Redlands, CA — Still reeling from an influx of record entrants for this year’s event, the all-volunteer Redlands Bicycle Classic Organizing Committee has announced the teams and competitors for this year’s race including 15 women’s teams and 27 men’s teams.

“We expect to see nothing less than fireworks this year!” says Executive Committee Member and Marketing Director Scott Welsh. “The men’s field has plenty of star power across multiple generations, with young talents like Lachlan Morton (Chipotle Development) and the legendary Alexi Grewal (Swamis Development). And on the women’s side, the race is equally stacked! With very strong teams like Colavita Forno D’Asolo and HTC Highroad, not to mention individual champions Kristin Armstrong (Peanut Butter & Co. TWENTY12), a former 2-time World Time Trial Champion, and Mara Abbott (inset, SC Velo-Empower Coaching), former RBC overall/stage winner and current Giro Donne champion, the racing is sure to be fierce.”

The 2010 men’s overall champion Ben Day returns with a new team (Kenda presented by Geargrinder) and eye to score his second overall title at the 2011 Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by PossAbilities. However, the women’s peloton starts without returning champion Ina-Yoko Teutenburg, leaving a vacancy that each woman in the field will be vying to fill.

Also among the notable entrants for 2011 is the U.S. Military Cycling Team, a program and race team entirely made up soldier-athletes that maintain elite level cycling fitness while holding full-time military careers.

“Certainly, we are excited about the entire roster of men and women who will be competing here.” Says Eric Reiser, Race Director. “But having the US Military Cycling Team attend our race represents something special for our event and our community, we are very proud to have men and women in uniform competing with us in Redlands.”

Besides a robust contingent of continental team talent at this years’ event the PureBlack Racing Team will be making the long trip across the International Date Line to take the start of the Redlands Classic. Hailing from New Zealand, PureBlack Racing brings a full contingent of southern hemisphere talent that will be itching to make a stamp on the U.S. Racing scene.

With four challenging courses primed and ready to lay waste to a peloton of fresh legs, teams and competitors now set, and the growing anticipation of cycling fans across the nation all that awaits the start of another pavement scorching, white knuckle edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic is time.

For more information, including race times, distances, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.redlandsclassic.com.

Photo: BrakeThrough Media

Pegasus Sports confirmed that eight riders from its 2010 Fly V Australia squad will make the transition to the European peloton in 2011.

For the past two years, the Fly V Australia Professional Cycling Team has cut a swathe through the North American professional scene, lighting up races with dominant displays, and in the process chalking up over 100 wins and more than 300 podium finishes. Fly V Australia finished the 2010 season as the top-ranked team in the United States. In 2011, the core riders who were responsible for much of this success will join Pegasus Sports’ European campaign. The riders, Australians Ben Day, Bernard Sulzberger, Jonathan Cantwell, Aaron Kemps and Jai Crawford; South Africans Darren Lill and Jay Thomson; and American Phil Zajicek, are all looking forward to the opportunity.

Fly V Australia team captain Ben Day said, “This is a great opportunity for all of us. Two years ago we started a journey and this is the next major step on that journey. Personally I’m thrilled to be heading back to Europe to compete in the biggest races, with my mates, in an Australian team that provides an environment where it is easy to thrive. To think that I may be part of an Australian team in the big races is unbelievably exciting!”

Former Astana rider Aaron Kemps is also looking forward to returning to Europe: “In my first European adventure, I was too young to really appreciate what I had, and didn’t make the most of my opportunities. This time it’s going to be different, and I can’t wait to be hitting the roads of Europe with my mates.”

For sprinter Jonathan Cantwell, racing in a top team on cycling’s biggest stage is the culmination of a lifelong dream: “I’ve been chasing this since I started cycling. Our program in the US has given me the opportunity to progress as a rider and show what I’m capable of. I’m ready to take the next step and I’m really looking forward to racing with and learning from my old sparring partner Robbie McEwen. He and I have had some great battles in races in Australia over the years, and to be on the same team as him will be incredible.”

The American climber Phil Zajicek was also upbeat: “I can’t wait. Europe 2011 is the culmination of years of hard work for a lot of people. Pegasus Sports has developed a highly successful program. Going to Europe has always been the goal, and to be able to go there with my band of brothers is just so special.”

Pegasus Sports CEO Chris White declared, “I’m ecstatic that so many of our Fly V Australia riders now get their chance to step up to the next level. This was always the plan, consistent with one of Pegasus’ goals to provide a pathway for young talent to build a foundation, develop and progress all the way to the highest levels in the sport. This is validation of our Pegasus Sports program.”

White added, “Trust and mateship are our core values at Pegasus Sports. I’m honouring a commitment that was made to the riders when we started this journey. I’ve kept my side of the bargain, and the riders have kept theirs. To see these guys take the next step on this journey together is truly satisfying.”

Quebec, ONT, Canada – Ben Day (shown above at the 2010 Amgen Tour of California) clinched the overall title at Tour de Beauce on Sunday and in doing so, repeated his overall win from 2007.

In another great display of depth in V australia’s roster, Darren Rolfe was 2nd overall, the Team won the Team’s classification and Ben won the points classification to add to his overall win.

Ben Day noted, “Each of my teammates this week earnt the success that we have achieved in Beauce. Right from Stage 1 on Tuesday when Jay Thomson went on the attack, I have seen each won of my teammates riding towards this win today. David Tanner’s stage win; Charles Dionne, Jai Crawford and Darren Lill dedicating themselves to our overall result was tremendous. With support from them it was hard not to win.”

Ben added, “To win the Tour de Beauce for a 2nd time is a dream come true and something that I hold close to my heart with my wife and family being from this area. I dedicate this to them.”

Today’s stage was much the same as yesterday on a beautiful course but unlike Stage 5, rain increased the degree of difficulty. In the end both Ben and Darren finished safely with the leaders to retain their positions ahead of the field in the general classification.

Team DS, Ed Beamon said, “Today was a tough day to defend the jersey but the boys did a fantastic job. Taking the jersey at the TT with two days to go meant we only had to control the race for two days, even so with such hard and fast racing this week, the boys were pretty well spent. I have had a good track record here in Beauce in the past, this is my fourth overall win as a DS, a record that I am proud of.”

Ben Day becomes the second only two time winner of the Tour de Beauce’s 26 year history.

Ben Day's (Fly V australia) De Rosa King RS received a special paint job, with orange replacing the teams regular white highlights, for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California. The King RS is De Rosa's top-of-the-line bicycle, featuring a Mizuno T-700SC carbon monocoque frame, which comes in under 1000g without the fork and headset. Day's specific bicycle is built up with SRAM's Red components, a Stella Azzurra cockpit, and Reynolds DV46T UL carbon tubular wheelset.

Take a closer look at Fly V australia's 2010 Team Bike at Testrider.com.

See more Bikes, Personalities and Scenes in our Photo Gallery

Photos: © Leonard Basobas

Bakersfield, CA – Ben Day’s day long breakaway on Stage 5 of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California earned him Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider Jersey, and almost netted him the stage win.

For the Fly V australia team, Stage 5 was all about planning and executing. Covering 195 kilometers over a sinuous route from Visalia to Bakersfield, which included two categorized climbs and two laps of a punishing finishing circuit that featured a tough 1.5 kilometer climb to the line, the team had to be prepared and attentive.

Fly V australia’s plan centered on getting Jay Thomson into an early break to help set the stage for Fly V australia’s fast men with good climbing legs. However, just 5 kilometers into the stage in a fast tailwind section, a touch of wheels led to a massive crash that would have a big bearing on the race, the stage and the day’s plans. With the crash taking out Jay Thomson and a group of high profile riders, such as Lance Armstrong, Stuart O’Grady and Heinrich Haussler, Fly V had to enact plan B.

Plan B came to fruition at the 30 kilometer mark when Ben Day got into the day’s break of 6 riders. The break quickly established a good rhythm to move out to a 5 minute advantage. At the top of the first KOM climb, the lead group had established a solid 4 minute and 30 second lead, while back in the bunch, the leading contenders for the overall title pushed the pace to split the peloton.

Behind Day, all Fly V australia’s remaining riders made the yellow jersey group while most of the race’s top sprinters were left behind in the autobus. With numbers up front, Fly V australia was solidly placed to animate the day’s racing.

With 40 kilometers remaining, Day launched an aggressive attack that only fellow Aussie Mark Renshaw (HTC-Columbia) was able to follow. Although the initial attack was eventually nullified 10 kilometers later, it was simply an entrée to a flurry of subsequent attacks from Day and Renshaw, who traded blows all the way to the 7 kilometer finishing circuit.

Day launched one final withering attack with 7 kilometers to go. For the next 5 kilometers it looked like Day would take top honors, but the closing speed of the yellow jersey group saw Day caught and overtaken at the Flamme Rouge.

In the end, the punishing nature of the finishing circuit and the final climb meant that it was a GC riders’ stage, with Phil Zajicek finishing just outside the top 10. However for his efforts, Ben Day was awarded with Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Jersey, fitting recognition for his tremendous ride.

Photo: Michael Crook

The Joe Martin Stage Race has blossomed into one of the most well liked events among racers and fans alike over the course of 33-year running. A perennial fixture of USA Cycling’s National Racing Calendar, the Joe Martin Stage Race began this past Friday with a 4.02km Individual Time Trial up Devil’s Den near Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders) continued to show her good early season form by taking the uphill race-of-truth ahead of Team Vera Bradley Foundation’s Alison Powers and Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO/To The Top).

Results – Women
1. Katheryn Curi Mattis (Webcor Builders Cycling Team)
2. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
3. Alison Starnes (TIBCO/ To the Top)

On the men’s side, Andrew Talansky (California Giant Berry Farms) surprised. The U23 rider bested a pair of Benjamins, in Day (Fly V australia) and Jacques-Maynes (Bissel l) to take the early lead in the four-stage event.

Results - Men
1. Andrew Talansky (California Giant Berry Farms)
2. Benjamin Day (Fly V australia)
3 Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)

Redlands, Calif. – The precarious sixth-tenths-of-a-second lead that Australian Ben Day took into the final day of the Redlands Bicycle Classic stood up for overall victory Sunday on a frenetic final stage.

The Fly V Australia rider’s victory will go into the books as the first National Racing Calendar stage race win for Day and the first for the second-year continental team that has ambitions to reach even higher levels in years to come. The win was also the squad’s 18th of the season and follows Day’s wire-to-wire overall title at last week’s San Dimas Stage Race.

Fly V Australia Director Sportif Henk Vogels said the victory could not have been achieved without the incredible “mateship” that exists among the Fly V Australia riders, management and staff. It was that unique Australian bond that kept confidence high throughout the four-day race.

“What I saw out there was a bunch of mates bleeding for each other,” Vogels said. “It’s been like this from Day 1 on this team and it just seems to be getting stronger.”

Day said he never felt like his slim lead over Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) was in jeopardy – not when Ben’s brother, Andy, infiltrated a breakaway that gained three minutes at one point; not after he crashed in the feed zone on one of the 12 circuits of the 7.5-mile Sunset Loop; and not when Rory Sutherland (United Healthcare presented by Maxxis) was set up by his team for the sprint finish to earn a potential race-winning 10-second time bonus.

“We out-witted them today,” Day said. “The boys laid it on the line for me. This is as much a win for them as it is for me.”

Ben Jacques-Maynes finished second and Will Routely led a 3-4-5 finish by Jelly Belly Cycling presented by Kenda. In the end, only four seconds separated the top sixth riders overall. Day became the first wire-to-wire winner of Redlands since Nathan O’Neill won a three-stage (time trial, criterium, road race) edition in 2006.

Another hero of the day for Fly V Australia was Canadian Charles Dionne, who finished runner-up to Alejandro Borrajo on the final stage.

“It’s amazing that he did that after doing so much work on the front,” Day said.

Fly V Australia placed a third rider, Jay Thomson, on the final podium as the winner of the best sprinter competition. The South African said he never intended to defend the jersey he earned after riding on the front of the peloton in Saturday’s Stage 2 criterium in defense of Day’s lead.

“The yellow jersey was always No. 1,” Thomson said. “And we never had any doubt we were going to win.”

In addition to the team’s performances in the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Fly V Australia’s Alessandro Bazzana won the LA Circuit Race and David Kemp finished runner-up to Rahsaan Bahati (Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team) in the non-stage criterium for Pro-I-II men Sunday afternoon in Downtown Redlands.

Evelyn Stevens and Alejandro Borrajo take Stage Three of the 26th Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic, Concludes Four Days of World-Class Racing

Redlands, Calif. — Stage Three of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, powered by PossAbilities and presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians is notoriously tough, challenging even for the greatest athletes. A fast downtown start opens into a 6.2-mile loop on twisting hills with 500 feet of climb per lap for a total of 142 kilometers for the men and 99.5 kilometers for the women.

As the women approached their final laps of the stage, there was a slight gap off the front led by Evelyn Stevens from HTC Columbia. The field followed closely behind with a powerful surge threatening to close in on the lead. Stevens maintained her power, clenching victory as the first woman across the line. Stevens’ teammate, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg finished in second and Carmen Small of Colavita/ Baci presented by Cooking Light grabbed third. Teutenberg’s second place finish ensured her win for the General Classification. “It was painful out there,” said Teutenberg. “There were some of the best riders around out there pushing an attack. Without Evelyn and my team, I couldn’t have done it.”

Stage 3 Results - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (HTC Columbia)
2. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Columbia)
3. Carmen Small (Colavit/BAC/Cooking Light)

Final General Classification - Women
1. Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (HTC Columbia)
2. Katharine Carroll (Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12)
3. Alexis Rhodes (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
4. Amber Neben (Dare to Be - BMW-Bianchi)
5. Evelyn Stevens (HTC Columbia)
6. Mara Abbott (Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty 12)
7. Alison Powers (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
8. Meredith Miller (TIBCO/To The Top Pro Cycling)
9. Robin Farina (Team Vera Bradley Foundation)
10. Carmen Small (Colavit/BAC/Cooking Light)

The men’s race was a fully-engaged battle, with Team Fly V Australia fighting to hold on to Ben Day’s General Classification victory. As the men returned to the downtown for their final five laps, the final competitors exchanged positions, negotiated the turns and pushed as hard as they could, all vying for the win. As the field surged forward, chasing Luis Amaran who held the front for two laps. In the end, Alejandro Borrajo of Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita burst past the line in first with Charles Dionne from Fly V Australia and Raymond Kreder of Holowesko Partners U23 closing quickly behind. Despite not winning the stage, Team Fly V Australia’s Ben Day was able to hold onto his overall win in the General Classification. “The course out there was twisting and tight,” said Day. “There was an early break on the climb so it was a lively start. The team really has come together well. It’s inspiring and emotional to be a part of it. This is an amazing group of guys and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

Stage 3 Results - Men
1. Alejandro Borrajo (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)
2. Charles Dionne (Fly V Australia)
3. Raymond Kreder (Holowesko Partners U23)

Final General Classification - Men
1. Benjamin Day (Fly V Australia)
2. Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)
3. Will Routley (Jelly Belly presented by Kenda)
4. Kiel Reynen (Jelly Belly presented by Kenda)
5. Carter Jones (Jelly Belly presented by Kenda)
6. Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare presented by Maxxis)
7. Luis Amaran (Jamis Sutter Home/Colavita)
8. Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling)
9. Jeremy Vennell (Bissell Pro Cycling)
10. Paul Mach (Bissell Pro Cycling)

Sunday’s PossAbilities Handcycle Criterium marked the fourth day of racing for the handcyclists. Newcomer Kyle Massey earned his second victory of the weekend, finishing with a huge gap between him and the field. “It was the last day of racing so I gave it my all,” said Massey. “I got to hang with the guys at the beginning and learn some drafting. Then, I got the nod and went for it.” Steve Hoffman finished second and Greg Course third. The inspiration of these athletes resonated through the crowd as they showed the perseverance, determination and spirit of a true athlete. “Never give up; you never know where you’re going to end up. You have to give it your all.” said Delmon Dunston, an H1 handcyclist who is also new to the sport.

For more information, including race times, distances, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.redlandsclassic.com.

Redlands, Calif. – Fly V Australia’s Ben Day narrowly avoided a pile-up on Stage 2 on the way to maintaining his overall lead heading into the final day of the 26th annual Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Day, who has led the four-day National Racing Calendar event since winning Thursday’s prologue, remains sixth-tenths of a second ahead of Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling) and one second ahead of Will Routley (Jelly Belly Cycling presented by Kenda) in third place. Overall, 11 riders are within 30 seconds of the lead with only the 94.1-mile (151 km) Beaver Medical Group Sunset Loop Road Race remaining.

“It's going to be a pretty interesting day,” Day said. “Sunset Loop is such an iconic and difficult stage to race anyways and there’s a lot at play with the time bonuses. I expect there are going to be plenty of fireworks.”

The ninth-year Australian professional said the crash that took down more than 40 riders in the last half of Saturday’s 90-minute race through the streets of Downtown Redlands was a close call.

“Fortunately, I stayed out of trouble today,” Day said. “That was a fairly sketchy criterium toward the end. The last 20 or 30 minutes were quite intense. I was just trying to stay upright.”

Bernie Sulzberger was the only Fly V Australia rider to go down, but he suffered only minor scrapes to his leg and will start Sunday’s final stage.

As the 170-rider field wound its way around the nine-corner course Saturday, Fly V Australia did its best to maintain control. Only a handful of times did riders escape the grips of the peloton and the mid-race time bonus sprint was not contested by any riders who were a threat to Day’s overall lead.

“The boys did a great job on the front today,” Day said. “The guys are sacrificing their own chances to win. Now it's up to me to finish the race off for them.”

Hilton Clarke (Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling) won the stage in a field sprint while Fly V Australia’s Jonathan Cantwell finished seventh. Somewhat surprisingly, Fly V Australia’s Jay Thomson overtook Rob Britton (Bissell Pro Cycling) for the lead in the sprint competition simply by riding on the front in Day’s defense. The Republic of South Africa rider will wear the green jersey on the final stage.

“It’s not the jersey we’re going to defend,” Thomson said, “but it is nice to have.”

Fly V Australia Director Sportif Henk Vogels said the team will have to ride extra attentively since there are three opportunities for time bonuses on the final stage. Two are intermediate time bonus sprints with values of 3, 2 and 1 second while bonuses of 10, 6 and 4 seconds are up for grabs at the finish.

“The Sunset Loop is one of the hardest days on the American race calendar,” Vogels said. “The Fly V Australia boys have worked very hard the past couple of days, but I have no apprehensions that they won't be able to do it.”

Fly V australia's Ben Day leads Redlands heading into the final stage by a mere 6 tenths of a second, be sure to follow the final stage to see if he can make history and lead the race from start to finish.

Beaumont, Calif. – More than 100 miles of hard riding on the front by Fly V Australia paid off when race leader Ben Day learned he held onto the overall lead after Stage 1 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Halfway through the four-day National Racing Calendar event, the Australian leads by a scant six-tenths of a second over Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling). Will Routley (Jelly Belly Cycling presented by Kenda), the winner of Friday’s 105.7-mile (170 km) race from a three-man break with Jacques-Maynes and Luis Amaran (Jamis/Sutter Home presented by Colavita) is third – one second off of Day’s lead.

“Today was certainly no cake walk,” Day said. “The boys were great, though. I can't thank them enough. We have some of the best bike racers in the peloton on our team and they're sacrificing their chances of winning all for the sake of Fly V Australia winning the race overall. So I'm honored to be riding for them.

“I'm also happy to still be in the jersey. This was a really hard stage to control. It's almost a curse to be leading going into this stage.”

Indeed, one year ago, the 31-year-old native of Brisbane, Australia, lost the yellow leader’s jersey after he won the prologue. It was the same cruel fate dealt to 2008 prologue winner Rory Sutherland when Santiago Botero won Stage 1, took the lead and won the race overall.

Fly V Australia Director Sportif Henk Vogels said the team exemplified “mateship” – the unique bond among riders on the squad – by riding superbly for more than four hours. At one point, several of them dropped back to help pace Day back when he switched his De Rosa bicycle out twice in the early going.

“The team is fantastic. They took control from kilometer zero,” Vogels said. “Obviously Ben couldn't control the peloton in the last 10 kilometers and three guys got away, but we still managed to hold onto the lead. With the guys we've got, I have no apprehensions about the next two days. We have the fastest team and the team with the most depth.”

Saturday’s race is the 90-minute City of Redlands Criterium. Sunday’s final stage is the 94.1-mile (150 km) Beaver Medical Group Sunset Road Race.

Early on in Friday’s stage, three different riders escaped the 190-strong peloton – Eric Boily (Team Spidertech), Rob Britton (Bissell) and Taylor Shelden (Holowesko Partners U23). The trio built a lead of more than four minutes before the chase by Fly V Australia brought them back within eight miles of the finish. From there, Routley, Amaran and Jacques-Maynes launched separate attacks on the final climb to get away, grab time bonuses and a handful of seconds on the chasing pack.

Photo: Brian Hodes, VeloImages