The first stop of USA Cycling’s Pro Road Tour finished as strongly as it had started for Rally UHC Cycling with Sara Poidevin claiming second from the breakaway on the final stage of the Redlands Bicycle Classic. Megan Jastrab collected the field sprint for fourth and Krista Doebel-Hickok won the Queen of the Mountain Competition en route to finishing fourth place overall.

Despite competing with the team for the first time this season, the defending Amgen Tour of California Best Young Rider, Sara Poidevin, arrived in Redlands with the legs to challenge for the stage win on the infamous Sunset Loop.

“I am disappointed to miss out on the stage win but I gave it a good shot,” said Poidevin. “Overall it was a good day and a great week for the team. Everyone rode super well, we had strong communication and made decisions together on the road that kept us in contention for the GC and stage wins each day.”

Redlands was the first race since Kelly Catlin’s passing and the team came together in more ways than one. Kirsti Lay, Emma White, Erica Allar, director Joanne Kiesanowski, CFO Meagan Hazzout, and managing director Charles Aaron all traveled in to offer their support to the riders competing.

Instead of holding back and reacting on stages two and three, the team went on the offensive. Abby Mickey and Gillian Ellsay forced the breakaway on both stages while their teammates rode safely in the peloton. That advantage led to a stage win for Megan Jastrab on the Highland Circuit and victory on the queen stage up Oak Glen Rd for Krista Doebel-Hickok.

“Through hard times you see the character of the people around you,” said Team Director Zach Bell. “These women showed what they are made of and what they mean to each other this week. I knew this level was possible but not under these circumstances. It just confirms to me the value of our whole organization and the people in it.”

The team’s next stop will be the Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, AK from April 4 – 7. Sara Bergen will look to improve on her stage win and triple-podium appearance from 2018.

Stage 5 results
1 Erica Clevenger (Sho-Air TWENTY20) 2:53:23
2 Sara Poidevin (Rally UHC Cycling)
3 Lauren Stephens (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) 0:00:02
4 Megan Jastrab (Rally UHC Cycling) 0:00:53
5 Leighann Ganzar (Hagens Berman/Supermint)
6 Jasmine Duehring (Sho-Air TWENTY20)
7 Simone Boilard (Sho-Air TWENTY20)
8 Emma Grant (Sho-Air TWENTY20) 0:00:55
9 Krista Doebel-Hickok (Rally UHC Cycling)
10 Alice Cobb (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) 0:00:57

Final General Classification
1 Amber Neben (Trek Red Truck Racing p/b Mosaic Homes) 9:02:34
2 Lauren Stephens (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) 0:00:39
3 Emily Newsom (Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank) 0:01:00
4 Krista Doebel-Hickok (Rally UHC Cycling) 0:01:07
5 Emma Grant (Sho-Air TWENTY20) 0:01:21
6 Simone Boilard (Sho-Air TWENTY20) 0:01:36
7 Jasmine Duehring (Sho-Air TWENTY20) 0:01:37
8 Sara Poidevin (Rally UHC Cycling) 0:01:47
9 Leighann Ganzar (Hagens Berman/Supermint) 0:01:55
10 Erica Clevenger (Sho-Air TWENTY20) 0:02:06

Queen of the Mountain competition
1 DOEBEL-HICKOK, Krist Rally UHC Cycling 25
2 NEBEN, Amber Trek Red Truck Racin 21
3 MARCOLINI, Emily Team TIBCO – Silicon 17
4 WILLIAMS, Lily Hagens Berman / Supe 16
5 POIDEVIN, Sara Rally UHC Cycling 15
6 NEWSOM, Emily Team TIBCO – Silicon 15
7 CLEVENGER, Erica Sho – Air TWENTY20 15
8 ELLSAY, Gillian Rally UHC Cycling 14
9 STEPHENS, Lauren Team TIBCO – Silicon 12
10 GRANT, Emma Sho – Air TWENTY20 12