Francisco Mancebo (Realcyclist.com) with his overall GC win and yellow jersey.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
The Jamis-Sutter Home team prepares for Vuelta Mexico and Redlands in California(Image credit: Jamis Bicycles)
The final GC podium with Francisco Mancebo (Realcyclist.com) first, Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) second and Chris Baldwin (juwi Solar-First Solar) in third.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
Cole House (Realcyclist.com) looking happy after the win.(Image credit: Jonathan Devich/epicimages.us)
North American professional bicycle racing gets underway at the Redlands Bicycle Classic this week, 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.
Returning champions Francisco Mancebo, riding for the newly-branded Competitive Cyclist team in the men’s field as well as returning women’s champion Amber Neben, representing the newly formed Specialized-Lululemon will both feature in the 2012 event, after dominant peformances last year in Redlands helped set them on the track to strong NRC performances.
Twenty-seven men’s teams will be queuing up to comprise a robust peloton of 200 riders and no fewer than 90 women spread across 12 teams will contest the 2012 race. Bissell, Kenda/5-Hour Energy, Competitive Cyclist and Bontrager-Livestrong bring plenty of quality to the men's field, while the expected battle between Specialized-lululemon and Exergy TWENTY12 in the women's race will also be enthralling to watch.
"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."
Complete List of Teams Competing
Elite men
Bissell Pro Cycling BMC-Hincapie Development Team Bontrager Livestrong California Giant / Specialized CashCall Mortgage Champion Systems p/b Stans No Tubes/CRCA Competitive Cyclist Racing Team RBS Morgans - Altitude Technology Solutions Elbowz Racing Full Circle Cycling p/b Pure Gear Garneau Quebecor Norton-Rose Hagens Berman Cycling Team Jamis Sutter Home Jelly Belly p/b Kenda Juwi Solar Cycling Kenda / 5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder Landis/Trek Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies Simple Green-Bike Religion p/b 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 p/b Cisco
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Elite women
Cynergy Cycles p/b Missing Link Coaching Exergy TWENTY12 FCS / Rouse p/b Mr.Restore MetromintCycling NOW and Novartis for MS Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies Primal / Mapmyride Womens Racing SC Velo- EmpowerCoaching Specialized Lululemon Team Kenda p/b Geargrinders Team Tibco-To The Top Vanderkitten – Focus
