2026 Redlands Bicycle Classic Stage 3 Results & Highlights

Stephens, Frayre claim Stage 3 Victory,

take GC lead at 2026 Redlands Bicycle Classic

Lauren Stephens (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) and defending champion Eder Frayre (L39ION of Los Angeles) won Stage 3 of the 2026 Redlands Bicycle Classic Friday, each taking victory on the Crafton Hills circuit and, in the process, reshaping the general classification battles in both the pro women’s and men’s races leading into tomorrow’s downtown criterium.

Stephens’ win in the Women Pro 1-2 category moves her into the overall race lead, where she now sits atop the standings in 3:52:28, holding an 11-second advantage over stage 1 winner Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28). Jamie Chapman (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) bumped up to third at 54 seconds.

Lauren Stephens (AegisXLeaders of Enchantment) drives the break, taking victory on Stage 3.

Photo: ©VeloImages

In the men’s race, Frayre’s victory boosted him into the GC lead and leads the race with a cumulative time of 4:35:36. Eric Brunner (Project Echelon) and Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) sit tied in second place at one second back.

Stephens delivered a commanding ride over the 41.4-mile women’s circuit race on stage 3, winning in 1:48:36 after a selective and attritional day that saw the field splinter in the first lap over the rolling terrain. Katherine Sarkisov (CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group) finished second, just three seconds down, while Kira Payer (SpeedBlock-Terun Pro Cycling) rounded out the podium at 40 seconds.

“My team did a great job today,” Stephens said. “The plan was to make the race hard after the first QOM, and we executed exactly how we wanted. We ended up in a small break of four with my teammate Jamie (Chapman) and Kat (Sarkisov), and then on the next time up the climb it was just Kat and me. It was nice to be up there with a former teammate.

“I went all in for the stage win and hoped we could move up in the general classification,” Stephens added. “The team was incredible, responding to attacks and setting the pace all day. We took it a bit easier yesterday with all the nerves, knowing today was the day to commit, and they delivered. Now we’ll see where that leaves us on GC.”

Pro women race race the gravel section on stage 3

Photo: ©VeloImages

Behind them, Grace Arlandson (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) and Cynthia Pham (Analog Racing Team) completed the top five, both conceding 41 seconds as the decisive move had already gone clear.

The result further solidified Stephens’ control of the race, with her team placing two riders in the top four on the stage and two inside the top three overall. She also leads the Queen of the Mountains classification, while Olivia Cummins (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) tops the sprint standings. Sarkisov, meanwhile, continues to hold the best amateur jersey.

On the men’s side, the 55.2-mile 2026 Crafton Hills Circuit Race played out at high speed, averaging 26.46 mph before culminating in a reduced sprint.

Frayre timed his effort to perfection, winning in 2:05:09 ahead of Kent Ross (Cascadia Elite Racing), who finished two seconds back, with Marcis Shelton (Competitive Edge Racing) taking third in the same time as Ross.

“It was a very complicated, specifically for the GC,” Frayre said. “There were a lot of dangerous riders in the group, so everyone was watching me because they knew this was a day I could make a difference. I tried a few times, but everything was covered, so I waited for the right moment. Lap after lap I looked for the ideal spot, then with about 100 meters to go I went full gas and took the win on my favorite day.

“We also tried to break the race earlier with three or four laps to go, but no one followed, the rhythm in the group was good so I came back, but the right decision was made to stay patient. The GC is going to be very close, down to seconds, but we’re in a good position. There’s still a lot of work to do over the next two days, and we’ll try to defend the lead and keep enjoying it.”

Owen Cole and Julien Ruhe (Kelly Benefits Cycling) followed closely, finishing within five seconds of the winner after a tightly contested finale shaped by the fast descent of San Bernardino Avenue and the grinding rise of Sessums Drive.

Frayre now leads overall, with Brunner and Cole just one second behind, while Jack Diemar (Kelly Benefits Cycling) sits fourth at nine seconds and Joseph Laverick (Team Unknown) is fifth, 20 seconds off the lead.