2008 Redlands Classic
April 3-6, 2008
Redlands, CA
Race Report by Kirsten Robbins

COLAVITA/SUTTER HOME MEN’S CYCLING TEAM WINS OVERALL TEAM CLASSIFICATION AHEAD OF TOYOTA UNITED

Stage One (Prologue - The Sun Time Trial, 5 km): The Colavita/Sutter Home Cycling Teams presented by Cooking Light lined up their top-notch squads at the Redlands Classic Sun Time Trial prologue, a five kilometer course battle against the clock that is predominantly up hill. In the men’s race, Tyler Wren was the highest-placed member of the Colavita/Sutter Home men’s team, coming in 19 seconds behind the race leader Rory Sutherland (Health Net) in 11th place. In the women’s race, Aussie Tiffany Cromwell climbed into 8th place just 40 seconds behind the race leader Mara Abbot (High Road). Tiffany’s Colavita/Sutter Home teammates Kristin McGrath and Andrea Dvorak placed 11th and 15th, respectively.
 
Stage Two (The Beaumont Circuit Race, 110/138 km): Sebastian Haedo Takes Second in the Stage
In the men’s race,Colavita/Sutter Home’sSebastian Haedo represented the team’s colors in a winning breakaway of six riders that escaped on the second of five laps. The 2002 world time trial champions Santiago Botero (Rock Racing) attacked the breakaway to take the stage win while Sebastian won the break sprint for second place in the stage. His Colavita/Sutter Home teammates Alejandro Borrajo and Davide Frattini placed 8th and 12th, respectively. In the women’s race, Tiffany Cromwell of the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team proved to be one of the strongest climbers in the field after she made the split of 12 riders who separated themselves from the field over the final QOM climb. Tiffany placed 4th out of a breakaway sprint for the stage.
 
Stage Three (Redlands Criterium, 60/90 min):  Luis Amaran on the Podium in Second; Ties with Sebastian for Lead in Points Competition
In the men’s race, the Colavita/Sutter Home Men’s Team presented by Cooking Light dominated the top 10.  Luis Amaran, the team’s strongman from Cuba,  initiated a breakaway that saw him solo for more than 10 laps before three riders bridged across to form the winning breakaway. After one hour off the front of the 150-rider peloton, Luis took 2nd place in a two-up sprint against Jeff Louder (BMC).  In the peloton barreling down the final straightaway behind him were Anibal Borrajo in 4th place, followed in quick succession by his brother Alejandro in 8th and Sebastian Haedo in 9th.  Luis and Sebastian accumulated enough points to tie for the lead of the point competition’s green jersey.
 
The Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team showed their colors in the top 10 of the women’s race. Newcomer Samantha Schneider picked up 4th place, followed by teammates Nichole Wangsgard in 7th and Shontell Gauthier in 8th.
 
Stage Four (The Sunset Road Race, 105/146 km):  Alejandro Borrajo Wins Final Stage and Luis Amaran Brings Home Green Points Jersey
The men’s field of 150 riders was sharply diminished by the end of the 12 large Sunset circuits.  Among the select group of 30 remaining riders were five Colavita/Sutter Home riders who worked together to execute a perfect lead-out for sprinter Alejandro Borrajo, who took the stage win ahead of Tony Cruz (BMC) and Rory Sutherland (Health Net).  The squad also helped Luis Amaran solidify his victory in the points competition where a hot spot sprint was available during the first five preliminary circuits before venturing out onto the 12 larger circuits.

In the women’s race, Colavita/Sutter Home climbers Tiffany Cromwell and Andrea Dvorak placed 5th and 10th, respectively from a decisive 15-rider front group. Tiffany moved into 6th place in the overall, followed by Andrea in 13th.