As is the case every year at the Redlands Cycling Classic, an all-star start list of professional athletes will converge in the beautiful city of Redlands in southern California for a five-day fight for the top step of the podium. Starting March 13, the longstanding Redlands Classic is the premier early season stage race in North America, attracting a deep international peloton with its favorable climbs, diverse parcours and convenient setting.
In the professional men’s field, last year’s overall champion Thomas Revard is returning to defend his title, surrounded by a strong and determined under 23 Axeon Hagens Berman squad, directed by former professional, Jeff Louder. It’s a new year, a new season and plenty of new teams are ready to make their mark. Revard’s competition will come from other young up and comers like Floyd’s Pro Cycling’s Alex Cowan, stage winner at Joe Martin Stage Race last year, and Luis Villalobos (Aevolo), who topped off his season with incredible performances at the Tour of Utah and Colorado Classic. Villalobos’ team, Aevolo, is another U23 squad boasting a strong roster, which includes U23 US road national champion, Alex Hoehn and 2018 Redlands Bicycle Classic KOM Classification winner, Fernando Islas.
Former US road champion and second overall at the Amgen Tour of California in 2016, Greg Daniel will be taking the start line with his new team, DC Bank Pro Cycling. Rene Corella Braun will be racing as a guest rider with SoCalCycling.com Team. 303 Project’s Griffin Easter, stage winner at Tour de Beauce, and teammate, Isaiah Newkirk, will also be ones to watch throughout the week.
The women’s competition will also field some big names, including 2016 Time Trial World Champion Amber Neben, who will lead Trek Red Truck Racing. The Rally-UHC team brings teenage phenom Megan Jastrab into the mix once more. When she was just 15 years old, Jastrab had a breakout moment at the 2017 Redlands criterium, winning the bunch sprint ahead of Ruth Winder to take second behind solo winner, Claire Rose. Sara Poidevin joins Jastrab, who will be a significant threat in the hills.
TIBCO SVB has their cards on Winston Salem Cycling Classic’s Lauren Stephens for the overall, and Sho-Air TWENTY20’s Jasmin Duehring will be hungry to visit the podium just as she did last year after her thrilling victory on stage 3.
Other riders to watch include US national criterium champion, Rachel Langdon, who will don the blue Amy D Foundation colors, Jess Cerra (Hagens Berman Supermint), winner of the last year’s criterium and seven-time Quebec champion, Marie-Soleil Blais (Trek Red Truck).
Racing kicks off Wednesday with the opening stage, 7-mile time trial at Crafton Hills College.
Men’s Teams
Hagens Berman Axeon UCI Pro Continental
303 Project UCI Continental
Aevolo UCI Continental
DC Bank Pro Cycling Team UCI Continental
Elevate-KHS Pro Cycling UCI Continental
Floyd’s Pro Cycling UCI Continental
Wildlife Generation P/B Maxxis UCI Continental
Above and Beyond Cancer P/B Scheels Domestic Elite
CS Velo Racing p/b Cannondale Domestic Elite
First Internet Bank Cycling Domestic Elite
Gateway Devo Cycling Domestic Elite
Project Echelon Racing Domestic Elite
Semper Porro Domestic Elite Team California Domestic Elite
Team Mike’s Bike pb Equator Domestic Elite
Trek Red Truck Racing P/B Mosaic Homes Domestic Elite
Hanger 15 Bicycles Other
Landis Cyclery/Trek Team Other
Pacific Premier Bank Cycling Team Other
SoCalCycling.com Team Other
Support Clean Sport / BSCG / Guttenplan Coaching Other
Union Sport Serious Cycling All Stars Other
Composite Team #1 Other
Women’s Teams
Hagens Berman | Supermint UCI Continental
Rally UHC Cycling UCI Continental
Sho-Air TWENTY20 UCI Continental Team
TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank UCI Continental
Trek Red Truck Racing P/B Mosaic Homes Domestic Elite
Amy D Foundation Domestic Elite
DURANGO – SPECIALIZED – IED (PRO WOMENS CYCLING TEAM MEXICO) Domestic Elite
Femme Equipe p/b Swisse Wellness Domestic Elite
Instafund LaPrima Elite Women’s Cycling Team Domestic Elite
Los Gatos Bicycle Racing Club Composite Team Other
LUX/Sideshow p/b Specialized Other
Official Hashtag: #RedlandsClassic
Visit www.redlandsclassic.com for more information and event schedule.
