March 22/12 10:18 am - National Champion Fortin to Ride Redlands Cassic with TIBCO

Posted by Editoress on 03/22/12
 

Thursday marks the start of one of America’s longest running cycling stage race, the Redlands Classic. Spanning four days, Team TIBCO will tackle a time trial, circuit race, criterium and road race.

Redlands marks the domestic debut of Team TIBCO's two U.S. Olympic long team members: Amanda Miller and Megan Guarnier. Both riders come off strong performances with the Team in Europe and are eager to get their domestic season started. Two other members of the European squad, Lauren Hall and Samantha Schneider also kick off their domestic seasons this weekend. The eight-rider squad includes four members of the team that took on the San Dimas Stage Race last weekend: all-arounder Jennifer Wheeler, sprinter Kendall Ryan, Canadian National Champion Veronique Fortin and climber Lindsay Myers, winne r of the young rider’s jersey at San Dimas.

Both Miller and Guarnier are poised to contend for the GC depending on the results of Thursday’s time trial. The two are good climbers but also very experienced in criteriums and time trials.

“Our priority is to race as a team and from there we will aim to get good results,” said European directeur sportif Angela van Smoorenburg. “Of course, a goal is to win stages and possibly the General Classification. After the time trial we will decide what our tactic will be for the GC rider. Megan, Amanda, Lindsay and Veronique are the best climbers, but you never know what the other riders will achieve.”

On Thursday, the riders will set out for a 3.1 mile prologue. The individual time trial will feature two miles of false flat, with the final mile climbing up a grade of 10 to 15 percent.

Friday, the City of Beaumont will host a hilly 72.3-mile circuit race. Saturday will be a day for the sprinters, as the riders take to the city streets of Redlands to race a 60 minute criterium. It will be a technical 8-turn crit with several chicanes and hairpin turns. The final day of racing will take the riders through a hilly 68 mile course on Sunday.