Redlands Report: Prologue & Stage 1

The 2011 Redlands Bicycle Classic is going well for the Missing Link – Specialized Team!  The steep, hilly prologue and brutal stage 1 through Beaumont have been completed, and the team has been riding well.  This is the first time so many of us have come together for a race this year, so it’s always exciting getting to know new teammates.  We are riding well together and the team dynamics are going to be easy to dial in for the rest of the year!

Prologue: We had 5 riders in the top 40 (ie. the first page of the results)!  Melanie, Cara, and Lea Davison (who is guest riding) were all within seconds of each other.  The conditions were pretty good, but it was definitely a hot one.  Fortunately, the prologue only lasts about 11 to 13 minutes, so it is short and sweet.

Anna B & Kristina show off their FLUID tatoos!

Stage 1 (Beaumont Road Race): Although this race is notoriously windy, the wind was not blowing today in Beaumont.  Instead, someone turned on the furnace, and the race was ridiculously hot (especially for anyone coming from those not-s0-hot-in-March places).  Nonetheless, the team rode well and did their best to stay hydrated.  Rachel was off the front with one other rider on the first lap and collected 2nd place points on the sprint bonus.  Lea went for the second QOM and got 4th.  Anna M. finished 11th on the stage.

Melanie preps for Stage 1 with some Honey Stinger gel.

Today is the fun, technical, 9-corner crit!  It’s also our team director’s birthday!  Happy Birthday, Maggie!  We are excited for the crit and ready to suffer for 60 minutes this afternoon.  Fortunately, it’s supposed to be a bit cooler today.  Huge thanks to all of our host families, Don & Maggie Williams, team owners/directors, and Chris Davidson, our mechanic extraordinaire!

Rachel rocks her Zeal Slingshots before Stage 1.