Nadia Gontova (Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) emerged from thick fog atop the ascent to Oak Glen Village to win stage 2 of the 2023 Redlands Bicycle Classic. The Patobike duo of Marcela Prieto and Lorena Villamizar were the closest in the chase behind, finishing second and third, respectively.
DNA Pro Cycling’s Anet Barrera was the first to launch an attack at the base of Oak Glen, the move reducing what remained of the peloton to a handful of select riders, including Gontova and the Patobike pair.
Once Gontova struck out alone with the pass of Barrera, Prieto took up the chase, running out of real estate at the end to finish 28 seconds behind the stage winner. Her teammate took the final podium spot finishing 1:06 back and two seconds ahead of a charging Shayna Powless (DNA Pro Cycling).
“We came prepared, hoping to come out with good results,” said Villamizar after failing to catch Gontova at the top. “Today’s stage was very complicated with the cold and the rain, so we were nervous. We rode cautiously so as not to crash since Marcela [Prieto] had crashed the day before. The idea was to finish today’s race healthy and in good form.”
Gontova started Thursday’s stage 14 seconds behind early GC leader Marlies Mejias Garcia (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24), and with the victory, jumped from 15th into the overall lead, now a 14-second advantage over second-placed Prieto and another 53 seconds on Lorena. Kathleen Abadie (Fount Cycling Guild) maintained her lead in the QOM competition.
While Mejias Garcia dropped to 18th overall, 2:45 back, two of her teammates, Melisa Rollins and Laurel Quinones, finished fifth and sixth on the summit finish. Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 now has Rollins in fourth overall, while DNA Pro Cycling has Powless in fifth and Barrera in sixth, the trio separated by just 18 seconds.
The mid-point of the five-day stage race will be the stage 3 Route 66 time trial, the same 9.1-mile route used for both pro men and women.
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
-
'Getting the band back together' - Justin Williams restores L39ION of Los Angeles as Continental squad with Cory Williams, Tyler Williams
Handful of riders from Blazers team move to L39ION for 2026, with women continuing as US domestic elite programme -
'Not fit enough to compete' - Ongoing illness sidelines Fem van Empel from Cyclocross European Championships title defense
World Champion opts for training camp in Spain -
'I know I didn't intend to cheat' – Lenny Martinez looks back on controversial Tour de France sticky bottle which drew criticism from fans and former pros
French rider says he's 'at peace' with infamous moment during second Tour appearance, which saw him fined and the subject of backlash from Thibaut Pinot -
Wout van Aert mixes motorsports and community bike ride on first trip to California
'It feels pretty weird to have a fan base here as well' says 10-time Tour de France stage winner about popularity in the US
