2015 Redlands Bicycle Classic
The Redlands Bicycle Classic will celebrate its 31st anniversary Wednesday, April 8, as the first race on USA Cycling's 2015 National Racing Calendar. The Highland Circuit Race will once again start off five days of competition in and around the Southern California city that lies about 60 miles due-east of Los Angeles.
The race marks the annual pilgrimage from far-flung team camps and foreign warm-up races to the official start of the US domestic road season. The return this year of four-time Redlands winner Chris Horner (Airgas-Safeway) should create an interesting dynamic in the men's race as he faces off for the first time with newcomer Michael Woods (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Woods' teammate Phil Gaimon, who won the overall in 2012.
In his first year with Optum, Woods has already won a UCI 1.2 race in Portugal and finished fifth against WorldTour competition during the Queen Stage of the Volta ao Algarve. Horner will also have to deal with Hincapie Racing, which won the race last year with current BMC rider Joey Rosskopf.
The men's field for Redlands will feature 26 teams from the UCI Continental and USA Cycling Domestic Elite ranks. The Continental teams represented in the race include Airgas-Safeway, Astellas, Axeon Cycling, Garneau-Quebecor, Hincapie Racing, IRT Racing, Jamis-Hagens Berman, Jelly Belly-Maxxis, Lupus Racing, Optum Pro Cycling, Silber Pro Cycling and Team SmartStop.
2014 Redlands Bicycle Classic | 2013 Redlands Bicycle Classic | 2012 Redlands Bicycle Classic
