Kristin Armstrong wins overall at Redlands Bicycle Classic

Twenty16-RideBiker put a stranglehold on the final stage of the Redlands Bicycle Classic on Sunday, delivering Leah Thomas to the Sunset Road Race win and securing the overall victory for Kristin Armstrong.

"It was amazing," Armstrong said of her team's effort throughout the day. "I think that our tactics played out. My team kept me really patient, and Leah is an awesome climber. In that original break she was the top rider until (fourth-placed Eri Yonamine] came up."

Thomas joined an early breakaway and then stayed out front with bridging riders Scotti Lechuga (Hagens Berman-Supermint) and Yonamine (Dare To Be Project) for the final lap before outsprinting the duo for the win in downtown Redlands.

"I just sat in all the way down because I didn't want to give them any extra time because the yellow jersey was our number-one goal," Thomas said. "With one k to I got on [Yonamine's] wheel because I was confident I could stay on the wheel in front of me. Then I just sprinted from the final corner."

Amy D Foundation's Mara Abbott, who started the day second overall, 33 seconds behind Armstrong, rode aggressively in the opening circuits but then appeared to back off and give in to the Twenty16 onslaught.

"The team was on the front so often, and we covered everything, and I actually think that discouraged Mara from going, because every time she did something my team was there to cover and to be with me," Armstrong said. "There were also rainy conditions and it got a little chilly. It was textbook."

The Sunset Road Race is notoriously selective. The peloton started in town and then rode uphill to the 10.4km Sunset circuit in the hills southwest of town. After nine trips around the swooping circuit, the survivors headed back to town for the finish, where there were time bonuses of 10, six and four seconds for the top three.

Abbott's Amy D Foundation team went straight to the front on the Sunset loop to try and isolate the Twenty16-RideBiker team leader. First it was Abby Mickey for the Amy D Foundation, then Abbott herself put the pressure on the front on the third lap to bring back small breakaway as the lead group was whittled down to about 30.

Rain started falling on the peloton with five laps of the Sunset loop remaining, adding another challenge to the already difficult loop. Rally Cycling's Kirsti Lay took the opportunity to slip off the front of the field, starting the sixth lap with a small gap on a chasing group of three that included Thomas and Jess Cerra of Twenty16, along with Lindsay Bayer of Hagens Berman-Supermint.

Lay, who started he day 4:40 off the overall lead, built her advantage to more than a minute during the next lap, while the chasers dangled about 25 seconds ahead of the field. With just two laps to go, Lay maintained half a minute on the chase group but her gap to the field grew to 2:30.

Thomas, Cerra and Bayer linked up with Lay near the end of the eighth lap, making a lead group of four with 1:40 on the field. In the peloton, Yonamine and Lechuga attacked the group, gaining a small gap and putting more pressure on Armstrong and her team. Abbott, meanwhile, was still biding her time in the group.

As the leaders started the final lap, Thomas attacked the breakaway and was able to ride away just as Lechuga and Yonamine were about to make contact.

"They pulled the cars, and that point I made a surge, because I wanted to get through as much of that climb as possible before they caught me," Thomas said. "I knew my legs would be a little tired and I wasn’t quite sure how much I'd have in them."

Lechuga and Yonamine made contact just as Thomas rode away, reshuffling the deck in the chase group. Yonamine immediately went to the front and set off after Thomas, dropping Bayer, Lay and Cerra. Lechuga and Yonamine quickly caught Thomas to form a new lead group of three.

The gap held at 1:10 as the three leaders approached the end of the Sunset loops and began heading for the finish in downtown Redlands.

"They caught me about 200 metres from the QOM," Thomas said. "And so I knew I just had a teeny bit more to climb with them and then I just got to sit on the rest of the way down."

From there it was an all-out effort for the line, where Thomas waited on Yonamine's wheel in the final kilometre’s and then jumped out of the last corner to take the win.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Leah Thomas (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker3:10:13
2Scotti Lechuga (USA) Hagens Berman / SupermintRow 1 - Cell 2
3Eri Yonamine (Jpn) The Dare to Be ProjectRow 2 - Cell 2
4Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Rally Cycling0:00:37
5Heather Fischer (USA) Rally CyclingRow 4 - Cell 2
6Kelly Catlin (USA) NorthStar DevelopmentRow 5 - Cell 2
7Nina Laughlin (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro CyclingingRow 6 - Cell 2
8Alison Jackson (Can) Twenty16 - RideBikerRow 7 - Cell 2
9Sara Poidevin (Can) Rally CyclingRow 8 - Cell 2
10Sofia Arreola Navarro (Mex) Twenty16 - RideBikerRow 9 - Cell 2
11Gillian Ellsay (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic HomesRow 10 - Cell 2
12Lindsay Bayer (USA) Hagens Berman / SupermintRow 11 - Cell 2
13Kirsti Lay (Can) Rally CyclingRow 12 - Cell 2
14Melinda McCutcheon (USA) Canyon Bicycles-ShimanoRow 13 - Cell 2
15Kathryn Donovan (USA) Colavita/BianchiRow 14 - Cell 2
16Kristin Armstrong (USA) Twenty16 - RideBikerRow 15 - Cell 2
17Jo Celso (USA) Groove Subaru/Excel SportsRow 16 - Cell 2
18Amber Neben (USA) The Dare to Be ProjectRow 17 - Cell 2
19Mara Abbott (USA) Amy D. FoundationRow 18 - Cell 2
20Stephanie Roorda (Can) Canadian National TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Sara Tussey (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro CyclingingRow 20 - Cell 2
22Jess Cerra (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker0:00:45
23Leah Guloien (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes0:03:53
24Sara Bergen (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes0:05:39
25Ruth Winder (USA) NorthStar Development0:06:37
26Starla Teddergreen (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:06:48
27Jennifer Tetrick (USA) Twenty16 - RideBikerRow 26 - Cell 2
28Caitlin Laroche (USA) The Dare to Be ProjectRow 27 - Cell 2
29Ingrid Drexel (Mex) JETCycling p/b GQ-6Row 28 - Cell 2
30Emma Grant (GBr) Colavita/BianchiRow 29 - Cell 2
31Alizee Brien (Can) Canyon Bicycles-ShimanoRow 30 - Cell 2
32Katherine Maine (Can) Rally Cycling0:08:42
33Amber Pierce (USA) Amy D. FoundationRow 32 - Cell 2
34Hanna Muegge (USA) JAKROORow 33 - Cell 2
35Allison Linnell (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint0:09:03
36Tina Pic (USA) Happy Tooth Dental ProfessionalRow 35 - Cell 2
37Melanie Beale (USA) Groove Subaru/Excel SportsRow 36 - Cell 2
38Megan Alderete (USA) Hagens Berman / SupermintRow 37 - Cell 2
39Sara Enders (USA) JAKROORow 38 - Cell 2
40Heather Albert (USA) Canyon Bicycles-ShimanoRow 39 - Cell 2
41Christina Gokey-Smith (USA) Happy Tooth Dental ProfessionalRow 40 - Cell 2
42Clare Sayle (USA) JAKROORow 41 - Cell 2
43Jennifer Luebke (USA) The Dare to Be ProjectRow 42 - Cell 2
44Laura Brown (Can) Canadian National Team0:09:08
45Audrey Lemieux (Can) SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDARow 44 - Cell 2
46Breanne Nalder (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro CyclingingRow 45 - Cell 2
47Alexandra Burton (USA) Happy Tooth Dental Professional0:09:11
48Lindsey Ryder (USA) SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDA0:09:13
49Mandy Heintz (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro CyclingingRow 48 - Cell 2
50Cheryl Clark (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:13:22
51Abigail Mickey (USA) Amy D. Foundation0:16:08
52Kristen Arnold (USA) JAKROO0:34:34
53Joy McCulloch (USA) Amy D. Foundation0:35:02
54Annie Foreman-Mackey (Can) The Cyclery-Opus0:36:06
55Catherine Ouellette (Can) Rally Cycling0:37:51
56Kaitie Antonneau (USA) Twenty16 - RideBikerRow 55 - Cell 2
57Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Colavita/Bianchi0:39:54
58Jessica Cutler (USA) Colavita/BianchiRow 57 - Cell 2
59Beth Orton (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cyclinging0:46:16
60Jennifer Valente (USA) NorthStar Development0:47:52
61Anne Donley (USA) QCW Cycling pb JL Velo0:48:07
62Julie Kuliecza (USA) Hagens Berman / SupermintRow 61 - Cell 2
63Shoshauna Routley (Can) Hagens Berman / SupermintRow 62 - Cell 2
64Abby Krawczyk (USA) NorthStar DevelopmentRow 63 - Cell 2
65Jen Whalen (USA) JAKROORow 64 - Cell 2
66Anne Perry (USA) Canyon Bicycles-ShimanoRow 65 - Cell 2
67irena Ossola (USA) SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDARow 66 - Cell 2
68Kimberly Lucie (USA) JAKROORow 67 - Cell 2
69Whitney Allison (USA) Colavita/BianchiRow 68 - Cell 2
70Ellen Watters (Can) The Cyclery-OpusRow 69 - Cell 2
71Georgia Simmerling (Can) Canadian National TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Suzanne Hamilton (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic HomesRow 71 - Cell 2
73Vanessa Drigo (USA) Groove Subaru/Excel SportsRow 72 - Cell 2
74Katherine Salthouse (USA) QCW Cycling pb JL VeloRow 73 - Cell 2
75Jannalyn Luttrel (USA) Happy Tooth Dental ProfessionalRow 74 - Cell 2
76Mia Manganello (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cyclinging0:48:59
77Liza Rachetto (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint0:51:03
78Natalia Franco Villegas (Col) JETCycling p/b GQ-60:52:17
79Samantha Vroomen (USA) JAKROORow 78 - Cell 2
80Kinley Gibson (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes1:01:34
81Lindsay Myers (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano1:06:52
DNFIvy Audrain (USA) Hagens Berman / SupermintRow 81 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Sanders (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro CyclingingRow 82 - Cell 2
DNFTina Hughes (USA) JAKROORow 83 - Cell 2
DNFCara O'Neill (USA) Amy D. FoundationRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFBeth Hernandez (USA) Colavita/BianchiRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFHannah Ross (USA) Rally CyclingRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFChloe Dygert (USA) Twenty16 - RideBikerRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFEmily Flynn (Can) The Cyclery-OpusRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFHeather Balbier (USA) The Dare to Be ProjectRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFAmy Cameron (USA) The Dare to Be ProjectRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFAmelia Tanner (USA) JETCycling p/b GQ-6Row 91 - Cell 2
DNFChane Jonker (Sou) JETCycling p/b GQ-6Row 92 - Cell 2
DNFRachel Holzer (USA) JETCycling p/b GQ-6Row 93 - Cell 2
DNFCarol Seipp (USA) NorthStar DevelopmentRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFStefanie Sydlik (USA) QCW Cycling pb JL VeloRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Talman (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic HomesRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Traxler (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic HomesRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFKarlee Gendron (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic HomesRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFHelle Bacholen (Emi) SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDARow 99 - Cell 2
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Teams
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Twenty16 - RideBiker9:31:53
2Rally Cycling0:00:37
3The Dare to Be Project0:06:11
4Hagens Berman / Supermint0:08:26
5Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes0:08:55
6Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:09:08
7Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:12:59
8Amy D. Foundation0:24:13
9JAKROO0:25:34
10Happy Tooth Dental Professional0:26:03
11Colavita/Bianchi0:46:05
12NorthStar Development0:53:52
13Groove Subaru/Excel Sport0:56:33
14Canadian National Team0:56:38
15SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDA1:05:14
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Final classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Kristin Armstrong (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker9:06:00
2Mara Abbott (USA) Amy D. Foundation0:00:32
3Eri Yonamine (Jpn) The Dare to Be Project0:01:06
4Amber Neben (USA) The Dare to Be Project0:01:22
5Jasmin Glaesser (Can) Rally Cycling0:02:11
6Leah Thomas (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker0:02:34
7Kathryn Donovan (USA) Colavita/Bianchi0:02:42
8Sara Poidevin (Can) Rally Cycling0:02:43
9Scotti Lechuga (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint0:02:54
10Melinda McCutcheon (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:03:23
11Nina Laughlin (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:04:05
12Heather Fischer (USA) Rally Cycling0:04:11
13Kelly Catlin (USA) NorthStar Development0:04:16
14Sara Tussey (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:04:18
15Kirsti Lay (Can) Rally Cycling0:04:41
16Alison Jackson (Can) Twenty16 - RideBiker0:04:43
17Sofia Arreola Navarro (Mex) Twenty16 - RideBiker0:07:02
18Stephanie Roorda (Can) Canadian National Team0:07:10
19Jo Celso (USA) Groove Subaru/Excel Sports0:08:00
20Gillian Ellsay (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes0:08:27
21Leah Guloien (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes0:09:27
22Lindsay Bayer (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint0:09:54
23Jess Cerra (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker0:10:16
24Ruth Winder (USA) NorthStar Development0:12:20
25Sara Bergen (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes0:12:32
26Emma Grant (GBr) Colavita/Bianchi0:13:26
27Breanne Nalder (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:13:35
28Alizee Brien (Can) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:13:36
29Mandy Heintz (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:13:49
30Ingrid Drexel (Mex) JETCycling p/b GQ-60:14:35
31Jennifer Tetrick (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker0:15:08
32Megan Alderete (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint0:16:35
33Cheryl Clark (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:16:59
34Heather Albert (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:17:33
35Hanna Muegge (USA) JAKROO0:17:50
36Starla Teddergreen (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:18:13
37Tina Pic (USA) Happy Tooth Dental Professional0:18:38
38Laura Brown (Can) Canadian National Team0:19:07
39Allison Linnell (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint0:19:12
40Lindsey Ryder (USA) SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDA0:19:27
41Jennifer Luebke (USA) The Dare to Be Project0:19:46
42Sara Enders (USA) JAKROO0:20:14
43Clare Sayle (USA) JAKROO0:20:26
44Amber Pierce (USA) Amy D. Foundation0:21:17
45Katherine Maine (Can) Rally Cycling0:21:56
46Abigail Mickey (USA) Amy D. Foundation0:24:17
47Alexandra Burton (USA) Happy Tooth Dental Professional0:30:26
48Audrey Lemieux (Can) SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDA0:32:06
49Melanie Beale (USA) Groove Subaru/Excel Sports0:34:17
50Caitlin Laroche (USA) The Dare to Be Project0:35:21
51Christina Gokey-Smith (USA) Happy Tooth Dental Professional0:39:50
52Kaitie Antonneau (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker0:44:06
53Jessica Cutler (USA) Colavita/Bianchi0:46:25
54Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Colavita/Bianchi0:49:52
55Annie Foreman-Mackey (Can) The Cyclery-Opus0:53:54
56Catherine Ouellette (Can) Rally Cycling0:56:40
57Georgia Simmerling (Can) Canadian National Team0:56:48
58Beth Orton (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:57:39
59Whitney Allison (USA) Colavita/Bianchi0:57:59
60Mia Manganello (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:58:13
61irena Ossola (USA) SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDA0:58:15
62Jen Whalen (USA) JAKROO0:58:27
63Joy McCulloch (USA) Amy D. Foundation1:01:00
64Kristen Arnold (USA) JAKROO1:02:17
65Jannalyn Luttrel (USA) Happy Tooth Dental Professional1:05:01
66Julie Kuliecza (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint1:05:25
67Liza Rachetto (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint1:05:57
68Kimberly Lucie (USA) JAKROO1:09:21
69Ellen Watters (Can) The Cyclery-Opus1:11:21
70Vanessa Drigo (USA) Groove Subaru/Excel Sports1:11:38
71Abby Krawczyk (USA) NorthStar Development1:13:21
72Katherine Salthouse (USA) QCW Cycling pb JL Velo1:15:35
73Suzanne Hamilton (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes1:16:28
74Jennifer Valente (USA) NorthStar Development1:16:45
75Anne Perry (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano1:18:06
76Natalia Franco Villegas (Col) JETCycling p/b GQ-61:18:46
77Shoshauna Routley (Can) Hagens Berman / Supermint1:20:34
78Anne Donley (USA) QCW Cycling pb JL Velo1:25:52
79Kinley Gibson (Can) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes1:27:10
80Lindsay Myers (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano1:34:18
81Samantha Vroomen (USA) JAKROO1:51:56
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Sprint classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Lauretta Hanson (Aus) Colavita/Bianchi29pts
2Scotti Lechuga (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint18Row 1 - Cell 3
3Mia Manganello (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cyclinging18Row 2 - Cell 3
4Starla Teddergreen (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano16Row 3 - Cell 3
5Leah Thomas (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker7Row 4 - Cell 3
6Heather Fischer (USA) Rally Cycling4Row 5 - Cell 3
7Eri Yonamine (USA) The Dare to Be Project3Row 6 - Cell 3
8Alison Jackson (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker3Row 7 - Cell 3
9Mandy Heintz (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cyclinging3Row 8 - Cell 3
10Jasmin Glaesser (USA) Rally Cycling2Row 9 - Cell 3
11Lindsay Bayer (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint2Row 10 - Cell 3
12Nina Laughlin (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cyclinging1Row 11 - Cell 3
13Jess Cerra (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker1Row 12 - Cell 3
14Caitlin Laroche (USA) The Dare to Be Project1Row 13 - Cell 3
Row 14 - Cell 0 (USA) The Dare to Be ProjectRow 14 - Cell 2 Row 14 - Cell 3
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Climbing classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Sara Poidevin (USA) Rally Cycling40pts
2Kathryn Donovan (USA) Colavita/Bianchi35Row 1 - Cell 3
3Mara Abbott (USA) Amy D. Foundation32Row 2 - Cell 3
4Kristin Armstrong (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker27Row 3 - Cell 3
5Jasmin Glaesser (USA) Rally Cycling11Row 4 - Cell 3
6Hanna Muegge (USA) JAKROO10Row 5 - Cell 3
7Scotti Lechuga (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint8Row 6 - Cell 3
8Eri Yonamine (USA) The Dare to Be Project8Row 7 - Cell 3
9Amber Neben (USA) The Dare to Be Project8Row 8 - Cell 3
10Kirsti Lay (USA) Rally Cycling7Row 9 - Cell 3
11Leah Thomas (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker7Row 10 - Cell 3
12Cheryl Clark (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano6Row 11 - Cell 3
13Alison Jackson (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker5Row 12 - Cell 3
14Leah Guloien (USA) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes4Row 13 - Cell 3
15Lindsay Bayer (USA) Hagens Berman / Supermint4Row 14 - Cell 3
16Melinda McCutcheon (USA) Canyon Bicycles-Shimano3Row 15 - Cell 3
17Jess Cerra (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker3Row 16 - Cell 3
18Sara Bergen (USA) Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes3Row 17 - Cell 3
19Sara Tussey (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cyclinging2Row 18 - Cell 3
20Emma Grant (USA) Colavita/Bianchi2Row 19 - Cell 3
21Breanne Nalder (USA) Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cyclinging2Row 20 - Cell 3
22Kaitie Antonneau (USA) Twenty16 - RideBiker2Row 21 - Cell 3
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Team classification
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Twenty16 - RideBiker27:25:44
2Rally Cycling0:00:47
3The Dare to Be Project0:11:40
4Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling0:13:03
5Canyon Bicycles-Shimano0:19:29
6Hagens Berman / Supermint0:21:42
7Trek Red Truck p/b Mosaic Homes0:22:42
8Amy D. Foundation0:38:38
9JAKROO0:48:04
10Happy Tooth Dental Professional0:53:37
11Colavita/Bianchi0:54:56
12NorthStar Development1:12:38
13Canadian National Team1:15:21
14Groove Subaru/Excel Sport1:26:37
15SAS-MACOGEP-ACQUISIO p/b MAZDA1:42:04

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Growing up in Missoula, Montana, Pat competed in his first bike race in 1985 at Flathead Lake. He studied English and journalism at the University of Oregon and has covered North American cycling extensively since 2009, as well as racing and teams in Europe and South America. Pat currently lives in the US outside of Portland, Oregon, with his imaginary dog Rusty.

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