Leah Kirchmann on a roll at Redlands Bicycle Classic

Canada’s Leah Kirchmann (Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies) has extended her lead in the overall classification after winning the Stage 4 criterium at the Redlands Bicycle Classic on Saturday. Quebec’s Pierrick Naud (Garneau-Quebecor) won the elite men’s criterium.

Kirchmann moved into the overall race lead after winning the Stage 3 circuit race in Beaumont on Friday. She went into the criterium with a nine-second lead ahead of Alison Powers (UnitedHealthcare).

Winning the criterium’s bunch sprint, ahead of Powers in second, extended her lead to 10 seconds as the race heads into the final stage on Sunday.

In the elite men’s race, Naud won the criterium from a breakaway that narrowly made it to the line ahead of the bunch sprint. Bobby Lea (SoCalCycling.com) placed second and Eloy Teruel (Jamis-Hagens Berman) third on the day.

The final stage will be held at the Sunset loop, a notoriously challenging circuit race that includes a decisive climb and technical sections.

Canada’s Will Routley (Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies) is sitting in third place overall, behind Travis McCabe (Team SmartStop) and teammate Tom Zirbel. Rob Britton (Team SmartStop) is holding onto fifth and Ryan Roth (Jet Fuel Coffee-Norco Bicycles) in 13th overall.

Redlands Bicycle Classic is the first race on the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC) and is held from April 2 to 6 in California.