first rider out of the starting house at 10:45 AM.

Complete Pro Women’s Stage 2 Results

Men’s Trek Bicycles Onyx Summit Race Recap

SAN BERNARDINO, California (April 11, 2024) — “I’ve never won a mountain top finish in my career and to do it on a crit team full of sprinters, this is not expected for us,” Cole Davis said, following his surprising victory on stage 2 for Ribble Rebellion. “It’s been a tough year and a half. I thought about hanging it up but this team gave me an opportunity to continue my career; I’m just so thankful for that!”

From the publication of the changes to the queen stage at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, all eyes were set on the Onyx Summit for Stage 2. Plenty of nervous legs were spinning at the start this morning, getting ready for the long day ahead. Despite plenty of effort from other teams, it was the Ribble Rebellion rider in the end who rode away to victory, leaving his fellow competitors speechless at the finish. Team California’s Nick Narraway finished shortly behind followed by Stephen Bassett (Denver Disrupters) in third for a second day running.

“I was dropped several times today, having been teammates with Joäo Almeida (2022 Giro d’Italia winner) throughout my career, I tried to use what he always taught us – a steady effort,” Davis said. “I love going from 1km to go but on a mountaintop, it’s way different.

“I have to apologize to my parents today because I told them why bother coming out here – I just have to roll and make time cut, best day – maybe top 20? I didn’t even bother looking at the stage profile because I thought I’m never going to win. I had come here to try and win stage one. So that was really frustrating but the upside is that I am 20 minutes down on GC so when I go, nobody has any reason to chase me so that played into the strategy today.”

The men began their 50.4-mile trek for the queen stage at 10 AM local time, with the sun shining and the temperatures beginning to rise. Two intermediate sprints were first on the docket, at 10.5 miles in with another at 15.5 miles prior to the start of the climb. Canel’s was the first to make a move with Sebastian Mata earning top points at sprint 1. The race suddenly took a wrong turn off course as the results were being announced, forcing the race to be neutralized for roughly two miles as officials scrambled to get the peloton back on course safely.

Teams settled back into tempo, conserving their legs on the last bit of flat road before the climb began. The warm temperatures and head wind played a factor, making it tough for any breakaways to get established.

Landis/Trek Cyclery’s Stephen Schaefer was the first to go, hoping for some companions to tag along but looking back realized he was on his own. The Tucson native kept his head down and gained up to a 2:20 minute gap ahead of the field. Shortly before the first KOM, it was Canel’s – Java Efren Santos who launched a solo chase. The former Mexican National Road Champion would close a two-minute gap, catching Schaefer with 18 miles left to race. Schaefer did his best to hold Santos’ wheel but after such an intense solo effort for so long, he lost contact soon after.

Santos had been 19-seconds down on GC at the start of the day, and had gained up to a 1:15 gap on the field. Project Echelon lifted the tempo in defense of the yellow jersey, slowly closing the gap. Just as they rounded a curve and had Santos in sight, the Canel’s rider suffered a mechanical. The Shimano neutral service team was on the case within seconds, but it was too late. Santos did his best to keep a gap but the peloton was on the move, catching him seconds later.

“The peloton had been pretty calm when I first launched my attack,” Santos said after finishing. “I had the unfortunate mechanical at a bad time. Though I was helped by Shimano, by then the peloton was right on top of me.”

What was remaining of the front group had been reduced to roughly 30 riders, as the fireworks because to explode. Project Echelon maintained a solid pace at the front of the field, with the yellow jersey of Tyler Stites sitting comfortably on third wheel. Several teams tried their hands at disrupting their plan.

Williams Racing Devo’s Eder Frayre attacked within 10km to go, with Team California’s Kellen Caldwell the only rider to respond. Project Echelon maintained their composer, with neither rider a threat to the GC. Frayre was racing with two broken ribs suffered in a training crash a week prior, and thus was not able to maintain the effort. Caldwell fought on, and would manage to gain 30 seconds before he too was absorbed with 1km to go.

Tyler Stites would finish in the front group, behind Davis and Narraway, four seconds down maintaining his lead on GC. Bassett moved up to second just five seconds down, after another consistent finish racing for the first time at altitude in several years.

Stites won the time trial last year, going into the new course tomorrow hoping to repeat his victory to defend yellow for another day.

“I have to thank my team, they rode amazing,” Stites said at the finish. “We controlled the riders up the road and brought them back. There were a lot of attacks in the final few kilometers that I had to cover. The last one kind of slipped away, but I was just happy to be in the little group on the same time. It was pretty tough, more of grind because it was so gradual, only really got into the high intensity in the last few km.”

Complete Pro Men’s Stage 2 Results

Women’s Highland Circuit Race Recap

HIGHLAND, California (April 10, 2024) — Mara Roldan stormed to victory for Cynisca Cycling, stealing the win in Highlands on the opening stage of the 38thedition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Cynisca had been laying low in the peloton, keeping a close watch on the movements of the race before Roldan attacked rounding the final turn up Base Line Road. Maeghan Easler was just behind in second for DNA Pro Cycling, with Alia Shafi rounding the podium in third for FOUNT Cycling.

“I surprised myself a little today. I was showing some sickness coming into this so I was a little anxious about my preparation,” Roldan said at the finish. “We had a solid team and a positive mindset – everyone really gave it everything. I couldn’t be more happy with the team today.”

The field had remained together through most of the 14 laps around the 2.8-mile circuit in Highland, with temperatures soaring. Race organizers made a slight change to the start, excluding the traditional neutral roll out from the nearby San Manual Band of Mission Indians headquarters. Instead, the riders started on Base Line making the traditional finish, the start as well. The change saw many riders take to their trainers to warm up the legs prior to the roll out at 8:45 AM.

There were three queen of the mountain sprint lines available in this opening day of racing. Former USA National Road Champion Emma Langley winning the second QOM and earning three more points at the finish to lead the classification for Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty24. No sprint points were available.

With so many changes to the course for 2024, teams are faced with a change in tactics for the overall GC. The GC contenders in the field were focused on the two time bonuses available – the first intermediate offering three, two, and one second for the first three riders, and then 10, six and four seconds for the top three on the stage.

“I was quite surprised because not a lot of people went hard on the second to last climb,” Roldan said. “I was expecting people to go really hard. Things started to move down the descent. As we got into the chicane, Cara (O’Neill) came up and positioned me well towards the front of the pack and gave it everything she had to get me to the front. I just went, I used some other teams wheels a bit and gave it everything up the climb.”

The defending overall GC Champion Emily Ehrlich arrived feeling ill, hoping to be able to race through Sunday. The recent Pan American multi-gold medalist pulled out of the race within ten laps to go. The Twenty24 rider was able to complete enough laps to be eligible for the start on Thursday.

Cecile Lejeune racing for CCB presented by Levine Law Group was the top finisher on GC in 12th place to earn the Best Amateur jersey, similar to the Best Young Rider in other races. The Best Amateur competition is presented to the rider with the best time on GC who holds a USA Cycling category 2 license. The riders cannot be a member of a registered UCI team or part of the USA Cycling Redlands development team racing Redlands.

The women still start stage 2 Trek Bicycles Onyx Summit at 10:30 AM after the men start at 10, a brutal 29.9 climb up for a summit finish.

Complete Pro Women’s Results

Men’s Highland Circuit Race Recap

HIGHLAND, California (April 10, 2024) — Project Echelon’s Tyler Stites outsprinted his rivals, taking the stage 1 victory on the Highland Circuit for the opening stage at the Redlands Bicycle Classic. The two-time overall defending champion took the early lead on GC to gain an advantage ahead of the Onyx Summit on Thursday. His team worked hard throughout the stage, with Sam Boardman and Scott McGill chasing down any dangerous escapees. Tom Williams finished just behind Stites in second for the British squad, Thriva SCRT, with Stephen Bassett in third racing with Denver Disrupters this season.

“It was good; I always love this course,” Stites said after finishing. “I’ve been up there a couple times on the stage but never been able to win. It’s pretty tricky timing on the hill, but I think I finally timed it right this year.”

The men took to the start at 11 AM following the awards ceremony for the pro women. With a lot of nerves looking towards stage 2, the race saw few attempts at breakaways. The temperature was also a factor with the heat increasing in the afternoon, making for a tough first day of racing. Several riders attempted to escape, but were soon caught after a lap or two.

Team Expeditor’s Kaler Marshall attacked shortly before the third KOM of the day. A group of four launched the chase, including Pablo Alarcon (Canel’s-Java), Tanner Ward (Williams Racing), Brooks Wienke (Aevolo), and Sam Boardman (Project Echelon). The field absorbed them all with three laps to go.

Speaking to various riders at the finish, most were relieved to have the first stage completed. The Redlands Bicycle Classic is typically the first big race of the season where the teams get to see how they measure up against their competition. However, they have never faced such an epic day of climbing so early in the season like the Onyx Summit on Thursday.

“Historically this race has always been really close,” Stites said. “I don’t know if those 10 seconds are going to do much this year with the huge mountain we have to climb tomorrow. I think there will be bigger gaps.”

Bassett agreed. The Denver Disrupters are racing their first stage race as a team with several new riders on the roster, including Bassett.

“We’ve never raced together before, but we had great work from the boys,” Bassett said looking ahead to Thursday. “Tomorrow will be interesting having this one time hit of altitude, going up to 8300 ft. I think. It’s super long with a couple little dips in there. It’s good for me to take a couple breathers. We’ll see how that plays out, I’m looking forward to it.”

Brody McDonald was the top finisher in the Best Amateur competition, earning the first white jersey of the week for Aevolo Cycling. The pro men will start their 50-mile trek up to the summit for stage 2 at 10 AM.

Complete Pro Men’s Results