Redlands Bicycle Classic

USA, March 4-9, 1998


The Stages:

  • Tuesday, March 3, Prologue, Street Sprint 200 metres
  • Wednesday, March 4, Stage 1, Circuit race Women 60 kms, Men 80 kms
  • Thursday, March 5, Stage 2, Time Trial Women and Men, 16 kms
  • Friday, March 6, Stage 3, Road race Women 113 kms, Men 154 kms
  • Saturday, March 7, Stage 4, Criterium Women 60 mins, Men 90 mins
  • Sunday, March 8, Stage 5, Road race Women 100 kms, Men 143 kms

Prologue, Bud Light Street Sprints

Though it was the opening day of the road season, it was a day for a pair of track specialists at Tuesday's Bud Light Street Sprints Prologue at the 14th annual Redlands Bicycle Classic, the first event on the U.S. National Racing Calendar.

Local Johnny Bairos (Sunshine Germany) of Redlands and Nicole Reinhart (Shaklee), Portland, Ore., took top honors in the two-block sprint on State Street in downtown Redlands. Riders in the event were paired side-by-side in the unique prologue which featured BMX-style starting blocks and lights.

"This is great, especially here in front of my friends," Bairos said.

He placed eighth in the qualifying round and then upset top qualifier Greg Walker (Vegas Cycling), San Diego, Calif., in the quarterfinals. Bairos nipped Adam Payne (Cox Atlanta Velo), Conifer, Colo., in the semis before besting fellow Redlands native Derek Bouchard-Hall (Shaklee), Menlo Park, Calif., in the final when Bouchard-Hall had a mechanical problem.

"Most of the people around here know that I'm a track rider, but I was really nervous at the start," said Bairos, who has represented the U.S. in the World Track Cup.

Since Walker had the fastest qualifying time, he will wear the leader's jersey in Wednesday first stage, the 80 kms San Manuel Highland Circuit Race.

Reinhart, a double national champion on the track, qualified first and won comfortably in each of her three 'tournament' rides, beating former Stanford rider Bettina Younge (unattached), Boulder, Colo., in the final. It was the second win in two weeks for Reinhart, who will be doing a bit more road racing with her new Shaklee squad.

"I prefer the track, but I like to sprint any way I can," said Reinhart, who raced at last year's World Track Championships and likened the side-by-side format to the match sprint, one of the two events in which she is national champion.

Reinhart will wear the leader's jersey for the first time in her career in Wednesday's 60 km race.

Men:
 
 1. Johnny Bairos (USA) Sunshine Germany 
 2. Derek Bouchard-Hall (USA) Shaklee
 3. Adam Payne (USA) Cox Atlanta Velo
 4. Armin Rahm (USA) L.A. Wings
 5. Greg Walker (USA) Vegas Cycling

Overall Men:

 1. Greg Walker (USA) Vegas Cycling		13.721 secs
 2. Derek Bouchard-Hall (USA) Shaklee		13.752
 3. Yannick Cojan (Can) Chrysler-Plymouth	14.004
 4. Brian Bosch (USA) American Business Forms	14.009
 5. Adam Payne (USA) Cox Atlanta Velo		14.027

Women:

 1. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Shaklee
 2. Bettina Younge (USA) unattached
 3. Nicole Freedman (USA) Shaklee
 4. Aleka Skouras (USA) Ralphs-Klein
 5. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale

Overall Women:

 1. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Shaklee		14.759 secs
 2. Nicole Freedman (USA) Shaklee		14.951
 3. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale		15.257
 4. Aleka Skouras (USA) Ralphs-Klein		15.269
 5. Brenda Brashears (USA) PowerBar		15.303

Stage 1, Highland Circuit Race

The spotlight at the first stage of the first event of the U.S. National Racing Calendar was stolen by a pair from north of the border as Canadians Alison Sydor (Volvo-Cannondale) and Gord Fraser (Mercury) won the Highland Circuit Race Wednesday at the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Fraser took advantage of a strong team performance to give Mercury its first major win of the season.

"The first big race of the year is always one you want to win," he said. "The whole team was in every move. We’re riding good as a team."

As the 221-rider men’s field neared the 18th and final climb up the hill on Baseline Street in Highland, Fraser took advantage of a strong lead-out by Mercury teammates John Peters, Santa Rosa, Calif., and Julian Dean, Hamilton, New Zealand, to launch himself past Derek Bouchard-Hall (Shaklee), Menlo Park, Calif., and Trent Klasna (Navigators), Pine Valley, Calif., for the win.

Klasna, a teammate a year ago of several of the Mercury riders on the defunct Comptel-Colorado Cyclist team, was leading Bouchard-Hall in the final 50 meters.

"Derek and I were in a full-on battle," Klasna said. "Then Gord just came flying by me."

Still, second was an encouraging finish for Klasna, who ended last season in a salary dispute with his former team.

"I have tons of motivation," he said. "I almost quit from last year, but this is fun again."

Fraser carries a five-second lead into Thursday’s California Speedway Time Trial.

Sydor, the three-time world mountain bike champion, burst past a string of Saturn riders to take the first stage win for the legion of off-road riders dotting the roster at Redlands.

"Saturn had a great lead-out for Karen Kurreck," she said. "Fortunately, I was able to jump on the back and held her off to the finish."

Kurreck, Cupertino, Calif., finished second in this race for the second straight year, followed by defending champion Susy Pryde (Saeco-Timex), Auckland, New Zealand, and Julie Young (Fanini), Auburn, Calif.

For the rest of the 37-mile race, the field was content to stay together, waiting for one of the major teams to initiate a break, but none came.

"The race was pretty controlled today," Sydor said. "It was not such a killer pace."

While Sydor said her main focus at Redlands is to prepare for the World Cup mountain bike opener at the end of the month, she said her Volvo-Cannondale team -- which has some quality road experience -- is eyeing some stage wins. Sydor, who raced with a helmet complete with mountain bike visor, takes a five-second over Kurreck in Thursday’s individual time trial. The time trial will take place on the California Speedway, as riders will round the same track used by Indy cars.

Men, 80 kms:

 1. Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury		     1.52.51
 2. Trent Klasna (USA) Navigators		s.t.
 3. Derek Bouchard-Hall (USA) Shaklee		s.t.
 4. Adam Livingston (USA) 7-Up			s.t.
 5. Kirk Willett (USA) Mercury			s.t.

Overall

 1. Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury		     1.52.50
 2. Trent Klasna (USA) Navigators		0.05
 3. Derek Bouchard-Hall (USA) Shaklee		0.09
 4. Yannick Cojan (Can) Chrysler-Plymouth	0.15
 5. Adam Payne (USA) Cox Atlanta Velo)		s.t.

Women, 50 kms:

 1. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale      1.40.26
 2. Karen Kurreck (USA) Saturn 			s.t.
 3. Susy Pryde (NZ) Saeco-Timex			s.t.
 4. Julie Young (USA) Fanini			s.t.
 5. Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Crescent	s.t.

Overall

 1. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale      1.40.26
 2. Karen Kurreck (USA) Saturn 			0.05
 3. Susy Pryde (NZ) Saeco-Timex			0.11
 4. Nicole Reinhart (USA) Shaklee		0.14
 5. Nicole Freedman (USA) Shaklee		0.14

Stage 2, California Speedway Time Trial

Two different types of comeback kids took top honors at the California Speedway Time Trial Thursday during the second stage of the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Jonathan Vaughters (U.S. Postal Service), Englewood, Colo., and Clara Hughes (Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada, each posted wins that vaulted them into the respective overall leads with three days remaining in the opening event of the U.S. National Racing Calendar.

Vaughters smoked the men’s field, covering the 10-mile course in 18 minutes, 49 seconds, topping Eric Wohlberg (Shaklee), Burlington, Ont., Canada, by 15 seconds as each competitor rode five laps on the two-mile speedway which opened last year. Chris Wherry (Saturn), Boulder, Colo., was a surprising third, 19 seconds behind Vaughters.

Since the riders started from ‘pit row’ with one-minute gaps between them, the unique format found riders together on the course even though they were not necessarily on the same lap, making the course somewhat more challenging.

"You’re weaving in and out a lot," Vaughters said. "You can’t just put your head down and go, that’s for sure."

His performance put the national time trial champion in position to erase the memory of last year’s Redlands Bicycle Classic, when he took the overall lead into the final stage only to be overtaken by two members of his new team, the U.S. Postal Service. This year, Vaughters takes a 15-second lead into Friday’s 101-mile Saturn Loma Linda to Oak Glen Road Race.

"Everyone will be out to get me -- again," he said.

For Hughes, it was a true comeback, as she posted her first win of the year after missing most of 1997 due to severe tendonitis in her right achilles tendon. She led a strong Saturn finish, as the squad placed five riders among the top seven finishers. Hughes won in 21 minutes, 8 seconds, 15 seconds ahead of Mari Holden (U.S. National), Colorado Springs, Colo., and 18 seconds ahead of teammates Karen Kurreck, Cupertino, Calif., and Dede Demet, Boulder, Colo.

"I felt pretty lucky to be out there again," said Hughes, a double bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games. "When something is taken away from you -- anything you can be passionate about -- it really makes you realize how special it is."

She takes a seven-second lead over Kurreck into Friday’s 74.5-mile race. Holden is 14 seconds behind. Last year’s overall champion Susy Pryde (Saeco- Timex), Auckland, New Zealand, is 13th, 1:02 behind Hughes. Pryde’s team won the team title as well last year, but with 23 women within two minutes of the overall lead, the race may be more wide open.

"I don’t think you’ll see just a two-up Saeco-Saturn battle," said Linda Jackson (Saeco-Timex), Napean, Ont., Canada.

Jackson, last year’s Redlands time trial winner, finished eighth, 33 seconds behind Hughes.

Men, 16 kms:

 1. Jonathan Vaughters (US) US Postal	18.49
 2. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Shaklee		 0.15
 3. Chris Wherry (US) Saturn		 0.19
 4. Sean Van Court (US) Shaklee		 0.21
 5. Kent Bostick (US) Shaklee		 0.21

10. Juan Llaneras (Spa) US Postal	 0.36
16. Christian Vandevelde (US) US Postal  0.44
25. Anton Villatoro (Gua) US Postal 	 0.58
30. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal 	 1.06

Overall Men after Stage 2:

 1. Jonathan Vaughters (US) US Postal 2.11.55
 2. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Shaklee		 0.15
 3. Sean Van Court (US) Shaklee		 0.20
 4. Chris Wherry (US) Saturn		 0.22
 5. Kent Bostick (US) Shaklee		 0.22
...
10. Juan Llaneras (Spa) US Postal	 0.35
15. Christian Vandevelde (US) US Postal  0.44
26. Anton Villatoro (Gua) US Postal 	 0.57
30. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal 	 1.06

Women: 

 1. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn 		21.08
 2. Mari Holden (US) US National	21.23
 3. Karen Kurreck (US) Saturn		21.26
 4. Dede Demet (US) Saturn		21.26
 5. Alison Dunlap (US) HealthSouth	21.30

Overall Women after Stage 2:

 1. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn        2.01.50 
 2. Karen Kurreck (US) Saturn		0.07
 3. Mari Holden (US) US National	0.14
 4. Dede Demet (US) Saturn		0.18
 5. Alison Dunlap (US) HealthSouth	0.21

Stage 3, Oak Glen Road Races

After one huge climb, Jonathan Vaughters is much closer to his goal of the Redlands Bicycle Classic overall title.

Vaughters (United States Postal Service), Englewood, Colo., and Julie Young (Fanini), Auburn, Calif., won the Oak Glen Road Races Friday, both in solo fashion, but not without a fight.

Vaughters won by 12 seconds over Australian Cadel Evans (Volvo-Cannondale) after the pair dominated the final 8.6-mile, 2,483-foot climb up to Oak Glen Summit which ended the 95-mile men’s race. After riding under a mix of overcast and clear skies, the competitors were greeted at the top of the climb by a light dusting of snow just above the finish.

"Typically, little skinny guys like me don’t do well in the cold," Vaughters said.

The pair assumed the lead after the field reeled in a seven-rider break powered by Thurlow Rogers (Mercury), Van Nuys, Calif., and Scott Fortner (Saturn), Littleton, Colo. The break included members of all the major teams except Vaughters’ USPS squad.

At the base of the final climb, Vaughters’ teammate Tyler Hamilton, Brookline, Mass., jumped to the front until Evans upped the ante. The world’s second- ranked mountain bike rider hammered the remaining 12 riders until only three - Vaughters, Evans and Chris Wherry (Saturn), Boulder, Colo., were left.

"I was worried about Wherry," Vaughters said. "Then Cadel pulled him off his wheel into a head wind."

Starting the day, Vaughters had a 57-second edge over Evans, so he could afford the let the Australian engine do the work up the climb. Finally, with 1100m to go in the race, Evans cracked and Vaughters went around him for the win.

"It was obvious all he was going to do is follow me up the hill," Evans said. "I did all I could. Vaughters is just so strong."

Wherry hung on for third, 1:22 behind Vaughters, who now holds a 1:14 overall lead over Evans heading into’s Saturday’s Beaver Medical Group criterium, in which 203 riders will start.

In the women’s race, Young posted her biggest win in years as she soloed to victory in the 74.5-mile women’s race. Young, riding without the help of a team, broke away from Pam Schuster (Saeco-Timex), Northridge, Calif., early in the final climb after a group of five which included Young, Schuster, Schuster’s teammate Giana Roberge, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., plus race leader Clara Hughes (Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada, and Julie Hanson (Saturn), Boulder, Colo., had broken away from the field.

The final stretch came down to a battle between Young and her nerves.

"I was losing my composure and starting to get frantic," Young said. "I told myself, ‘Just keep stepping on the pedals. I didn’t even look back."

The ex-Saturn rider is bound for Italy in a week to ride as a teammate of Fabiana Luperini, winner of both the women’s Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.

"This is such a huge confidence boost for me," Young said. "I wasn’t even planning to come here."

Seven riders, including Schuster, Hughes and runner-up Alison Sydor (Volvo- Cannondale), N. Vancouver, B.C., Canada, finished 13 seconds back. Hughes maintained her overall lead, 14 seconds ahead of Mari Holden (U.S. National Team), Colorado Springs, Colo., and 36 seconds ahead of Schuster. Nine riders are within two minutes of the lead.

"We hung on to the (leader’s) jersey," Hughes said. "We didn’t race the race for me, we raced it for the team. It doesn’t matter what back the jersey is on as long as it is one of our backs."

Next up is the criterium. Last year, Hughes’ teammate, Dede Demet, Boulder, Colo., nipped Sydor for the win in that stage.

Men 154 kms:

 1. Jonathan Vaughters (US) US Postal	     3.50.42
 2. Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo-Cannondale		0.12
 3. Chris Wherry (US) Saturn		 	1.22
 4. Levi Leipheimer (US) Saturn			2.18
 5. Tyler Hamilton (USA) US Postal 	 	2.26
...
68. Christian Vandevelde (US) US Postal  	8.08
91. Anton Villatoro (Gua) US Postal 	       11.16
96. Juan Llaneras (Spa) US Postal	       11.16

Overall Men after Stage 3:

 1. Jonathan Vaughters (US) US Postal 	     6.02.22
 2. Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo-Cannondale		1.14
 3. Chris Wherry (US) Saturn		 	1.54
 4. Levi Leipheimer (US) Saturn			2.28
 5. Tyler Hamilton (US) US Postal 	 	3.47
...
52. Christian Vandevelde (US) US Postal  	9.07
73. Juan Llaneras (Spa) US Postal	       12.06
82. Anton Villatoro (Gua) US Postal 	       12.28

Women 113 kms:
 
 1. Julie Young (US) LIE YOUNG (FANINI)      3.26.00
 2. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale		0.13
 3. Sue Palmer (Can) Haro			s.t.
 4. Leigh Hobson (Can) Shaklee			s.t.
 5. Tammy Jacques (US) HealthSouth		s.t.

 Overall Women after Stage 3:
  
 1. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn                5.28.03 
 2. Mari Holden (US) US National		0.14
 3. Pam Schuster (US) Saeco-Timex		0.36
 4. Alison Dunlap (US) HealthSouth		0.48
 5. Leigh Hobson (Can) Shaklee			0.53

Stage 4, Criterium Races

A one-lap penalty changed the face of the women’s race Saturday at the Beaver Medical Group Criterium, the next-to-last stage of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, the opening event of the U.S. National Racing Calendar.

Race leader Clara Hughes (Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada, appeared to have consolidated her overall lead when she initially placed second in the women’s 60-minute criterium. But Hughes was relegated one lap when officials decided that the first of the three ‘free’ laps Hughes was awarded due to mechanical problems was not valid. In the first of two incidents, Hughes ‘rolled’ her rear tire rounding the first turn and nearly crashed. She back-tracked to the ‘pit,’ pausing to put the tire back in place in the process.

"I was running with my bike," Hughes told officials after the race. "I just pulled the tire back on because I wasn’t going to make it."

According to racing rules, a rolled tire is not considered to be a mishap that merits a ‘free’ lap in a criterium, though Hughes was apparently initially told that she would receive a free lap.

"It’s my first crit back -- that’s bike racing," said Hughes, who missed most o

f 1997 due to Achilles tendonitis. Then Hughes’ day got worse. When she returned to the field after the first problem, she crashed on the back side of course, going head first into the fencing and breaking her bike. She received two free laps after that accident before returning to the field and eventually helped her new teammate Karen Kurreck, Cupertino, Calif., win the race. Hughes delivered the lead-out for Kurreck’s win.

"It’s a pretty awesome feeling being on Clara’s wheel two turns from the finish," Kurreck said. "I had the easy job."

Dede Demet, Boulder, Colo., finished behind Hughes, giving Saturn an apparent 1-2-3 finish which would have boosted Hughes’ overall lead to 24 seconds over Mari Holden (U.S. National), Colorado Springs, Colo. Instead, Holden now leads by 22 seconds over Pam Schuster (Saeco-Timex), Northridge, Calif., and 34 seconds over 1996 Redlands champ Alison Dunlap (HealthSouth-Mrs. T’s), Colorado Springs, Colo. Hughes plunged to 11th overall, 2:07 back, after the two-minute, 21-second penalty, the equivalent of a lap.

"That’s not the way I want to get (the leader’s jersey)," said Holden, who finished sixth on the day.

Holden, 26, will have her work cut out for her as she attempts to earn her first major stage race victory. With just the 52-mile Arrowhead Credit Union Sunset Road Race remaining, six riders are within 46 seconds of the lead, including Schuster and teammate Linda Jackson, Nepean, Ont., Canada. Last year, Saeco-Timex dominated the U.S. racing scene and though the squad leads the team overall standings at Redlands, it is yet to win a stage.

In the men’s race, Jonathan Vaughters (U.S. Postal Service), Englewood, Colo., safely held onto the overall lead as Gord Fraser (Mercury), Ottawa, Ont., Canada, won his second stage of the week, jumping away from the 201-rider field on the final lap. Fraser topped Roberto Gaggioli (OilMe-Klein), Vinci, Italy, and Mercury teammate John Peters, Santa Rosa, Calif., over the final stretch. Fraser was alone at the finish, the first time in recent memory the men’s criterium hasn’t finished in a sprint battle.

Fraser credited a lead-out by teammate Julian Dean, Hamilton, New Zealand, on the back side of the course for his win, giving the brand new team a strong start to the season.

"We’re clicking really early," Fraser said. "It seems like we’ve been together a lot longer."

Though Vaughters finished 49th on the day, he maintained his 1:14 overall lead over Cadel Evans (Volvo-Cannondale), Plenty, Vic., Australia, heading into the final, 143 kms Arrowhead Credit Union Sunset Road Race on Sunday.

Men, 90 minutes:

 1. Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury 		    1.30.27
 2. Roberto Gaggioli (Ita) OilMe-Klein		s.t.
 3. John Peters (US) Mercury			s.t.
 4. Mike McCarthy (US) Saturn			s.t.
 5. Greg Walker (US) Vegas Cycling		s.t.

Overall Men after Stage 4:

 1. Jonathan Vaughters (US) US Postal 	     7.32.49
 2. Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo-Cannondale		1.14
 3. Chris Wherry (US) Saturn		 	1.54
 4. Levi Leipheimer (US) Saturn			2.28
 5. Tyler Hamilton (US) US Postal 	 	3.47
...
52. Christian Vandevelde (US) US Postal  	9.07
73. Juan Llaneras (Spa) US Postal	       12.06
82. Anton Villatoro (Gua) US Postal 	       12.28

Women, 60 minutes:

 1. Karen Kurreck (US) Saturn	             1.01.00
 2. Dede Demet (US) Saturn			s.t.
 3. Kendra Wenzel (US) Saeco-Timex		s.t.
 4. Carmen Richardson (US) Volvo-Cannondale	s.t.
 5. Aleka Skouras (US) Ralph’s-Klein		s.t.

Overall Women after Stage 4:
  
 1. Mari Holden (US) US National             6.29.17
 2. Pam Schuster (US) Saeco-Timex		0.22
 3. Alison Dunlap (US) HealthSouth		0.34
 4. Leigh Hobson (Can) Shaklee			0.39
 5. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale		0.40

Stage 5, Road Races, Women 100 kms, Men 143 kms

Mari Holden (U.S. National), Colorado Springs, Colo., and Jonathan Vaughters (U.S. Postal Service), Englewood, Colo., won the overall titles in differing styles as the 14th Redlands Bicycle Classic concluded Sunday with the Arrowhead Credit Union Sunset Road Race.

The final stage events were won by Clara Hughes (Saturn), Hamilton, Ont., Canada, and Trent Klasna (Navigators), Pine Valley, Calif.

After taking over the yellow leader’s jersey amid controversy yesterday, Holden withstood a battle during the 100 kms women’s race. Five riders, from four different teams, were within 46 seconds of Holden in the overall standings, but no one from the potent Saturn squad. Hughes had led the overall standings until officials penalized her one-lap in Saturday’s criterium because her first mishap -- a rolled tire -- did not merit a free lap.

The change meant Holden appeared to be out-numbered on the final day.

"They just kept sending people," Holden said of the Saturn squad. "I had to try to figure out what things to cover."

As Saturn rider after Saturn rider tried to attack, the field was sliced from 86 starters to only 22 who finished with the pack. In fighting the onslaught, Holden did have one advantage since others riders such as Alison Dunlap (HealthSouth-Mrs. T’s), Colorado Springs, Colo., and Pam Schuster (Saeco- Timex), Northridge, Calif., had similar interests in preventing anyone from gaining enough time to change the overall.

Midway through the race, Elizabeth Emery (Saturn), New York, N.Y., and Susy Pryde (Saeco-Timex), Auckland, New Zealand, combined on a breakaway that lasted for 16 before Hughes bridged up and joined them. Emery quickly fell off the break, but Hughes and Pryde continued to pull away.

"It would have been a superb ending if Clara had gotten back the time," Pryde said.

The pair’s lead reached a minute, but since both were over two minutes behind Holden, they could not make up enough time to change the overall picture. Holden had to worry about another threat as Alison Sydor (Volvo-Cannondale), N. Vancouver, B.C., Canada, attempted to bridge with 16.5 kms remaining in the race.

"We were working pretty hard to get her back, and that’s when I blew," Holden said.

Sitting second and third overall, respectively, Schuster and Dunlap worked to prevent Sydor from staying away, keeping Holden’s lead safe and effectively ending the stage race. Hughes went on to beat Pryde for the stage win, her second of the week. The Canadian Olympic medalist finished fourth overall, 37 seconds behind Holden.

"We gave everything we could and you can’t ask for more than that -- except for a few seconds," Hughes said.

In the 143 km men’s race, Vaughters started the day with a 1:14 lead over Australian Cadel Evans (Volvo-Cannondale). Early in the race, a six rider break formed, including past Redlands champion Scott Moninger (Navigators), Boulder, Colo., and two Mercury riders, Roy Knickman, Colorado Springs, Colo., and Dave Clinger, Woodland Hills, Calif. That break stayed away for 60 kms, before the field, powered by Vaughters’ USPS squad, reeled them in.

With about 36 kms to go, Klasna attacked and Vaughters and Evans were able to bridge to him. The three then powered away and entered the final circuit of the course in downtown Redlands with a 30-second lead.

"Vaughters came up, pinched my butt and said, ‘Let’s go,’" Klasna said. "I said, ‘Hey, how’d they get here?"

With the three riders off the front, the stage race was sealed for Vaughters, but the trio continued to push the pace while Clinger led the chase for Mercury. The lead narrowed to 14 seconds on the final lap, but Klasna jumped past the other two riders for the stage win.

"There’s just kind of a sweet justice to it," Klasna said.

Vaughters, who led Redlands last year heading into the final stage only to lose the race, ended up with a 1:09 overall margin over Evans.

"Coming back after having a really difficult time the last time around and then winning it, that’s just absolute ecstasy," Vaughters said.

Men, 143 kms:

 1. Trent Klasna (US) Navigators 	     3.15.41
 2. Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo-Cannondale		s.t.
 3. Jonathan Vaughters (US) US Postal		s.t.
 4. Gord Fraser (Can) Mercury			0.31
 5. Bart Bowen (US) Saturn			s.t.

Final GC Men

 1. Jonathan Vaughters (US) US Postal 	    10.48.25
 2. Cadel Evans (Aus) Volvo-Cannondale		1.09
 3. Chris Wherry (US) Saturn		 	2.30
 4. Levi Leipheimer (US) Saturn			4.04
 5. Tyler Hamilton (US) US Postal 	 	4.23
 6. Trent Klasna (US) Navigators		4.36
 7. Steve Larsen (US) HealthSouth		4.59
 8. Bart Bowen (US) Saturn			5.11
 9. Scott Moninger (US) Navigators		5.24
10. Clark Sheehan (US) Colorado Cyclist		5.35

Other Classifications:

Sprint Jersey:  Julian Dean (NZ) Mercury
Mountain Jersey: Thurlow Rogers (US) Mercury
Team: 1. Saturn 2. Navigators 3. U.S. Postal

Women, 100 kms:

 1. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn		     2.07.23
 2. Susy Pryde (NZ) Saeco-Timex			s.t.
 3. Karen Kurreck (US) Saturn 			1:15
 4. Julie Young (US) Fanini			s.t.
 5. Madeleine Lindberg (Swe) Team Crescent	s.t.

Final GC Women

 1. Mari Holden (US) US National             8.37.55
 2. Pam Schuster (US) Saeco-Timex		0.22
 3. Alison Dunlap (US) HealthSouth		0.34
 4. Clara Hughes (Can) Saturn			0.37
 4. Leigh Hobson (Can) Shaklee			0.39
 5. Alison Sydor (Can) Volvo-Cannondale		0.40
 7. Linda Jackson (Can) Saeco-Timex		0.46
 8. Susy Pryde (NZ) Saeco-Timex			1.25
 9. Julie Young (US) Fanini			1.35
10. Karen Kurreck (US) Saturn 			s.t.

Other Classifications:

Sprint Jersey: Schuster.
Mountain Jersey: Sue Palmer (Can) Haro
Team: 1. Saeco-Timex 2. Saturn 3. Volvo-Cannondale.


Major Participants

US Postal-Service: Jonathan Vaughters, Christian Vande Velde; Anton Villatoro; Tyler Hamilton; Juan Llaneras

Navigators: Scott Moninger; Todd Littlehales; Paul Martin; Adam Laurent; Skip Spangenberg; Patrick Eyk; Trent Klasna

Trek-VW: Andy Bishop; Peter Webber; Travis Brown: Kirk Molday; Rishi Grewal.

Shaklee: Eric Wohlberg; Olin Bakke; Kent Bostick; Derek Bouchard-Hall; Dylan Casey; Sean van Court; Steve Hegg

Colorado Cyclist: Jim Copeland; Clark Sheehan; Colby Pearce; Randy Whicker; Danny Pate

GT: Raul Alcala; David Baker; Marc Gullickson; Jerome Chiotti; Greg Randolph; Josh Thornton; Brad Aucutt

Saturn: Bart Bowen; Chris Wherry; Scott Fortner; Mark McCormack; Mike McCarthy; Levi Leipheimer; Mariano Friedick

Mercury: Thurlow Rodgers; Roy Knickman; Julian Dean; Kirk Willett; John Peters; Gord Fraser; David Clinger

Volvo-Cannondale: Cadel Evans; Jean-Christophe Savignoni; Alessio Di Basco; Andreas Hestler

Oilme: Eddy Gragus; Chad Gerlach; Roberto Gaggioli; Dirk Friel; Chris Fisher

Team Dirt: John Toamc; Bob Roll; Steve Larsen; Roland Green; Thomas Frischknecht; Tim Gould; Ryah Radomski

Atlanta Cox Velo: Adam Payne; John Walrod; Richard Rickie; Craig McLaughlin; Steve Hogan; Ben Sharpe; Brian Whitcomb

Ikon-Lexus: Joseph Lontscharisch; Dirk Copeland; Kirk O'Bee; Zack Conrad; Ernie Lechuga; Steve Klasne; Derrick Wilkerson