Canadians lead Rally Cycling’s GC hopes at Redlands

Rally Cycling return to the five-stage Redlands Bicycle Classic in California on April 6 to defend their overall title in the men’s race. Phil Gaimon won Redlands in 2015 and now rides for Cannondale Pro Cycling. This year the squad enters Redlands with three team leaders: Americans Danny Pate and Evan Huffman, and 22 year-old Victoria native Adam de Vos. Will Routley of Whistler, B.C. showed early season form by winning stage two of the GP Liberty Seguros in Portugal and will support the team leaders.

“We are excited to return to Redlands and try to repeat our victory from last year,” said Rally performance manager Jonas Carney. “We are bringing a very strong team with an eye on the general classification. Our guys are coming off a tough block of European racing in March and should be ready to combat the best teams in North America.”

>> Bridge the Gap supports many of the Canadians racing at Redlands

For the women’s race, Rally bring Canadian track-star Jasmin Glaesser and Kristi Lay as their team leaders. Glaesser won two silver medals last month at the UCI track cycling world championships in London. She narrowly missed out on a stage win in the time trial at Redlands last year on her way to finishing sixth overall in the GC. In the 2015 edition Lay finished 11th overall and later in the season went on to win the queen of the mountain classification at the Amgen Tour of California. Canadians Katherine Maine, Catherine Ouellette and Sara Poidevin will support the teams GC ambitions while also looking for stage win opportunities.

“Redlands will be the first test for many of the new riders on Rally Cycling,” said team director Zach Bell. “The team has put in a lot of hard work through the winter and Redlands is the perfect platform to show what the Rally women’s program can do this year.”

Look for many other Canadians on the startline when the racing begins tomorrow with the Highlands circuit race. The Canadian National team come to Redlands with track athletes Allison Beveridge, Georgia Simmerling, Stephanie Roorda and Laura Brown on their roster. Canadian teams Trek Red Truck powered by Mosaic Homes, SAS-Macogep-Aquisio powered by Mazda and the Cyclery-Opus are also on the startlist. In the men’s event Silber Pro Cycling, H&R Block, and Red Truck powered by Mosaic Homes will be present.

Redlands is the longest continuously running invitational, professional stage race in America.

Rally Cycling for Redlands Bicycle Classic

Men:
Jesse Anthony
Adam de Vos
Evan Huffman
Emerson Oronte
Danny Pate
Bjorn Selander
Will Routley
Tom Zirbel

Women:
Heather Fischer
Jasmin Glaesser
Kirsti Lay
Katherine Maine
Catherine Ouellette
Sara Poidevin
Hannah Ross