WomensCycling.net
WomensCycling.net
Race Preview
Team Rona Redlands Classic Preview
California, USA
Click here for Prologue Results Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5/Final GC
Tomorrow
Canadian-based RONA/Esker cycling team will be at the starting line of its third
Redlands Classic. Tuesday through Sunday, a pack of some one hundred women will
be competing in this prestigious annual race near Redlands and San Bernardino,
about 100 km east of Los Angeles.
The
2003 edition of the race will cover 450 km in a prologue and five stages that
take the competitors through all types of terrains: flat, time trial and
mountain. Details of the race are available at the official race website at www.redlandsclassic.com.
The
Redlands was Team RONA’s very first race back in 2001. Geneviève Jeanson took
the competition by surprise by dominating in the general standings, taking the
Queen of the Mountain jersey and winning four of the six stages. Last year, the
team took second and third place with Geneviève Jeanson and Andrea Hannos both
earning a spot on the podium. RONA also won in team general standings.
This
year’s Redlands Classic promises to be especially competitive. Besides
RONA/Esker, Saturn (especially Lyne Bessette and ex-RONA Manon Jutras) and T
Mobile (Kim Bruckner and Mari Holden) are likely candidates for top GC spots.
And this year RONA/Esker has the most solid lineup of its brief history: Karen
Bockel (GER), Andrea Hannos (CAN), Geneviève Jeanson (CAN), Kristen LaSasso
(USA), Magali Le Floc’h (FRA), and Catherine Marsal (FRA).
Tomorrow’s
prologue is a 5-km time trial, climbing up Mount Rubidoux. Last year, Geneviève
Jeanson beat Judith Arndt (absent this year) and Lyne Bessette to take first
place.
Team
RONA/Esker is one of only two Canadian women’s cycling teams in the Elite
Category that are recognized by the International Cycling Union. The team is
made up of four Canadian racers (Geneviève Jeanson, Andrea Hannos, Carrie Tuck
and Erinne Willock), French racers Catherine Marsal and Magali Le Floc’h, New
Zealander Melissa Holt, German Karen Bockel and American Kristen LaSasso.
RONA
is Canada’s leading hardware and home renovation retailer (www.rona.ca).
Esker is a natural spring water from the north of Canada, sold in North
America and Asia (www.eskerwater.com).
The team also receives equipment and service sponsorships from many companies, including Colnago, Biemme, Shimano, Michelin, Mavic, Diadora, Limar, Selle Italia, ITM, Look, CatEye, Tacx, Finish Line, Cane Creek, Saris, Power Tap, Cycles Lambert and Club Médico-Sportif
