Summerhill and Shafi Win Redlands Classic Criterium
Danny Summerhill Claims Thrilling Criterium Victory in Redlands Classic
Danny Summerhill took home a thrilling win for his L39ion of Los Angeles team today after a nail-biting 90-minute criterium in downtown Redlands, Calif.
The 36-year-old Colorado-born veteran stunned a stacked L39ion of Los Angeles and Golden State Blazers team by out-sprinting Jim Brown (Golden State Blazers) and Ryan Gorman (Cyclesport.com) to take victory.
Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers) stayed out of trouble to retain his lead in the overall competition. He now sits 10 seconds ahead of Quinn Felton (Cyclesport.com). Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) is third at 1’04”.
“This has been a pretty trying week,” Summerhill said at the finish. “But I’m really happy that the team, as few of us as there are now, were able to pull that (win) out today. I attest that whole sprint to Robin (Carpenter) and the strength of that man. He stayed away for pretty much the majority of the race, which meant that myself and Alec (Cowan) really didn’t have anything to do apart from stay safe and stay at the front of the race. I really owe a lot to Robin and Alec.”
From the gun, the Golden State Blazers took over control of the 132-rider strong peloton as it snaked around the one-mile technical criterium, allowing several early moves from Summerhill and Luke Elphingstone (Kelly Benefits Cycling), to gain some traction for a couple of laps, however, despite the lead changing hands several times, the Blazers did swift work of neutralizing the threats.
That was until Ben Stokes (Kelly Benefits Cycling) launched a searing attack that caught the bunch asleep during a lull at the race’s midway point. Sensing an opportunity, Robin Carpenter (L39ion of Los Angeles) bridged across to the 20-year-old. Together, they built up a threatening lead of around 20 seconds before the sprinters’ teams turned on the gas, anxious to deliver their fast men to the line before the time ran out.
Carpenter had other plans, however, and courageously held off the locomotive-like peloton until two laps to go. From there, Summerhill used his experience as a veteran of the sport to position himself for success in the finale.
Heading into tomorrow’s finale, Jim Brown (Golden State Blazers) has all but sealed his lead in the points competition with 40 points. Sebastian Brenes (Canal’s – Java) is sitting second with 19. The king of the mountains classification remains the same as Stage 3, as no points were available today. Richard Arnopol (Project Echelon) is currently first in the climbers competition with 28 points ahead of Luke Elphingstone’s (Kelly Benefits Cycling) 22 points.Cole Owen (Team Winston Salem) will wear the best amateur jersey heading into tomorrow’s race.
Alia Shafi Dominates Women’s Criterium With Solo Win
In the pro women’s criterium, Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) continued to showcase her incredible yellow jersey caliber form with a third win at the 39th edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic. The 29-year-old overall race leader attacked with five laps to go of the 75-minute criterium and held off a disorganized peloton for an impressive solo victory. Her teammate, Jennifer Wheeler won the reduced bunch sprint for second and points leader Cassidy Hickey (CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling) rounded out the podium in third place.
“I just saw a moment to go and I took it,” Shafi said. “I’ve been with this team for five years and I owe it all to (Jennifer Wheeler).”
Attacks set the stage for a lively race straight from the start, with Kendall Ryan (L39ion of Los Angeles) and Brooklyn Raddin (Fount Cycling Guild) stirring up the tempo in the opening laps. Most moves were short-lived; however, due to the diligence of the Fount Cycling Guild squad, they were interested in keeping Shafi out of trouble and perhaps prompting a later attack from the eventual winner.
Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) won her third stage.
After the second intermediate sprint, which saw Hickey pick up the maximum points on her way into the green jersey, the elastic finally broke. Hickey and Andrea Cyr (Fount Cycling Guild) shifted their sprint momentum into a strong breakaway and gained a maximum of 20 seconds for several laps before the inevitable catch.
With five laps to go, the yellow jersey took off from the bunch, and no one had a response. Safi quickly gained 30 seconds and held it to victory.
Shafi leads the general classification by a margin of 2’25” ahead of Canadian Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling Race Team), the current best young rider. Third on GC is the leader of the Queen of the Mountains classification, Kira Payer (Speedblock pb Terun), 2’29” in arrears. Third on stage 4, Cassidy Hickey (CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling) claimed enough intermediate sprint points to overtake Ellexi Snover (Fount Cycling Guild) in the points classification.
Sunset Road Race Set to Decide 2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic
Today’s finale, the Community Alliance Medical Group Sunset Road Race, promises to be decisive. The route begins on the criterium course and then moves onto the iconic 6.5-mile Sunset Loop, which the men will tackle 12 times and the women take on nine times. The loop packs a considerable punch, with a heavy climbing portion in the first 2.6 miles.
Top Photo – Danny Summerhill (L39ion of Los Angeles) wins the Redlands Downtown Criterium
Photos – © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignPhoto.com
