Longest Running Bicycle Stage Race In Our Own Backyards

Early April marked the 30th Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic (RBC) in Redlands and surrounding cities, making it the longest running stage race in American bike racing. RBC brings in professional athletes to compete from around the world, and has a reputation of being the race "Where Legends are Born." The yearly event started out as a campaign to bring the community together, bringing awareness about downtown Redlands, and fundraising opportunities for local service clubs, such as the Kiwanis, the Boy Scouts of America, and Rotary Club. This year, the RBC was presented by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. The race kicked off its first stage in Highland, where the community was happy to see RBC back since its last time there in 2003. The circuit race Women’s Stage 1 results placed Lauren Stephens of Team Tibco in first as Karol Ann Canuel of Specialized-Lululemon landed in second place. Leah Kirchmann of Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies got the third place position for the stage. Dion Smith of Hincapie Sportswear Development was the first place male winner for first circuit, as James Oram came in 2nd, riding for Bissell Development Team. William Routley of Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies followed in third. The second day began at 11:30 a.m. with the women's Big Bear Time Trial. Alison Powers of United Healthcare got first place for the stage, as Leah Kirchmann of Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies finished in 2nd and Tayler Wiles of Specialized Lululemon got 3rd. In the men’s field, Tom Zirbel for the Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies finished in first, making up for finishing in 2nd last year. Serghei Tvetcov of Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis got second place, while Samuel Snipe-Grove of Incycle-Predator Components took the third place position. Stage 3 of the RBC took place in Beaumont with another circuit race in which Leah Kirchmann got first place for Stage 3 women's field. Lauren Stephens of Team Tibco was not far behind, and Tayler Wiles of Specialized Lululemon finished in 3rd position. The men's field stage victory went to Travis McCabe of Smart Stop with Ty Magner of Hincapie Sportswear Development and Sergio Hernandez of Incycle –Predator Components in 2nd and 3rd respectively. The stage race continued on Saturday in Downtown Redlands for the 4th stage, with Leah Kirchmann winning first, followed by Alison Powers of United Healthcare in 2nd and Joanne Kiesanowski of Team Tibco in 3rd. Men's field winners for the stage were Pierrick Naud of Garneau Quebecor, Bobby Lea of SoCalcycling.com/Craig Shelly, and Eloy Teruel of Team Jamis Hagens Berman P/B Sutter Home in 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The final stage in Redlands came to a climactic conclusion with the overall men's field first place going to Joseph Rosskopf of Hincapie Sportswear Development, James Oram Bissell Development Team in second, and Travis McCabe Smart Shop in 3rd place. The women's field went to Lululemon, Mara Abbott United Healthcare in second and Leah Kirchmann Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies in third. As soon as this year's event was over, the all-volunteer Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee began their work in planning out the following year's event. The Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee is an organization that seeks to promote cycling and its benefits in Redlands. [END] This year’s event will be held April 2 – 6, 2014 in Redlands, CA and surrounding cities. The race features professional men and women’s races that will include five tough days of racing, beginning with a Circuit Race in the City of Highland on Wednesday, a time trail at Big Bear Lake on Thursday, a grueling road race in the scenic City of Beaumont on Friday, wrapping up in Redlands with a criterium Saturday, and the famous Sunset Road Race on Sunday. For more information, including race times, distances, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.redlandsclassic.com. The Redlands Bicycle Classic is an all-volunteer organization, managed by the Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee, comprised of active community members that seek to see the promotion of cycling and its benefits in Redlands and its surrounding communities. The 30th Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic is scheduled for April 2nd – 6th. The event was founded in 1985 by a community group, chaired by then-Mayor Carole Beswick, to promote awareness of Downtown Redlands. Since that time, professional cyclists from around the world have been racing the event, which is centered in the city of Redlands, California. The event continues today invigorated by the RBC Organizing Committee’s adoption of, and commitment to, the events’ core virtues of Health, Diversity, and the Environment. The Redlands Bicycle Classic is on the USA Cycling (USAC) National Racing Calendar (NRC) of events and is the opening round of the ten race series. In addition to world-class racing, a healthy lifestyle festival featuring vendors to benefit healthy living is hosted in downtown Redlands on the final two days.