Photo Essay: Maryland Cycling Classic, by Cottonsox Photography

Maryland Cycling Classic 2025

The regulators go 2-up on the moto and this team were all trained by A.S.O at Amgen Tour of California and/or at the Tour of Utah.

The voices of the race – Frankie Andreu (former pro cyclist, multi time Tour de France finisher and Olympian), Dave Towle (as a former pro, I liked my races to start with Dave yelling into the mic “Andiamooooo!” ), Chad Andrews (Chad = southern crits & many more).

Inspiring future cyclists down Autograph Alley

Maryland’s very own: Kenna Pfeiffer of Team USA getting the hometown crowd excited at Team Presentation with announcer, Dave Towle.

Rosael Torres-Davis interviewing L39ION riders before Team Presentation including former DNA Pro Cycling rider Holly Breckk who had an incredible 2025 season with a number of wins. The biggest of which was the Redlands Cyclinc Classic’s Stage 5, Sunset Road Race – her long time goal.

Team Benin made history by being the first black African female team to participate in a majro internationally sanctioned race according to Maryland Cycling Classic.

Behind the scenes of pre MCC25 Team Presentation – the Media Team (Rebecca Reza and Rahsaan Bahati) prep together with the Stage Announcers.

One of the two World Tour Teams to race Maryland Cycling Classic 2025 (MCC25) – CANYON//SRAM & long time team member Tiffany Cromwell chatting about how she started her racing career in the US.

Men’s Team Presentation with Neilson Powless representing World Tour team: EF Education-Easy Post. Fun fact: Neilson’s sister – Shayna – was on my team for 2 years. Good “DNA “runs in that family.

Little fans

Last and final race for World Tour team – Ceratizit. GM & DS Dirk Baldinger is a friend of mine who I first met at the UCI Directors Course in Aigle Switzerland in 2018.. Our DNA riders Gaby Pilote Fortin & Sarah Van Dam went onto his team over the years. Was super sad to see an incredible team fold but hoping to see a comeback in the near future.

Baltimore local news and social media outlets referred to the weekend as “Traffic Jamageddon” because of the three major events occurring concurrently in a half-mile radius in downtown Baltimore – MCC25, Benson Boon concert and & the Orioles vs Dodgers game.

Aegis Cycling Foundation team with two former US elite national road race champions: Lauren Stephens and Emma Langley meet the Maryland crowd..

Regulators are one of the first to leave the Race Hotel at 5am.

For posterity’s sake – team photo of the Regulators: Regulator 1 Heather Fischer & Marcel van Garderen, Regulator 2 Tim Schaars & Alex Kim.

Regulator directs Race Marshals and other Motors on where to stage their bikes before the race start.

An hour and fifteen minutes before race start , all the motors, officials, police, medical and neutral support has a meeting.

There are advantages to be at the front of the race at the start (eg., higher chance of avoiding crashes plus you save energy by not working your way up to the front) & guaranteed you will see seasoned pro, Sofia Arreola of Virginia Blue Ridge Twenty28 staging early at every race she’s at (here with former teammate, Mellisa Rollins).

Another team of familiar faces at the race – Media Motos.

Former DNA Pro Cycling rider Heidi Franz

Utah local and 2025 SBT Gravel and 2024 Leadville 100 winner – Melisa Rollins – guest rode for Lauren Stephen’s team: Aegis Cycling Foundation.

Front row alone represents 7 countries .

My favourite moment – after the call ups and right before the national anthem, the photogs are getting their final start line shots and teh motors are all staged to start…

MCC25 predictions.

Former DNA Pro Cycling rider & privateer racer (Gravel and Crits) – Heather Fischer – got injured at Unbound while racing which took her out of racing for the rest of the season but was able to respond to the call up for Regulator and work MCC25.

Closing in on 0km – teammates find each other and ride together.

Trish Black (Info) and Marcel van Garderen (Regulator) lead the peloton to 0Km Start.

Big smiles from friend and photog colleague Nathan Schneeberger aka Snowy Mountain Photography.

Once the women hit the 0km Start – back to back attacks started to happen.

Emma Langley, former US national RR champion and rider for Aegis looks back to check if any riders are following her move.

Lap 1 of MCC25, the women’s peloton still all together.

Photographer Brian Hodes / Veloimages getting a shot from behind the peloton during one of four circuits of the Women’s MCC25.

With rolling hills before the QOM, riders were getting dropped early in the race.

A Fearless Femme rider gets off the front solo early in the race.

My POV.

Riders going for QOM points.

Timeboard also monitoring the QOM / KOM.

Cuban national champion and rider for VBR Twenty28, Marlies Mejias Garcia, grabs fuel for the race.

Brian Hodes / Veloimages hops off his photo-moto to get some shots of the women’s field witht he graffiti backdrop.

Field getting animated up and over the QOM climb.

This is Regulator Heather Fischer telling me and my driver to move along using her whistle – it was after the QOM and going into the descent where an attack happened and the peloton was getting close to us.

A rider to watch – Anna Hicks (Virginia Blue Ridge Twenty28) has insane power and here she is putting on the hurt.

Regulator / my husband – Alex Kim – giving me and my photo moto driver permission to pass the peloton.

MCC25 FeedZone.

Kayla Davis (Cynisca) getting some TV time during a solo break.

Regulator – Alex Kim – helps crashed riders move off the road as quickly and safely as possible.

The devo riders of Team USA are fortunate to be directed by former pro cyclist and amazing DS – Rachel Hedderman who has been a Director for successful pro teams such as UHC and Rally.

Photog , my mentor and great friend – Brian Hodes otherwise known as Veloimages who has shot most major races around the world including Le Tour de France talking to the Regulator (Alex Kim)

Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley) & Tiffany Cromwell (CANYON//SRAM) use their race radios to talk to their DS’s (Directeur Sportif) in the team cars back in the caravan.

Races cannot happen without the support of the local police force.

Andrea Cyr (Fount Cycling Guild) going after mid-race points for the Sprint Competition.

Fun fact – Rider for CANON//SRAM Tiffany Cromwell’s boyfriend is F1 Driver and gravel racing enthusiast, Valtteri Bottas.

Fuel for the ride…

U23 talent Kenna Pfeiffer (Team USA) and Maryland local finished 10th at MCC25 an impressive result at a UCI 1.1 race just after one year transitioning into elite cycling from speed skating. She joined Virginia Blue Ridge Twenty28 for 2025-2027.

Info – Scott Patton – was also in charge of the Motors for MCC25 and took the time to take me on a course recon ride the day before MCC25.

Women’s sprint – an exciting photo finish. Jackson almost got Skalniak-Sojka at the line.

With UCI points on the line, the field sprint got rowdy.

Moments after the race finished Andrea Cyr (day job: MD) suffered cramping but were all smiles when I told her that she nabbed the Sprint Jersey.

Team Manager, Sports Director of CANYON//SRAM – Ronny Lauke – was at the finish the congratulate his riders. He was another team director that was my classmate at the UCI Directors Course in Aigle, Swiitzerland in 2018 (to have the certification is mandatory to DS at World Tour races).

End of an era for Certizit…

Another DNA Pro Cycling alum rider, Erica Wirski (Fearless Femme Racing) – all smiles post race.

MCC25 Women’s Podium. 1st Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka (Canyon//SRAM), 2nd Alison Jackson (EF Education-Oatley), 3rd Emma Langley (Aegis Cycling Foundation).

Cycling Living Legend: Connie Carpenter-Phinney (1984 LA Olympic Gold Medalist in cycling, 12 US national championship titles, multiple podiums at World Championships in both road and track cycling) and competed at the Winter Olympics -speedskating) awards Andrea Cyr (Fount Cycling Guild) the MCC25 Sprint Jersey.

Team staff wear many hats – including social media content provider.

BTS with Regulator and Skratch Labs sponsored rider, Heather Fischer helps the photographers and photo moto drivers hydrate with some electrolyte mix between the Women’s and Men’s MCC25 races.

Men staging at Harbor Point for their 107.4 miles (172.8kim) / 6 Circuits MCC25.

Torrential downpour hit the race halfway through the 107.4 miles (172.8km) race.

Rained cats and dogs

Maryland.

“Nothing beats a JetBlue holiday…”

Fan of Brandon McNulty (Team USA)

Epic conditions for everyone.

Riders persevere in the rain.

Soigneurs endured the rain at the FZ. Our team mechanic from DNA Pro Cycling was one of the mechanics for Team USA and was helping out at the Feed Zone.

Fans seaked shelter during the torrential downpour mid-race.

Splash!

Race staff working in the rain ensuring rider safety.

Good thing there were no spectators at that corner.

Flats happen…

Got deep!

The rainstorm shattered the field.

“Sticky Bottle”

The rain lasted about 1.5 circuit laps from about half-way through lap 4.

POV

EPIC. Love shooting stormy races.

Steve Johnson – in his signature red leather jacket.

Team USA’s Brandon McNulty attacks.

Riders finding the smoothest line through the cobbles.

The rain dried up swiflty – final lap.

Women’s MCC25 Race Director (and former DS for DNA Pro Cycling & 3 time Olympian representing New Zealand) – Joanne Kiesanowski pops her head out in anticipation of the Men’s race finish.

Right before I hopped off my photo moto I took a quick photo of the photographers staged to shoot the finish – was a good crew of people. I was happy to see the media op moved us over to this side of the course as I had requested it for the women’s race – it just has a better angle for the crowd etc.

The rain stopped in time for the crowd to fill the streets of Maryland for an exciting sprint finish.

Rough day for Neilson Powless of EF Education-EasyPost with an untimely flat and a bike change disaster during the final lap of MCC25 (which included a 500 meter run with the bike) took him out of the fight for the win.

Media crowds around the winner.

My PhotoMoto pilot: Ben Otunu. We made a great team and I was grateful for his amazing skills in the torrential rain storm.

And that’s a wrap for MCC25 with winner of the Women’s and the Men’s race on the podium. Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka (CANYON//SRAM) and Sandy Dujardin (Team TotalEnergies).
Agnieska was about to leave for the airport to fly back to Europe but fortunately the race MCC25 was able to get this photo op just in time.