Redlands, CA — This week professional bicycle racing gets underway at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the opening round of the 2012 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar, and the anticipation could not be any more amplified. All racers and teams are locked-in and geared-up to launch hostilities on the roads of Redlands beginning Thursday March 22nd with the Prologue Time Trial.

With returning champions Francisco Mancebo, riding for the newly named Competitive Cyclist Team in the men’s field as well as returning women’s champion Amber Neben, representing the newly formed Specialized-Lululemon Team the race features both the men’s and women’s 2011 champions. No doubt, both Mancebo and Neben will have to bring every bit of strength that carried them to their 2011 victories and then some to beat all comers and defend their yellow jersey honors of last year.

Twenty-seven men’s teams will be queuing up to comprise a robust peloton of 200 riders including four of the top five top teams in the NRC Team Rankings from 2011, not the least of which is 2011 Team Ranking champions Bissell Pro Cycling. In addition to the men’s racing no fewer than 90 women spread across 12 teams, including four of last years’ top five team in the NRC Team Rankings will be lining up to take their shot at glory on the roads of Redlands in an event that has been known to support and promote women’s sport.

“We are very proud to have so much excitement surrounding our event,” says Race President, Dan Rendler. “So many applications come from all across the globe for teams that want to participate in our race, we are proud to have such large pelotons of talented riders hitting the streets of Redlands for another great year of racing.”

Every cycling enthusiast knows strong teams are made up of powerful individual riders, and this years’ RBC sees the return of former stage winners and jersey wearers at the Redlands Classic like Team California Giant/Specialized rider John Bennett who took the stage 1 Beaumont Road Race in 2011 with style. Former race winner and Andy Bajadali of the Optum Pro Cycling team will also be lining up to try to repeat his 2007 overall success as well as former Sunset Road Race stage winner Kyle Wamsley of the Jamis Sutter Home team.

The women of the Redlands Classic will not be lacking any horsepower either with super team Specialized-Lululemon bringing former overall winner Amber Neben, multi-time stage winner (and overall winner) Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, and Olympic medalist Clara Hughes. Other notable heavy hitters include Alison Powers, former RBC Stage winner, racing for NOW & Novartis for MS as well as Theresa Cliff-Ryan of Team Exergy TWENTY12 who won multiple stages of the 2011 edition of the RBC.

With four exciting days of racing, from March 22nd-25th, and two full fields of racers the 2012 Redlands Bicycle Classic will no doubt be another vintage edition of world class bike racing that will set the tone for the year ahead.

Complete List of Teams Competing:

Men - Bissell Pro Cycling,BMC-Hincapie Development Team, Bontrager Livestrong, California Giant/Specialized, CashCall Mortgage, Champion Systems presented by Stans No Tubes/CRCA, Competitive Cyclist Racing Team, Eclipse-ATS, Elbowz Racing, Full Circle Cycling presented by Pure Gear, Garneau Quebecor Norton-Rose, Hagens Berman Cycling Team, Jamis Sutter Home, Jelly Belly presented by Kenda, Juwi Solar Cycling, Kenda/5 Hour Energy presented by Geargrinder, Landis/Trek, Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies, Simple Green-Bike Religion presented by Cannondale, Spy-Swamis Development Elite Team, Stage 17 Racing, Team Exergy, Team Mountain Khakis/Smart Stop, Team Type 1 (Development), Wonderful Pistachios Pro Cycling, XO Communications presented by Cisco

Women - Cynergy Cycles presented by Missing Link Coaching, Exergy TWENTY12, FCS/Rouse presented by Mr.Restore, MetromintCycling, NOW and Novartis for MS, Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefits Strategies, Primal/Mapmyride Womens Racing, SC Velo-EmpowerCoaching, Specialized Lululemon, Team Kenda presented by Geargrinders, Team Tibco-To The Top, and Vanderkitten – Focus

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

Luis Amaran of the Jamis/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Colavita is #1 in the NRC; Team 2nd in Team Standings

Northvale, NJ - Luis Amaran of the Jamis/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Colavita takes the lead in the NRC men’s standings. And Jamis/Sutter Home moves up to the #2 position in the overall team rankings maintained by USA Cycling.

Amaran, now in his second year racing with the Jamis/Sutter Home squad, recently claimed his first NRC stage race victory, winning the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, AR. Throughout the four-day race, Amaran demonstrated the combination of strength and racing smarts that have already yielded nine podium appearances this season and a victory in Stage Two of the SRAM Tour of the Gila over race winner Levi Leipheimer.

“We are very proud of Luis,” said Jamis/Sutter Home Directeur Sportif Sebastian “Seba” Alexandre. “I knew when we recruited Luis two years ago that he would be our secret weapon. And now the secret is out.”

Carine Joannou, President of title sponsor Jamis Bicycles, concurs, “We are thrilled for Luis, Seba, and the entire squad.” She continued, “The riders and staff put everything they have in to the success of this team and I’m pleased to see the rankings reflect their passion and commitment.”

Photo: © Leonard Basobas

This weekend, the action of USA Cycling's National Racing Calendar moves to Alabama in the form of the Sunny King Criterium. Catch Saturday’s race streaming live online featuring some of the fastest sprinters in the domestic peloton.

Anniston, Alabama - Top men’s and women’s pro cycling teams will light up the night in Anniston, Alabama this Saturday, April 17 at the eighth Sunny King Criterium, a National Racing Calendar (NRC) event at which entry fees will be donated to Relay For Life, a local chapter of the American Cancer Society. For the first time, cycling fans around the world can watch the day of racing live on the Sunny King Criterium website.

Last year’s men’s pro winner, Karl Menzies, will be back to defend his throne with full support from his United Healthcare presented by Maxxis team. Jamis/Sutter Home presented by Colavita, Fly V Australia, Team Type 1, Kenda presented by Geargrinder and a super motivated Bahati Foundation squad threaten to end his reign. With last year’s women’s pro winner, Brooke Miller, racing in Europe this weekend, her Team TIBCO will try to the retain the crown without her while Colavita/Baci presented by Cooking Light, Team Vera Bradley Foundation and Team Kenda are amongst the ladies in waiting.

The one-hour women’s pro race is scheduled to start at 6:20 PM CT and the 60-lap men’s pro event will roll off at 7:30 PM CT. Racers will complete laps around the flat four-corner, .7-mile rectangular downtown circuit that finishes with a slight uphill rise.

Bend, Ore. – Being called to stand on the final podium at a National Racing Calendar (NRC) event is becoming a familiar routine for Team Type 1’s Alison Powers.

For the sixth time this season, Powers finished in the top three to retain her lead in the NRC individual standings. With only five races remaining in the series and a more than 200-point lead over her nearest competitor, Powers all but has the title locked up.

“This is really great,” Powers said after finishing third at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic behind Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) and runner-up Amber Rais (Team TIBCO). “Every stage race is different. So it’s great that the best overall GC (general classification) rider wins it because you have to be good at every one. I am lucky I have had a good team to help me.”

Powers placed fifth on Sunday’s final stage, the Deschutes Brewery Awbrey Butte Circuit Race. Kristin McGrath (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team) won the 52-mile (83 km) race ahead of Joanne Kiesanowski (Team TIBCO) and Catherine Cheatley (Colavita-Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light).

But the third-place result overall was made all the more special because it crowned Powers the winner of the season-long Women’s Professional Cycling Series. The WPCS is a four-race event that also includes the Redlands Bicycle Classic, Joe Martin Stage Race and the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

Team Director Jack Seehafer said Powers’ accomplishment does not come as a surprise, despite Team Type 1 being a first-year women’s program.

“We knew the abilities of all of our riders and what they were capable of achieving,” he said. “So it was a matter of holding up to those expectations. We also knew Alison wanted to learn and grow as a stage racer. So we worked to fuel that passion and work with her to succeed in putting her on the podium in every stage race this year.”

Powers finished third at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, second at the SRAM Tour of the Gila, first at the Joe Martin Stage Race, third at the Nature Valley Grand Prix and second at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic. Later this week, she will defend her national time trial title at the USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships, which also take place in Bend.

In the men’s race Sunday, Team Type 1’s Moises Aldape finished fourth in 83-mile (133 km) race as Matt Wilson wound up as the team’s best-placed overall finisher in eighth place. Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla won the race overall title.

Stage 6 Results
1. Kristin Mcgrath (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
2. Joanne Kiesanowski (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light

Final General Classification
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1
4. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
5. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
6. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
7. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
8. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker
9. Robin Farina (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
10. Joanne Kiesanowski (USA) Team TIBCO

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Bend, Ore. — Rock Racing stamped its authority on the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic in a big way during Sunday’s final stage of the six-day race in Bend, Ore.

Yellow jersey wearer Oscar Sevilla helped Rock Racing teammate Francisco Mancebo put in an attack in the final miles of the Deschutes Brewery Awbrey Butte Circuit Race that moved Mancebo from third to second overall in the final standings.

In addition to the 1-2 finish overall, Rock Racing also took home the team title to cap a week that saw it win two stages and place third in two others.

“It was a good job by the boys,” Rock Racing Team Director Lorenzo LaPage said. “This was a difficult racem but all season long, this team has shown that it is strong and every guy has good experience. They just keep getting better and better.”
Jeff Louder (BMC Pro Cycling) was the rider Mancebo displaced for second place. Louder finished 20 seconds behind Sevilla and Mancebo in the final 83-mile (133 km) race that was won by Anthony Colby (Colavita-Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light).

About the only disappointment of the race, LaPage said, was a crash Sunday that left David Vitoria with a lot of road rash but no broken bones.

“Thankfully, he’s OK,” LaPage said. “The idea was to bring Sevilla, Pena and Mancebo into good position on the last lap but after he (Vitoria) fell off, we had to do all the work with just three guys.”

Sevilla’s victory is Rock Racing’s 30th on the year to go along with 63 podium (top three) placings. It is also the Spaniard’s first win at a stage race in the United States and his first overall victory at a stage race since capturing the RCN Classic in Colombia last October.

Stage 6 Results
1. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita Sutter Home
2. Taylor Shelden (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin
3. Alex Howes (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin

Final General Classification
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
3. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
4. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
5. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Jeremy Vennell (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
7. Victor Hugo Pena (USA) Rock Racing
8. Matt Wilson (USA) Team Type 1
9. Steve Bovay (USA) BMC Racing Team
10. Chris Jones (USA) Team Type 1

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Bend, Ore. — It took Rock Racing nearly the entire race to chase down a four-man breakaway Saturday night at the Downtown Bend Criterium at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

But once the catch was made, there was little doubt who would be the man of the moment.

Ivan Dominguez blazed down the long finishing stretch lined by a massive crowd to score Rock Racing’s second stage win. Alejandro Borrajo (Colavita-Sutter Homes presented by Cooking Light) finished second and Andrew Pinfold (OUCH presented by Maxxis) was third.

Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla, who won Stage 2 to take the overall lead, retained his yellow jersey, as there was no change in the overall standings.

The victory is Dominguez’s first since joining the Rock Racing team earlier last month. But he is no stranger to winning in Bend. Two years ago, the Cuban-born, U.S. citizen won this same stage (racing for the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team) in a field sprint.

“The last win that I had was in Georgia (at the Tour de Georgia in April of 2008), so this feels great,” Dominguez said. “I like this sprint. It’s long – the way I like. I knew if I went with 300 meters to go that no one was going to pass me.”

Dominguez’s fast finish would not have been possible without the help of his Rock Racing teammates, who worked tirelessly to keep Kirk Carlsen (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin), Michael Creed (Team Type 1), Russ Langley (Battley Harley-Davidson) and Jackson Stewart (BMC Pro Cycling) from stealing the win. The four came within 15 seconds of catching the back of the field at one point.

But Rock Racing teamed up with OUCH presented by Maxxis and the two teams traded pulls to shave seconds off the advantage each time around the six-tenths-of-a-mile (1 km) course after the four riders’ lead peaked at 60 seconds with 35 minutes left in the 90-minute race.

“I said to the guys to keep the break there,” Dominguez said. “I told them we had to take care of the jersey. Tomorrow’s another day. We didn’t need to kill it. That was good for us.”

Sunday’s final stage is the 83-mile 133 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race. Sevilla leads Jeff Louder (BMC) by 40 seconds. Rock Racing’s Francisco Mancebo is in third, 1:00 back of Sevilla. A third rider from Rock Racing, Victor Hugo Peña, is seventh, 1:54 behind.

Stage 5 Results - Men
1. Ivan Dominguez (USA) Rock Racing
2. Alejandro Borrajo (Arg) Colavita-Sutter Home
3. Andrew Pinfold (Can) OUCH presentec by Maxxis

General Classification After Stage 5 - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (Rock Racing)
2. Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Tea)
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (Rock Racing)
4. Ian Mckissick (BMC Racing Team)
5. Rory Sutherland OUCH presented by Maxxis)
6. Chris Baldwin (OUCH presented by Maxxis)
7. Victor Hugo Pena (Rock Racing)
8. Darren Lill (Team Type 1)
9. Jeremy Vennell (BISSELL Pro Cycling Team)
10. Matt Wilson (Team Type 1)

Youth Is Served
With much of the focus surrounding the precocious talents of Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders), who was still atop of the General Classification of the 30th Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic going into Saturday's Downtown Bend Criterium, it was easy to forget about all of the amazing talent within the Women's peloton.

Not to be overshadowed, Coryn Rivera (PROMAN Hit Squad) showed why she would also be a force to reckon with in the future. The 16-year-old Rivera, already a winner at this year's Manhattan Beach Grand Prix and San Rafael Twilight Criterium, would out kick Colavita's Tina Pic and Kristy Broun (Team Lip Smacker) to take the Downtown Bend Criterium.

Given the assembled field, this is undoubtedly Rivera's biggest win to date, and surprisingly all of it was done with junior gearing.

Stage 5 Results - Women
1. Coryn Rivera (USA) Proman Hit Squad
2. Tina Pic (USA) Colavita-Sutter Home
3. Kristy Broun (Aus) Lip Smackers

General Classification After Stage 5 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders)
2. Amber Rais (Team TIBCO)
3. Alison Powers (Team Type 1)
4. Julie Beveridge (Team TIBCO)
5. Cath Cheatley (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
6. Katharine Carroll (Team TIBCO)
7. Chrissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital Cycling Team)
8. Jessica Phillips (Team Lip Smacker)
9. Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO)
10. Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO)

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages (top); Bob Cullinan, CycleTo (middle and bottom)

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort – Team Type 1 women’s Team Director Jack Seehafer told Alison Powers the climb to the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort suited her. But Powers said she wasn’t so convinced.

"After the climb two days ago and how poorly I did in the time trial (third) Thursday, I didn’t have much confidence,” Powers said. “It’s amazing how fast you can lose your self-confidence.”

But those doubts were swept away on the ascent to the finish of the 71-mile (114 km) race when Powers found herself in the final selection. By the time the race reached the parking lot of the ski resort, only race leader Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) was up ahead and Powers found herself sprinting against Amber Rais (Team TIBCO) for second place.

"The final climb was perfect for me," Powers said. "It was not very steep, with a gentle grade, and those are the ones where I can do the best. What I didn’t realize was that we would ride all the way around the parking lot. I was getting quite tired at that point, so Amber was able to sit on and then sprint around me.”

The third-place finish was Powers' second straight of the six-day race and moved her into third place overall, one minute and 39 seconds behind Stevens. Rais is second overall, 18 seconds behind Stevens.

Only Saturday’s hour-long criterium and Sunday’s 52-mile (84 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race remain in the National Racing Calendar (NRC) event. Powers aims to earn her sixth podium finish at an NRC event this season. She finished third at the Redlands Bicycle Classic, runner-up at the SRAM Tour of the Gila, first at the Joe Martin Stage Race, third at the Nature Valley Grand Prix and runner-up at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.

Powers is the NRC women's individual points leader and Team Type 1 is No. 1 in the team competition. Powers is also the leader in the Women’s Prestige Cycling Series.

Stage 4 Results - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1

General Classification After Stage 4 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1
4. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
5. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
6. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
7. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
8. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker
9. Alison Starnes (USA) Team TIBCO
10. Meredith Miller (USA) Team TIBCO

Photo: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort – Moises Aldape of Team Type 1 repeated his victory of a year ago at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, soloing away from two others Friday to win the Cascade Lakes Road Race at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

Aldape attacked Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) and Steve Bovay (BMC Racing Team) with about a mile to go in the 84-mile (135 km) race. His sharp acceleration on the final uphill pitch before the run-in to the ski station parking lot opened a decisive gap.

"I remember last year’s race perfectly," Adalpe said after being congratulated by his Team Type 1 teammates. "So with one kilometer to go, I knew there was a possibility for me break away to win the stage. So I seized the opportunity."

Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia) was second and Francisco Mancebo (Rock Racing) was third. Mancebo’s teammate, Oscar Sevilla, retained the overall lead.

Team Type 1 Assistant Director Gord Fraser said he sent a clear message in the team’s pre-race meeting: put away thoughts of the overall classification and just win the stage.

“And the guys responded with a first rate performance,” Fraser said. “Before the race started, I was really counting on some of our older riders like Moises, Matt (Wilson) and Valeriy (Kobzarenko) to start stepping up and riding like they normally ride. I think they’ve responded very well to that and it’s a reflection of how hard our team races. Having our older riders step up gives us an incredibly new dynamic and I expect nothing less for the rest of the year.”

Last year, Aldape won this same stage of the six-stage National Racing Calendar (NRC) event by out-sprinting five breakaway companions in the final hundred meters on the way to winning the King of the Mountains crown. He later represented Mexico in the Beijing Olympics.

But this season hasn't been as kind to the 27-year-old. He has missed much of the year with a prostrate injury that first came to light in February and forced his withdrawal from the Amgen Tour of California in February.

This is Aldape's second victory of the year, adding to a win at the 64 Aniversario Diario El Sol del Centro Clásica Ciclística on April 11 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. It is also the 46th of the season for the Team Type 1 men, surpassing the 45 victories that the team racked up in its first year as a professional squad in 2008.

For much of Friday's race, it looked like another Team Type 1 rider – Michael Creed – might be the one climbing to the top of the victory stand. Creed was part of a seven-man breakaway that escaped the pack 17 miles in and built as much as three-minute lead with 34 miles to go.

But the chasing efforts by Rock Racing, which has had Oscar Sevilla in the leader's yellow jersey since his Stage 2 win on Wednesday, pulled the escapees within a minute with nine miles to go. From there, a second breakaway group – this one containing Aldape – bridged up and rode through the remnants of the original group.

Stage 4 Results - Men
1. Moises Aldape (USA) Team Type 1
2. Phil Zajicek (USA) Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing

General Classification - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
4. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team
5. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
7. Victor Hugo Pena (USA) Rock Racing
8. Darren Lill (USA) Team Type 1
9. Jeremy Vennell (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
10. Matt Wilson (USA) Team Type 1

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Bend, Ore. – Team Type 1’s Alison Powers was congratulated by reporters for winning the Skyliner’s Time Trial Thursday at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic.

A few minutes later, race officials told her she had actually finished second in the 16-mile (25 km) race against the clock.

And by the time she was summoned to the podium for the post-race awards ceremony, the reigning national time trial champion was accepting the prize for third place.

The surprising turn of events was confusing for reporters covering the race and a major disappointment for Powers, who was using the race as a tune-up for the same event at next week’s USA Cycling Elite Road National Championships, which also take place in Bend, Ore.

Jessica Phillips (Team Lip Smackers), the apparent race winner, was not present for the awards ceremony. A member of her team reached her by phone but the Aspen, Colo., resident was unable to return in time for the podium ceremonies. That resulted in a $70 fine from the officials and forfeiture of the $150 she would have received for winning the race.

Alison Starnes (Team TIBCO) was listed as finishing second, two seconds ahead of Powers and 12 seconds behind Phillips. Race leader Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders) was listed as fourth, 15 seconds behind Powers.

USA Cycling officials blamed reporters for the confusion, saying the results being tabulated by hand were unofficial. No timing clock was visible at the finish line, leaving reporters to look over the shoulders of judges who were recording and manually calculating times from stopwatches.

Powers said she isn’t familiar with either Phillips or Starnes, having never before shared a podium with them.

“Jessica Phillips is super strong, so maybe she had an amazing ride today. It’s good for her,” Power said.

Phillips and Powers have competed head-to-head in time trials in two National Racing Calendar (NRC) events the past two months. Three weeks ago at the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, Phillips finished 46 seconds behind Powers in an 8.8-mile (14 km) time trial that Powers won. At the Nature Valley Grand Prix last month, Phillips finished 13th, 51 seconds behind Powers, in a six-mile time trial. Powers was second that day, 13 seconds off the winning time of former world time trial champion Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team).

Thursday’s runner-up finish was Starnes’ third in a time trial this season but her first at an NRC event. At the Cyclepath Cyclery Calavares Time Trial in Sunol, Calif., in May, she lost by 10 seconds to Emily Zell (PROMAN Racing). At the NCNCA District Time Trial Championship in June in Sattely, Calif., she finished nearly two minute behind winner Molly Van Houweling (Metromint Cycling). Neither Van Houweling nor Zell are competing at the Cascade Classic.

Powers’ performance moves her into fifth overall, 1:21 behind Stevens, with three stages remaining. Friday is the 71-mile (114 km) Cascade Lakes Road Race. Saturday is an hour-long criterium in Downtown Bend, followed by Sunday’s 52-mile (84 km) Awbrey Butte Circuit Race.

Stage 3 Results - Women
1. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker
2. Alison Starnes (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1

General Classification After Stage 3 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
3. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
4. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
5. Alison Powers (USA) Team Type 1
6. Alison Starnes (USA) Team TIBCO
7. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
8. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
9. Meredith Miller (USA) Team TIBCO
10. Jessica Phillips (USA) Team Lip Smacker

Zirbel Takes Cascade's Race of Truth
Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) once again laid down the law in an Individual Time Trial. The best placed domestic rider in this year's Amgen Tour of California Solvang ITT, Zirbel proved once again to be the undisputed fastest chrono man in the domestic peloton as he was eleven seconds faster than BMC's Ian Mckissick and 44 seconds better than Oscar Sevilla (Rock Racing).

Stage 3 Results - Men
1. Tom Zirbel (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
2. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing

General Classification After Stage 3 - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
4. Ian Mckissick (USA) BMC Racing Team
5. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
7. Victor Hugo Pena (USA) Rock Racing
8. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
9. Darren Lill (USA) Team Type 1
10. Jeremy Vennell (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team

Photos: Courtesy Brian Hodes, VeloImages

Bend, Ore. — Rock Racing’s Oscar Sevilla threw down an attack that only Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) could follow on the slopes leading to the Three Peaks Snow Park last Wednesday.

The result was a stage win and the overall lead for the Spaniard at the 30th annual Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic. Rock Racing teammate Francisco Mancebo was third on the day and moved into second overall, 27 seconds behind. Chris Baldwin (OUCH presented by Maxxis) is third, 35 seconds back of Sevilla.

Rock Racing Team Director Laurenzo LaPage said after putting five riders in the 23-man breakaway that decided Stage 1 on Tuesday, it was no accident that Rock Racing was calling the shots again.

“Our plan this morning was to send Victor Hugo Pena or David Vitoria into the breakaway to put pressure on the leaders and that’s exactly what we did,” LaPage said. “ It couldn’t have been more perfect.”

For much of Wednesday’s 80-mile (128 km) race, it looked like Sevilla’s Rock Racing teammate Vitoria was going to be the one climbing the victory platform and displacing yellow jersey wearer Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell Pro Cycling). Vitoria and three others were part of a breakaway that gained as much as a two-and-half minutes lead before being reeled in on the final climb.

“Laurenzo laid out the plan and we did exactly what we had to do,” Sevilla said. “David had a great race and worked very hard in the break. The whole team worked hard. I’m very happy with today’s win and very happy for my team. We feel good going into tomorrow’s time trial and are confident we can hold onto the lead.”

Thursday’s Skyliner’s Time Trial is a 16-mile (25 km) out-and-back humpback course: climbing going out and descending coming back.

Sevilla’s win was his second of the season, following a victory on the second stage of the Vuelta a Asturias in Spain on April 29. It also marks the first time he has led a race in the United States since he wore the yellow jersey at the San Dimas Stage Race in March of last year.

Stage 2 Results - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Peter Stetina (USA) Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin
3. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing

General Classification After Stage 2 - Men
1. Oscar Sevilla Rivera (USA) Rock Racing
2. Francisco Mancebo Perez (USA) Rock Racing
3. Chris Baldwin (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
4. Jeff Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
5. Rory Sutherland (USA) OUCH Pro Cycling Team
6. Matt Wilson (USA) Team Type 1
7. Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) BISSELL Pro Cycling Team
8. Darren Lill (USA) Team Type 1
9. Steve Bovay (USA) BMC Racing Team
10. Chris Jones (USA) Team Type 1

Stevens Doubles Down
There seems to be no stopping the runaway locomotive that is Evelyn Stevens (Webcor Builders). Stevens who normally uses the hilly terrain in New York's Central Park as her training ground proved to be equally adept at hilltop finishes as she would win a two up sprint with Colavita's Cath Cheatley in Three Creeks Snow Park. Kristin McGrath (ValueAct Capital) would take third.

With her second consecutive victory at the 30th Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic, Stevens remains atop the General Classification, with Cheatley now slotting into second and Crissy Ruiter (ValueAct Capital) in third.

Stage 2 Results - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
3. Kristin McGrath (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team

General Classification After Stage 2 - Women
1. Evelyn Stevens (USA) Webcor Builders
2. Cath Cheatley (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
3. Chrissy Ruiter (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
4. Kristin McGrath (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team
5. Katharine Carroll (USA) Team TIBCO
6. Amber Rais (USA) Team TIBCO
7. Stacy Marple (USA) Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
8. Julie Beveridge (USA) Team TIBCO
9. Alisha Welsh (USA) Wines of Washington/bikesale.com
10. Robin Farina (USA) ValueAct Capital Cycling Team

Photos: Carson Blume (top); Bob Cullinan (bottom)