Redlands Bicycle Classic officials have settled on racing dates for the next three years, beginning with the 36th annual event in 2020 set for April 22-26.
President Marc Shaw, Race Director Eric Reiser and Communications Director Craig Kundig worked diligently with USA Cycling to select dates that fit in with the professional racing calendar, along with other factors.
Racers will likely head for Tour of the Gila (N.M.) following the Redlands Bicycle Classic.
Registration for the 2020 event is open for the stage race. Signups have also opened for race marshals, who are the backbone of the classic’s success.
The 2109 event, which was held in March, had some advantages, which included the use of Crafton Hills College for the individual time trials. School was out of session, which opened up the use of that campus.
The 2020 Time Trial will be a brand new venue, likely in the mountains near Wrightwood. Details will be released in the very near future.
The new dates also reflect that Redlands-based schools will be in session, contrary to this past year. Its annual two-week spring break did not coincide well with the 35th Redlands Bicycle Classic.
Race organizers target schools for on-campus visits by participating race teams. Some 40 area schools were visited last year by various cycling teams.
Another reason for the change in racing dates: It’s later in the year that Redlands could dodge some rainy weather.
Semper Porro cyclist Cory Lockwood, who trailed by 1:08 heading into the final Sunset stage, beat Hagens-Berman Axeon’s Kevin Vermaerke for the yellow jersey on March 18, winning by 1:25.
Amber Neben, who won the Redlands Bicycle Classic’s annual Legends Award, proceeded to answer that challenge by notching her fourth career triumph on the local roads. It equals Chris Horner, another Legends honoree, who has also won four times at Redlands.
The five-stage, five-day stage race covers about 350 total miles. The 2020 edition will open in the city of Highland, followed by the time trail, and then a mountain road stage to Oak Glen, capped by a downtown Redlands Criterium and the Sunset Road Race.
The Redlands Bicycle Classic dates back to 1985 when Thurlow Rogers won the first-ever event.
