Redlands is a great race on the calendar and is the first stage race of the season that features some climbing. So it is always hotly contested and a great test of fitness. I would say Team TIBCO passed with flying colors.

Stage 1 starts uphill, literally. It is a 5km time trial gaining elevation from the start and the last km the road kicks up to pitches of 22%. It is a hard way to start the race and can be very decisive on GC. TIBCO placed 3 riders in the top 15 and all within striking distance for the overall.

Stage 2 was a fun one. It was a circuit race in the town of Beaumont, which is affectionately named Blowmont. The circuit had two significant climbs and the wind did prove to be a factor. As a team we rode a great race. We were always represented in the moves, when we came to the crosswinds we made the race hard and guttered the field and we had great team cohesion. Every lap in the crosswind section we rotated, unfortunately the next turn came to quickly so we could never do as much damage as we wanted to. It was enough to open gaps and cause some chasing for others. On the last lap after the last crosswind I attacked and was solo until about 3km to go. The race came down to a sprint with the 20 or so left. Ina Teutenburg took the win, followed by Tina Pic, and myself for 3rd. TIBCO also took 4th, 5th, and 6th for the day. Not the win, but not a bad day either.

Stage 3, the criterium. I have always had nightmares about this crit. It is always hard, somewhat technical and positioning is very important. It is growing on me, but it is still hard to forget all the suffering I did my first year- even though it was about 6 years ago. It seemed that we were the only team interested in racing this year as we would attack only to be chased down by every other team. Nothing special to report, except Ina won again.

Stage 4, Sunset Circuit race- another hard day in the saddle. This circuit race is always decisive. It is a 10km loop that is half up, half down. We do it 9 times. After a while it gets old. Again as a team we were aggressive and had 7 teammates in the whittled down field. We used Emma and Rush til they could hardly stand, leaving Jo, Julie, Kat, Meredith and myself for the later part of the race. The girls threw down and we did not give up, but Columbia was strong and responded to everything. In the end we came to the finish line with a diminished group and Jo came in for 2nd, I was 4th. Overall we finished me-6th, Meredith-9th, Kat-11th, Julie-12th, Jo-13th. Our finishes each day gave us the overall Team GC proving that as a whole we are strong and have a great team.

Next up some sprinting fun at the Southeast crits!!