Hesitation in the breakaway played into Jared Scott’s (Aevolo) hands as he launched a counter-attack on stage 5 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic and then rode to a solo victory in the Sunset Loop Road Race.
Stage 1 winner, Cole Davis (Voler Factory Racing), came across the line nine seconds behind Scott for second place. Tyler Stites (Project Echelon) sealed the overall win at the five-day stage race after finishing third in the 91-mile final stage, 21 seconds down on Scott.
"Going on the first lap, I went off the front a little bit because no one was following my wheel," Scott said. "I put my head down and went and took advantage of the opportunity. I was cramping up super bad, but the fans here are great and cheered me all the way to the line. I'm super stoked to be able to make it.”
Article continues belowXander White (CS Velo) held a slim seven-second lead over Stites in the GC battle coming into the final stage, but lost time in the end, finishing 14 seconds behind the main chase group.
"During the race, Xander [White] looked super strong," said Stites, who raced the past five seasons with Aevolo. "I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to shake him. I just kept attacking almost every lap in the last five laps or so.
“On the second to last lap, I got a gap, and just went all-in with a couple of other riders. Then my teammate, Ricky [Arnopol] dropped back off the break and went all-in on the downhill, pulling as hard as he could. I caught up to the breakaway on the bottom of the climb on the last lap and went as hard as I could to the finish. I stayed away and found the time gap I needed to win the GC.”
Eric Brunner (Blue Competition Cycles) finished third overall. Kaler Marshal (Expeditors) took the KOM crown.
Davis had an impressive journey, crashing in the first 45 seconds and with his teammates spent the next 75 minutes catching back to the peloton.
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