A Day for the Break – Fuller takes the stage, Frayre climbs into GC Lead
Quinn Felton Powers to Victory in Stage 3 of Redlands Bicycle Classic
Cyclesport.com’s Quinn Felton dropped his breakaway companions within the final 500 meters to steal the victory on Stage 3. The new circuit at Crafton Hills proved to be one that lent itself to explosive racing, with teams trying desperately to establish a breakaway in order to gain time to what has become a tight race for the overall GC.
Crafton Hills Circuit Proves Grueling But Strategic
”It was a fun new course, definitely as hard as we thought it was going to be,” Felton said after winning. “The gravel section was not as sketchy as we thought it would be. It was still a very hard course in the heat today. The team plan was to allow the first break to go, letting everyone gas themselves before chasing back. We countered that and it worked out perfectly.”
Eder Frayre Takes Yellow Jersey with Bonus Seconds
Kieren Haug (Project Echelon) was second, while Eder Frayre was third overall. Due to time bonuses that were offered at the finish for the top three finishers, Frayre earned enough bonus seconds crossing the line in third, to earn his first yellow jersey of his nearly decade-long career.
“It was really a hard race and hard course but we were ready,” Frayre said. “I’m in really good shape. We had a good plan coming into the stage, but then the breakaway started to go. I told my teammates, ‘we need to go full gas into the climb,’ so they made a great lead out for me from the bottom to almost the top.
“Nearing the end of the laps, and once I had joined the break, they knew I was the biggest GC threat. I just rode as hard as I could until the final.”
Tight GC Standings Set Up Thrilling Final Stages
The GC standings were so close, it took some time after finishing for the judges to calculate everything properly. Frayre was awarded the yellow jersey in the end by just eight-seconds, with two stages remaining – The Downtown Crit, and the infamous Sunset Loop circuit.
“This all means so much,” Frayre said recounting what Redlands Bicycle Classic has meant to his professional career. “I started racing here in 2010 when I was practically a junior. It was my first race with the professionals. It was really hard work, but its one of my dreams is to win Redlands before I retire. I have a really big opportunity this weekend. I want to keep this jersey until the final. I’m so thankful to my friends, family, and people in my life.”
Gravel Section Adds Drama to New Stage 3 Route
The Redlands Classic race organization added the new route for stage 3, to replace the Highland Circuit. The 250m gravel section nearing the halfway point of each lap, looked like Paris-Roubaix, as the riders became lost in the dust all the wheels were kicking up. They would app
Fount Cycling Guild Continues to Dominate Redlands
In the women’s race, Fount Cycling Guild continues to dominate the competition, after their third stage wins in as many days. This time it was Ellexi Stover who took the victory for the team, with the yellow jersey, Alia Shafi immediately behind.
Gravel and Attacks Challenge the Women’s Field
Stover had been busy protecting Alia from other attacks and the elements going through the gravel section. At roughly 100m to go, Shafi sat up to watch her teammate cross the finish with elation.
Several groups had tried to establish a breakaway with no result straight from kilometer zero – there had been no neutral roll out on Friday.. A few laps later and five heavyweights had left the field behind in their wake. The breakaway included all but one of the leader jerseys – GC Leader : Shafi, Kira Payer, Leading Mountain classifications, and our Best Young Rider, Sydney Swierenga,
winning another stage this time with Ellexi Snovor
Time bonuses were awarded both at the finish and with four laps to go. Shafi remained calm and cool amidst several attempts at isolating her. She had several teammates trying to make the bridge up to the front of the race. Ellexi Stovar (Fount Cycling) was the only teammate who managed to make it. breakaway had consisted of 5 riders all together.
Kira Payer Extends QOM Lead
Payer had stuck with them most of the way, in order to fight for QOM points since earning the QOM jersey on stage 2. She increased her QOM lead to 41 points ahead of Shafi with 31.
Stage 4: Downtown Redlands Criterium Promises High-Paced Action
The race now moves to Downtown Redlands for the Stage 4 Downtown Redlands Crit with plenty of activities for spectators.
The pro men and women’s race begin at 2:30 for the women, and 4 PM for the pro men.
Top Photo – Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers) Takes Yellow on Stage 3 – Photo: ©VeloImages
