Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28 rider dominates with 36-second margin over Jamie Chapman while men's top four riders separated by slim nine seconds
Emily Ehrlich (Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28) wins pro women stage 1 ITT 2026 Redlands Bicycle Classic(Image credit: @VeloImages-Redlands Bicycle Classic)
Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) and Eric Brunner (Project Echelon Racing) opened the first day of racing at Redlands Bicycle Classic with victories in pro divisions at the Toyota of Redlands individual time trial.
Wearing the colours as US national champion, Ehrlich dominated the 11.2-mile TT loop around Lake Perris in 24:09, with second-placed Jamie Chapman and third-placed Lauren Stephens (both Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) distanced by 36 seconds and 45 seconds, respectively.
The only other rider in the women's field to finish within a minute back was Katherine Rusch (CCB Kenetik p/b Levin Law Group), going fourth at 55 seconds down.
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For Ehrlich, it was her third time trial victory at Redlands, with her last appearance in 2024.
“I love this course. It’s always hard, it never really lets up, and it just keeps getting more difficult the whole way. That’s why I like it," she said after her win to organisers.
"It’s been a while since I’ve had a solid road block going into a stage race, so it feels really good to come back here and get the win.”
A recent GC winner at Tucson Bicycle Classic, Brunner continued the momentum with the pro men's best time at 21:41. The battle for the final two podium spots saw three riders separated by one second each, Nathanial Martin (Speedblock-Terún) taking second at seven seconds back while Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) edged Joe Laverick (Team Unknown) by one second for third place.
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Last year, Brunner finished third at the Lake Parris time trial, which was won by Laverick.
“It was hard, it was hot, and honestly, I wasn’t feeling great in the warm-up, but I just went out and did my thing,” Brunner said after the race. “With the heat, I shortened my warm-up a bit and just tried to keep it simple. It was a little breezy out there, but definitely easier conditions than last year, so I didn’t notice it too much.
“It’s a great start to the week. With no big climb this year, I kind of look at Redlands as a series of one-day races, especially with how important time bonuses are, so I think that’s going to matter even more this time around.”
Thursday's stage 2 features the Trek–Hangar 24 Circuit Race, a loop of just over 2.5 miles. The pro women will make 16 laps for 41.4 miles, and the pro men will make 24 laps for 64.8 miles. The new circuit replaces the traditional Onyx Summit road stage due to ongoing road repairs.
Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. On the bike, she has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast), and spends time on gravel around horse farms in north Georgia.
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