With racing action and the official kick-off of the 2015 National Racing Calendar just a few days away, the Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee has revealed the entry list for the Men’s and Women’s Pro races. The race is set to kick-off with twenty-five Men’s teams and a robust field of nineteen Women’s teams with competitors coming from across the globe to compete in the longest continually running stage race in United States road cycling.
“We are very pleased with the level of talent and competition that is descending on Redlands” says Redlands Bicycle Classic Marketing Director, Scott Welsh. “Besides the return of the iconic Oak Glen Stage, we have past champions in both the Men’s and Women’s field, plus an international flavor of talented racers that will no doubt shred the roads of the 2015 Redlands Bicycle Classic.”
In the Men’s Pro field, there will be a total of twenty-five teams that will make up the peloton of nearly two hundred riders. Returning to Redlands after an incredible 2014 campaign is SmartStop Pro Cycling Team. The teams’ incredible season started with a win by Travis McCabe on the second stage of the 2014 Redlands Bicycle Classic and culminated with team member Eric Marcotte winning the U.S. Pro Road Race Championship later in the year. Both McCabe and Marcotte will be racing in Redlands hoping to take home the yellow race leaders jersey they earned after stage two victories in 2014. Also returning to Redlands is the double stage winning Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies with timetrial specialist Tom Zirbel and 2014 Downtown Redlands Criterium winner Perrick Naud. 2014 King of the Mountain Jersey winner and Team Jamis Hagens-Berman member Daniel Jaramillo will also be returning in hopes of defending his KOM title.
The rider generating the most talk amongst the media before the 2015 Redlands Bicycle Classic is Chris Horner, who will be racing with his upstart Airgas-Safeway team. Horner is a four time Redlands Bicycle Classic champion who has gone on to race and win at the highest echelons of cycling. Horner is well known amongst the Redlands community for his European successes and embodies the Redlands Bicycle Classic motto, ‘Where Legends Are Born.” At forty-three years of age, Horner can never be counted out of any race and will be looking to be back on the top step of the podium.
In the Women’s Pro field, there will be record nineteen teams that will make up the peloton of 135 riders. Returning to Redlands via Italy will be last years second place finisher and Sunset Road Race stage winner Mara Abbott who is excited to test herself on the iconic Oak Glen stage where she earned her first pro win back in 2007. Double stage winner Leah Kirchman, who also wore the yellow leaders jersey at the 2014 edition, will be racing will be racing alongside her Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies team seeking another chance to earn Redlands Bicycle Classic glory. Stepping up on the Twenty 16 p/b SHO-AIR Cycling Team is last year’s Best Amateur jersey winner, Jess Cerra, who will be kicking off her 2015 racing season at the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Former Redlands Bicycle Classic stage winner and overall winner, Amber Neben will also be hoping to show the class that earned her a World Championship in the Time-Trial with her Visit Dallas Cycling p/b Noise-4-Good team. Not to be out done, the U.S. based powerhouse squad, United Healthcare Pro Cycling Team is stacked with talent that includes Coryn Rivera, the current U.S. Pro Criterium Champion.
“Looking over the entry list for this years’ race is pretty incredible,” says Race Director Eric Reiser. “There is little doubt in my mind that there will be fire-works in both fields with the fierce talent that is coming to Redlands.”
With five stages of brutal racing on tap for the racers, it is sure to be another incredible edition of the race that has become legendary amongst both riders and fans in North American road cycling. Mark your calendar, because beginning April 8th the traveling road show of professional cyclists will be making their mark on the roads of Southern California.
For more information, including race times, distances, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.redlandsclassic.com.
