Holly Breck Takes Win in Redlands Classic Sunset Road Race
Alia Shafi Retains Leader Jersey
Holly Breck (L39ION of Los Angeles) stormed to victory in the elite women’s finale, claiming the top spot on the podium ahead of Cara O’Neill (Team S&M CX) and overall race leader Alia Shafi (Fount Cycling Guild) in a reduced field sprint.
“I can’t believe it, honestly,” Breck said. “I’m at a loss for words. I’ve never made the circuits before, so to win it is unreal. It’s kind of all a blur, but I knew I had to be patient. Fount’s been riding strong all week. They had a good lead-out going, but I knew when I had to jump, and that was my last shot. Wow.”
The 68.1-mile stage began under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, a slightly cooler departure from previous stages. After a nervous start that saw the peloton hesitate to commit to an early break despite several attempts by Winston Salem Cycling, the eventual best amateur winner, Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling), attacked with three laps to go and gained enough daylight to enjoy a few laps solo. However, the move was reabsorbed as a bunch sprint seemed more and more imminent.
Third on the day, Shafi easily cemented her lead in the overall competition, claiming the biggest win of her career by 2’29” ahead of 17-year-old Sidney Swierenga (TaG Cycling). Queen of the mountains jersey winner Kira Payer scooped up the final podium placing, finishing 2’36” down on the winner.
“I’ve been aiming for Redlands for a couple of years now, so it feels awesome to finally get it, and the team worked so well together, and we’re just so happy that we pulled it off…I continue to think Redlands is my favorite race,” Shafi said.
Scott McGill Seals Wins Sunset Road Race
Eder Frayre Secures Overall Victory
In a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic, Scott McGill (Project Echelon Racing) won in the pro men’s Stage 5 Sunset Loop Road Race, sponsored by Community Alliance Medical Group, by winning the bunch sprint from the breakaway. Robin Carpenter (L39ION of Los Angeles) finished second and Nathan Cusack (Kelly Benefits Cycling) was third.
Eder Frayre (Golden State Blazers), who holds the unique distinction of being the first Mexican rider to ever win the Redlands Bicycle Classic, finished safely in what was left of the peloton to successfully take first in the general classification by just 10 seconds ahead Quinn Felton (CycleSport.com). Team Winston Salem’s Owen Cole finished third overall, 1’04” back.
“I’m super happy and super proud,” Frayre said after the race. “I’m thankful for life, God, and my team for helping me and all my friends in the peloton. It took a long time to get here, and I’m very happy.”
Redlands Bicycle Classic winner Eder Frayre races to a GC win in the final laps.
The final stage covered a demanding 91.3 miles, beginning with two laps of a short criterium course in downtown Redlands.
Riders then tackled the challenging Sunset Loop, completing 12 laps of a 6.5-mile circuit featuring significant elevation changes, particularly in the first 2.6 miles. The stage concluded with five laps on a 1.0-mile criterium loop in downtown Redlands.
After some short-lived attempts at a breakaway, a group of eight escaped the Golden State Blazers stranglehold on the peloton, pulling away during the climb with 10 laps to go.
Heiner Parra (Canel’s-Java), Sam Boardman (Project Echelon Racing), Ryan Gorman (CycleSport.com), Evan Russell (Expeditors), Brody McDonald (Golden State Blazers), Joseph Laverick (Good Guys Racing NYC), Julien Ruhe (Kelly Benefits Strategies) and Peter Bock (Jacomo Racing Domestic Elite) gained a maximum advantage of a minute and some change for several laps before the Golden State Blazers reeled them in with five to go.
McGill and Ethan Craine (Project Echelon Racing), Nathan Cusack (Kelly Benefits Cycling), and Robin Carpenter (L39ION of Los Angeles) made up the next breakaway to pull away. After David Ruvalcaba (EMPYR Cycling) bridged across, the group had enough firepower to stay out of the peloton’s reach to the finish, and McGill had enough left in the tank to take top honors.
Redlands Bicycle Classic winner Eder Frayre gives a post race interview to Rebecca Reza.
Photos – © Christy Nicholson / EchelonDesignPhoto.com
