Redlands is one of the biggest US stage races of the year. This was my first American stage race and my first pro-level bike race. It was on my radar from the year before and was one of my goals for the season. It was not straightforward to get there.
I started racing road more in 2023 and was working my way up the USA Cycling, USAC, categories. Everyone starts in category 5 and the highest is category 1. To upgrade, a rider needs to earn upgrade points at USAC races. Upgrade points are based on the rider's placement and the number of starters in the race. For example, if a rider places 3rd with a field of 60 people they would receive 7 points. Category 4 doesn't require points, category 3 needs 20 points, category 2 needs 30 points, and to get to category 1 a rider needs 35 points. The points reset when you get to the next category so in total a rider needs 95 points to be a category 1 racer. Redlands is a pro race where you either have to be on a pro-level team or a domestic elite (category 1).
The journey to the start:
During 2023, I was able to become a category 2 and start 2024 with 2 points towards my cat 1. Redlands is in the beginning of April so this left me 3 months to earn enough points. From the end of January to the middle of March, I raced almost every weekend completing 9 races. Going to each race while taking a full ME course load and working on a research project was a battle on its own, but I also needed to perform at each race if I was going to earn enough points. On top of this, during this time, my team was only given 6 spots whereas most teams get 8 spots. We already had 6 guys to go so for me to go, we needed the race organizers to give us more spots.
Going into the last weekend of two criteriums, Cat's Hill and Santa Cruz Classic, before Redlands, I needed 6 points. Each field had 60 guys so I needed at least a 4th place on one of the days or two top 7 placements. These are the biggest Norcal crits of the season where our team was focused on winning. This meant I couldn't ride to just try to get my points. I needed to help out my teammates with controlling the race and setting up our lead guy for the finish.
Cat's Hill is a short course that has a steep, short climb each lap. In the hour of the race, we do it over 20 times. My role for this race was to conserve for the first half, help with controlling the field for the second half, and then hopefully lead my teammate into the final climb on the last lap. This meant I would have a chance to score points by riding hard to the finish after leading my teammate out. The first half went to plan, I hid in the pack and tried to save my legs as much as possible. I wasn't feeling super great, but I imagined no one was since the hill is so brutal. I noticed that we had little representation near the front of the race and our team leader was isolated. A little earlier than planned, I went to the front of the race to help out. There were about 10 laps left until the end. Soon after I got to the front, a dangerous rider from the other big team attacked up Cat's hill. I was in position to follow so I went full in on following his move. Together we got a gap on the field, but it cost both of us a lot. After a lap off the front, one of the favorites bridged up to us and then proceeded to attack us up the climb. I gave it everything I had to follow his move. I stayed close but there was a gap over the top of the hill. The field reacted strongly to his move and closed down the gap. My team leader shot across to us, but I was too gassed to do anything. I was absorbed by the peloton and just tried to not go off the back. There were only a few laps left and not enough time to recover. My race was over. Luckily, my team leader was able to win the race so as a team, we succeeded. One chance left.
Santa Cruz Classic Criterium is a technical course with a shallow climb each lap to the finish. It starts with a downhill fish hook corner before a shallow fast downhill section. The night before, after Cat's Hill, I started to have some doubt in my abilities. Even though this was my 9th race of the season, I had lots of stress and nerves. Similar to the day before, my role was to conserve until late in the race and then help my team leader in the last couple laps.
To start the chaos off, on the second lap, a firetruck emerged onto the course to help with an emergency occurring at a house on the course. This delayed the race by about 30 min. I didn't bring enough food, I'm losing my intensity, my legs feel stiff. The internal excuses started to build. Eventually, we started again. A couple laps in, my teammate was taken out in the fish hook as I barely avoided the crash.
Finally, we got to the final couple laps. I fought my way close to the front. An attack went, I followed but this time it didn't cost me as much. After we were brought back, I was able to stay closer to the front. Going into 1 lap to go, I sprinted up the left side to move up toward the front where one of my teammates was on the front. As I got side by side with a racer from the competing team, he hurtled towards me, elbowing me to the side. I was confused about what was going on and looked back which he then did it again. I stayed in control of my bike and continued to fight towards the front before the last time through the fish hook. I got through it in okay position but much further back then I needed to be to help my teammate. Into the final corner before the long uphill drag to the line, I found a gap on the long side of the corner in the gutter by the curb. I accelerated hard into the gap, slid up through the group, and then gave it everything I had to the line. As I pushed forward, I felt incredibly strong and I new this was my chance. I passed a few riders, a rider broke his pedal, the same one that was bumping me, and I had clear air to finish. At the line, I ended up 4th, exactly where I needed to be for my last 6 points. Category 1 was achieved.
You can watch the full race highlights on the NorCal Cycling YouTube channel here. The last lap and a half which I talk about above starts at 10:00 in.
Later the next week, I got word that a team had dropped out from Redlands and that we were receiving 2 more spots.
The final factor in me getting to the start was school. Redlands took place during the second week of the spring quarter, from Wednesday to Sunday. This meant I would need to miss Tuesday, traveling to the race, and get back on Monday morning. I was prepared to do this since I knew this kind of experience would be worth the difficulties missing class would bring. During registration for the quarter, I purposefully put all my labs on Monday which are the hardest to make up. I still think it was worth it in the long run, but 8 hours of class on Monday got quite painful later in the quarter. I was not able to do much school during the week so it was close to me just getting a week behind on lectures and homework. Not sure if I truly ever caught back up with more far-away races and the research I was working on. All in all I made it through with a good understanding of the material which my grades may not reflect, homework is worth a lot in the gradebook!
I drove up Tuesday Morning with frenemy Mattheus, arrived at the questionable house we were staying at around noon, met up with teammates for a course preview of the stage 3 time trial, did some openers, drove around stage 1, chipotle for dinner, team meeting, and then to bed on the camping sleeping pad I brought, quickly replaced for sleep 2 with an air mattress.
Making it to the race felt like I had already won after months of racing, training, planning, luck, and uncertainty.
Stage 1 - Highland City Circuit Race
Air temperatures were over 90 °F which on course can mean over 100 °F. I'm not particularly great in the heat combined with the extremely strong field and hilly technical circuit meant this was going to be a battle. My race manager had given the first-time Redland racers free reign to just try to learn what it is like to race at this level. My plan was to always be trying to move up, save energy, and not crash out or be time-cut. To be able to race the next day, a racer needs to make it past the time cut which for this circuit was in laps. It was about halfway for this stage, the race organizers take you off course if you are dropped off the back of the peloton.
I started in the 2nd third of the group which I felt fine with as it seemed less intense. We started at the top of the hill so immediately we were flying down the descent above 45 mph, slamming on brakes and leaning into the first corner. With the nerves I had, I was overreacting to gaps, accelerating and then having to hit my brakes. The race started very fast, and, quickly, I was on my limit. I fought to stay in the group, sometimes making up places but then losing them after making a mistake. After halfway, I was just barely on the back of the group where I had to match the pace of the leaders on the climb. This didn't last long and I was soon off the back with a few of my teammates. I was disappointed to be dropped so early but happy that I made it to the next day.
Stage 2: Onyx Summit Road Race
(wip)
