The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis brings its stage race squad to San Dimas, CA this weekend for one final tune-up ahead of the NRC season opener in Redlands next weekend.
The three-day San Dimas Stage Race race will provide a good test, offering up an opening 3.7 mile climbing time trial up Glendora Mountain Road into the San Gabriel Mountains on Friday, followed by a hilly, 84-mile road race covered by 12 laps of a seven-mile circuit. The race concludes Sunday with a fast 90-minute criterium in downtown San Dimas.
“San Dimas will be like the last exhibition game before the NFL season starts. It gives us great preparation for Redlands,” said Team director Mike Tamayo. “Both races open with a climbing time trial that suit guys like Rory (Sutherland) and Chris (Baldwin) well. The route for stage 2 lends itself to a lot of attacks. And with no race radios this year, it will mean that everyone has to be attentive and react quickly throughout the stage.”
The final stage, run on a 1.2-mile, mostly flat course, features two long straight-aways, and breaks have been known to get away and stay away on this course, sometimes affecting the outcome of the overall standings.
“The field for San Dimas should be strong,” Tamayo added. “By the end of it, we’ll have a better idea of what to expect in Redlands.”
With the exception of Marc de Maar joining the squad in place of Jonathan Clarke, this will be the roster for Redlands, as well.
The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis for the San Dimas Stage Race, March 19-21 in San Dimas, CA:
Chris Baldwin
Jonathan Clarke
Max Jenkins
Jake Keough
Karl Menzies
Andrew Pinfold
Rory Sutherland
Brad White