Redlands Report

 
Riders from 13 different countries gathered in Southern California last week to contest the 2010 edition of The Redlands Classic. In keeping with the international theme, foreign riders won all 4 stages and the General Classification. Fly V Australia ace Ben Day took the prologue for the second straight year, and his improved squad did what they could not do in 2009, protect it for the entire event.
 
Thursday’s prologue in Redlands was a repeat victory for the Australian, followed closely by two Jelly Belly riders, Carter Jones and Kiel Reynen, respectively. The young duo’s Canadian teammate Will Routely finished 7th on the day, emphasizing the Jelly Belly squad’s desire to impress and earn a wildcard invitation to the Tour of California. Team Exergy’s Ivailo Gabrovski made his U.S. debut with a very respectable 27th place, at a half minute down, in the process offering a glimpse of the Bulgarian rider’s potential.
 
The Friday road race included a new stretch of asphalt east of Beaumont through the town of Banning and over the 1000 ft Banning Bench, before a return to Beaumont and 5 laps around the Bogart Park course. Each trip through the park included about a 10 minute climb with a very twisty descent into the crosswinds that frequent the gap between the San Bernadino Mts and the Little San Bernadino Mts. With the Fly V train riding solid tempo in defense of Day’s lead, the breakaway du jour never exceeded the 3 minute mark and only on the last trip through Bogart Park did Day’s domestiques begin to fall away from the front. Routely and Bissell rider Ben Jacques-Mayne forged a small lead on the final run in and managed to hold on to 3 seconds of it at the finish line, with Routely taking the stage win and a ten second bonus. Jacques-Mayne was awarded 6 seconds for his 2nd place finish putting him on the same time as Day, with Routely 1 second in arrears.
 
Saturday’s criterium in downtown Redlands is one of the most technically demanding courses on the national circuit. The 90 minute event is run on a 1.5 km course in the shape of a figure 8, which requires constant breaking and accelerating. Put 170 riders on the road and combine it with the relentless pressure applied by Fly V, and you have a recipe for pain. The Australian squad repeated their sterling performance on Stage 1, and easily defended the race leader’s jersey until the sprinters’ teams took over for the final 15 minutes. Another Australian, Hilton Clarke of the Bahati Foundation squad, easily bested the field to take his second criterium victory in as many weeks (Clarke won the criterium at the San Dimas stage race the week before), with 2 United Healthcare racers rounding out the podium.
 
The final stage makes 12 laps on a difficult 10 km circuit, with 3 time bonuses available on course and 1 more at the finish line. Bissell’s Jacques-Mayne made an early play for time by taking a 1 second bonus and the virtual lead. However Fly V was undaunted by the momentary relinquishing of the lead as the Aussies held control of the peloton so that Day could recover the lost second in a later hilltop sprint and maintain his overall advantage. Jamis-Sutterhome rider Alejandro Borrajo took the stage win, and the final time bonus, and Ben Day capped the difficult week by cruising home in the bunch to secure his first Redlands Classic victory. Bissell’s Jacques-Mayne finished 2nd, on the same time as Day, with Jelly Belly’s Routely 3rd, only two seconds back.
 
Team Exergy racer Chris Hong had an excellent ride in Stage 3, just missing out on the final selection. If not for picking up a safety pin in his rear wheel in Friday’s stage, which cost him about 19 minutes, Hong would have had a sensational week. Chris Stuart and Kai Applequist also rode great races, and also were victims of the cycling gods. Stu broke a deraileur hanger in Stage 1, which cost him a chance at the day’s glory, and Kai punctured on the fourth lap of the same stage. The silver lining in Stu’s mishap was the outstanding work done by Scott Cross and Remi McManus in the team car to get Stu on a new bike and back into the race. All totaled in Stage 1, Cross and McManus handed out 3 dozen water bottles, changed out flats to Applequist, Hong, and Brandon Lynch, swapped over a spare bike for Stu, and cleaned up vomit in the backseat of the caravan car from the day’s guest, Hudson Hamilton (obviously they shouldn’t have let him have his Playstation).
 
The speed of races such as Redlands is something that just can’t be replicated in training, or in smaller regional events for that matter, and that is why this northern race team heads south in the early season. We keep our expectations realistic, and instead focus on using this race as preparation for later events. Redlands is one of the few invitationals on the calendar, and Team Exergy is very proud to have been invited to compete at such a prestigious race. To garner that invitation in our first year makes it especially satisfying.