Redlands Classic 2004 Prologue – 5km Stage 1 – Crest Line Road Race 85km
Redlands Classic 2004
Prologue – 5km
The Redlands Classic was RONA’s first big stage race for the 2004 season. I have fond memories of Redlands as I won the green Sprint Jersey here, last year. This year I rode in support of our lead rider, Geneviève Jeanson (Gen). Here is how the tour unfolded.
The first stage of the Redlands Classic consisted of a 5km prologue. Each rider started at 30 second intervals and raced against the clock to the top of Mount Rubidoux. The course was technical with the final 3km weaving around the mountain side on a narrow, sandy footpath.
Our team leader, Gen won the prologue in 9mins 58sec and took the leaders jersey. Two other RONA team mates, Katrina Grove and Katheryn Curi rode awesome times to finish 7th and 10th, respectively. Gen averaged 31km/h up the climb to finish 22 seconds ahead of American Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) and 25 seconds in front of Canadian Sue Palmer Komar (Genesis Scuba). With heavy legs I struggled to find my top end and finished about 45th.
After day 1, with 3 riders in the top 10 and the yellow jersey it was all smiles in the RONA camp as we planned our strategy for tomorrow’s stage.
| 1 | Geneviève Jeanson (CAN, RONA) | 5.15 km in 9’ 58’’ (avg). 31.0 km/h) |
| 2 | Kristin Armstrong (USA, T-Mobile) | 22” |
| 3 | Sue Palmer Komar (CAN, Genesis Scuba) | 25“ |
| 7 | Katrina Grove (USA, RONA) | 37“ |
| 10 | Katheryn Curi (USA, RONA) | 53“ |
Stage 1 – Crest Line Road Race 85km
Today’s 85km road race was on a new course in the San Bernardino area, in Southern California. It was quite windy with only a few small climbs before the final 4km ascent to the finish. With the leaders jersey on Gen’s shoulders, RONA played a defensive role, setting a solid tempo on the front peloton, to minimize attacks and keep Gen safely near the front of the peloton.
Teammate, Anna was unfortunately caught up in a crash at the 35km mark, but with the rest of us slowing the pace on the front, she got a rapid wheel change from our mechanic, Paul, and was soon back with us, a little bruised but able to continue working hard into the headwind.
Along a gradual false flat of 15km, leading up to the final climb, Andrea, Anna and I drove the pace to 40km/hr stringing out the field and shattering off the weaker riders. Our 3 general classification riders sat behind us, conserving energy and preparing themselves for the final climb to the finish.
Gen crested the climb alone beating Canadian rival Lyn Bessette (Quark) by 29 seconds, and American Christine Thornburn, (Webcor), by 42 seconds. Gen has now consolidated her grip on the overall lead and the yellow jersey and also leads in the Queen of the Mountain competition and points classification. Team RONA leads the team general classification, 29 seconds and 51 seconds ahead of teams Quark and T-Mobile respectively.
As the peloton tackled the steep climb up to the township of Crestline, our director Andre gave instructions to Andrea, Anna and I to ride as slowly as possible, conserving energy for tomorrow’s 129km stage. As a domestic rider, once my job is over, I ride as slowly as possible, not concerned about my own result but ensuring I complete the stage within the time cut, 105% of the winner’s time.
General Classification after stage 1
| 1 | Geneviève Jeanson (CAN, RONA) | 2h 37’ 24’’ |
| 2 | Lyne Bessette (CAN, Quark) | 1’ 11’’ |
| 3 | Kristin Armstrong (USA, T-Mobile) | 1’ 16’’ |
| 7 | Katheryn Curi (USA, RONA) | 2’ 26’’ |
| 11 | Katrina Grove (USA, RONA) | 2’ 41’’ |
| 71 | Anna Milkowski (USA, RONA) | 7’ 57’’ |
| 73 | Andrea Hannos (CAN, RONA) | 8’ 02’’ |
| 74 | Helen Kelly (AUS, RONA) | 8’ 19’’ |
The Redlands Classic was RONA’s first big stage race for the 2004 season. I have fond memories of Redlands as I won the green Sprint Jersey here, last year. This year I rode in support of our lead rider, Geneviève Jeanson (Gen). Here is how the tour unfolded.
The first stage of the Redlands Classic consisted of a 5km prologue. Each rider started at 30 second intervals and raced against the clock to the top of Mount Rubidoux. The course was technical with the final 3km weaving around the mountain side on a narrow, sandy footpath.
Our team leader, Gen won the prologue in 9mins 58sec and took the leaders jersey. Two other RONA team mates, Katrina Grove and Katheryn Curi rode awesome times to finish 7th and 10th, respectively. Gen averaged 31km/h up the climb to finish 22 seconds ahead of American Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) and 25 seconds in front of Canadian Sue Palmer Komar (Genesis Scuba). With heavy legs I struggled to find my top end and finished about 45th.
After day 1, with 3 riders in the top 10 and the yellow jersey it was all smiles in the RONA camp as we planned our strategy for tomorrow’s stage.
| 1 | Geneviève Jeanson (CAN, RONA) | 5.15 km in 9’ 58’’ (avg). 31.0 km/h) |
| 2 | Kristin Armstrong (USA, T-Mobile) | 22” |
| 3 | Sue Palmer Komar (CAN, Genesis Scuba) | 25“ |
| 7 | Katrina Grove (USA, RONA) | 37“ |
| 10 | Katheryn Curi (USA, RONA) | 53“ |
Stage 1 – Crest Line Road Race 85km
Today’s 85km road race was on a new course in the San Bernardino area, in Southern California. It was quite windy with only a few small climbs before the final 4km ascent to the finish. With the leaders jersey on Gen’s shoulders, RONA played a defensive role, setting a solid tempo on the front peloton, to minimize attacks and keep Gen safely near the front of the peloton.
Teammate, Anna was unfortunately caught up in a crash at the 35km mark, but with the rest of us slowing the pace on the front, she got a rapid wheel change from our mechanic, Paul, and was soon back with us, a little bruised but able to continue working hard into the headwind.
Along a gradual false flat of 15km, leading up to the final climb, Andrea, Anna and I drove the pace to 40km/hr stringing out the field and shattering off the weaker riders. Our 3 general classification riders sat behind us, conserving energy and preparing themselves for the final climb to the finish.
Gen crested the climb alone beating Canadian rival Lyn Bessette (Quark) by 29 seconds, and American Christine Thornburn, (Webcor), by 42 seconds. Gen has now consolidated her grip on the overall lead and the yellow jersey and also leads in the Queen of the Mountain competition and points classification. Team RONA leads the team general classification, 29 seconds and 51 seconds ahead of teams Quark and T-Mobile respectively.
As the peloton tackled the steep climb up to the township of Crestline, our director Andre gave instructions to Andrea, Anna and I to ride as slowly as possible, conserving energy for tomorrow’s 129km stage. As a domestic rider, once my job is over, I ride as slowly as possible, not concerned about my own result but ensuring I complete the stage within the time cut, 105% of the winner’s time.
General Classification after stage 1
| 1 | Geneviève Jeanson (CAN, RONA) | 2h 37’ 24’’ |
| 2 | Lyne Bessette (CAN, Quark) | 1’ 11’’ |
| 3 | Kristin Armstrong (USA, T-Mobile) | 1’ 16’’ |
| 7 | Katheryn Curi (USA, RONA) | 2’ 26’’ |
| 11 | Katrina Grove (USA, RONA) | 2’ 41’’ |
| 71 | Anna Milkowski (USA, RONA) | 7’ 57’’ |
| 73 | Andrea Hannos (CAN, RONA) | 8’ 02’’ |
| 74 | Helen Kelly (AUS, RONA) | 8’ 19’’ |