Redlands - Prologue

The professionals started the Redlands Bicycle Classic, which is on the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) National Racing Calendar (NRC), with a prologue time trial yesterday. But unlike your standard point-to-point stage race, Redlands test riders in a variety of racing formats. In addition to the Prologue time trial yesterday, riders will be faced with a Circuit Race today on Stage One, a Criterium on Saturday's Stage Two, and a Road Race on Sunday's Stage Three. The overall winners of the four day event will be crowned on Sunday.

Redlands, Calif. - April 3, 2008 - With energy surging through their legs and determination beating in their hearts, professional cyclists from around the world fought for top spots at the 2008 Redlands Bicycle Classic, presented by PossAbilities, Prologue time trial on April 3. Rory Sutherland, with Health Net - Maxxis; Ben Day, with Toyota United; and Dominique Rollin, also with Toyota United took the top three spots for the men's race, respectively. Mara Abbott, with High Road; Kat Carroll, with Aaron's; and Kim Anderson, with High Road were the top three women's finishers.

"The time trial is tough. There are so many variables that it's hard to gage how well you're doing while you're racing," says Sutherland, a Canberra, Australia, native who won two stages of last year's race. "I feel good with my results, but you never know what could happen. By the end of tomorrow everything could be different."

Cyclists powered up the tough 8% grade on Wabash Ave. in Redlands before sprinting across the Sunset Drive finish line. The racing was tight with only two seconds separating the top two men, and only 25 seconds between the top two women.

This race was just a taste of the explosive racing set for the rest of the week.

For more information about the 2008 Redlands Bicycle Classic, presented by PossAbilities, including current race results, visit www.redlandsclassic.com.

Results - Women
1 Mara Abbott High Road 11:10.21
2 Katharine Carroll Aaron's 11:35.63
3 Kim Anderson High Road 11:36.37

Men
1 Rory Sutherland Health Net - Maxxis 9:51
2 Ben Day Toyota-United 9:53
3 Dominique Rollin Toyota-United 10:00

Photo: Leonard Basobas (Mara Abbott at the Women's NRC kick-off in Santa Rosa, CA)