REDLANDS, California — The Redlands Classic was held from April 8-12, 2026. We present a stage by stage recap of the pro men’s and women’s races by Rebecca Reza with photos from Brian Hodes, VeloImages.
Stage 1: Brunner, Ehrlich Take Opening Wins at Lake Perris Time Trial
Eric Brunner (Project Echelon) and Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) opened the 2026 Redlands Bicycle Classic with impressive wins Wednesday in the Toyota of Redlands individual time trial at Lake Perris State Park, pulling on the first pro leader’s jerseys of the week.
Pro Women
Ehrlich delivered a dominant performance to win the opening stage and seize the early overall lead, recording her third career victory on the Lake Perris course.
“I love this course,” Ehrlich said. “It’s always hard, it never really lets up, and it just keeps getting more difficult the whole way. That’s why I like it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a solid road block going into a stage race, so it feels really good to come back here and get the win.”
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
Ehrlich expressed excitement about the race’s new terrain in its 40th edition. “It’s exciting because a lot of the courses this week are new to me,” she said. “I feel like something always happens on Sunset, so I think it’s going to come down to that again.”
Jamie Chapman (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) finished second, with teammate Lauren Stephens third. Katherine Rusch (CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group) and Ashley Frye (Competitive Edge Racing) completed the top five.
“I’m super psyched, especially that my teammate Lauren is also on the podium,” Chapman said. “It was a perfect day, with just a light wind — kind of a tailwind on the technical, flowy sections, then a headwind as we came around the lake into the more technical part. I really tried to hit that hill hard and then, after the U-turn, keep the power on and bring it home.”
Chapman arrived in Redlands brimming with confidence. “I’m feeling really good coming into this race. I feel strong physically, and my team is really awesome. We’ve got a great mix of more experienced riders and some young rider contenders, so we have a nice range of strengths. We’re a really cohesive group, and I’m excited to light it up with them over the next four stages.”
Pro Men
Brunner set the fastest time of the day in the men’s race, covering the 11.2-mile course in 21:41 to claim the stage victory. Nathaniel Martin (Speedblock-Terún) clocked 21:48 for second, and Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) rounded out the podium in 21:49.
“It was hard, it was hot, and honestly, I wasn’t feeling great in the warm-up, but I just went out and did my thing,” Brunner said. “The start delay made it a little stressful, but it was the same for everyone, so I just had to see how it played out. With the heat, I shortened my warm-up a bit and just tried to keep it simple.”
He added: “It was a little breezy out there, but definitely easier conditions than last year, so I didn’t notice it too much. It’s a great start to the week. With no big climb this year, I kind of look at Redlands as a series of one-day races, especially with how important time bonuses are, so I think that’s going to matter even more this time around.”
Joseph Laverick (Team Unknown) and Jack Diemar (Kelly Benefits Cycling) rounded out the top five.
Martin reflected on a challenging ride. “I felt like the wind was coming from every direction. We thought it would be one way, but I was hitting headwinds in different sections. Whenever I felt myself slowing down, I just tried to push a little harder and save something for the hill at the end. I kind of died on that last stretch, but I got to the line in a good time. This is my second year racing Redlands, so I’m really happy to improve on last year’s TT result. We’ve got a really strong team for the circuit races and crits, and a good mix of riders who can perform across different stages, so hopefully we can get some solid results throughout the week.”
With time gaps established, the race shifts Thursday to Stage 2 and the debut of the Trek–Hangar 24 Circuit Race. The new course replaces the traditional Onyx Summit road stage due to ongoing road repairs. Multiple intermediate sprints and time bonuses will sharpen competition in both the sprint and GC battles.
Stage 2: TWENTY28 Goes 1-2, Tightens Grip on Women’s GC. Mata Claims the Stage, Brunner Holds Slim GC Lead
Pro Women
Redlands native Ella Sabo led Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 to a one-two finish on Stage 2 of the women’s race, winning ahead of teammate Olivia Cummins, while Skylar Schneider (L39ION of Los Angeles) took third. Sabo crossed the line in 1:39:13 at the end of the 43.2-mile circuit stage, with Cummins second and Schneider third after a speedy race that culminated in a bunch gallop outside Hangar 24 Brewery.
Photo: ©VeloImages
While the stage ended in a sprint, it carried significant GC weight. Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) retained the overall lead with a total time of 2:03:19. Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment teammates Jamie Chapman and Lauren Stephens sat second and third at 39 and 46 seconds, respectively.
The 43.2-mile stage, run over 16 laps of a 2.7-mile circuit, played out on wide, fast roads with four right-hand turns and a gradual uphill finish on Sessums Drive. With no significant climbs and multiple intermediate sprint opportunities, the peloton stayed largely intact, setting up the inevitable bunch sprint. Speedblock-Terún contested the sprint points, but in the final kilometers TWENTY28 executed a textbook lead-out to deliver Sabo to the front in the finishing straight.
Photo: VeloImages / Redlands Bicycle Classic
“The last lap was quick… we talked about it before the race,” Sabo said. “My teammate Emily told me, ‘just follow me,’ and she kept me in position. Rylee took us down the last straight, Marjorie took us down the back straight. It was a whole team effort.”
Despite intermediate sprints at 12, 8, and 4 laps to go and a time-bonus sprint at 6 laps, no breakaway carved out a meaningful advantage on the flat, fast, and windy circuit. Cummins leads the sprint competition. No Queen of the Mountains points were awarded on Stage 2.
Pro Men
Sebastian Mata (Canel’s–Java) sprinted to victory on Stage 2 of the men’s race, edging Carlos Garcia (Olinka) and Luke Elphingstone (Project Echelon) in a fast, tightly contested bunch finish across 64.8 miles of racing.
“I tried to save the most energy for the end, but super happy to take the win,” Mata said. “This was a goal I had on my calendar for the year. It’s been a dream of mine to get a stage win here and this year I did that.”
Photo: ©Veloimages
The Costa Rican rider called the victory one of the most meaningful of his career. “I love Redlands, this is one of my favorite races of the season. I am proud to be part of Canel’s-Java. We always have fans along the road, so I’m really happy.”
The overall standings remained razor close. Eric Brunner (Project Echelon) held the GC lead in 2:30:19, with Nathaniel Martin (Speedblock–Terun Elite) just seven seconds back and Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) eight seconds off the lead.
Garcia came close to delivering Olinka’s sprint plan. “It was our plan for me to go for the sprint and hopefully the win,” he said. “It was a close finish, but in the end, I was not able to pass him.” The team leaned on experienced domestique Ulises Castillo to navigate unfamiliar courses. “We have several riders that are new to these courses, but it helped us finish second place today.”
The stage unfolded as expected across 24 laps of a 2.7-mile course. San Bernardino Avenue offered a slight downhill, while the finish on Sessums Drive rose gradually through sweeping curves, setting up a high-speed run-in that favored a controlled sprint. No breakaway gained an advantage, and the peloton arrived intact.
Brunner navigated the sprint safely to retain the leader’s jersey, with teammate Elphingstone adding a podium. “It was a little harder than I expected. Quite hot, and we knew it was going to be a little bit of a sketchy stage, as any sprint stage is,” Brunner said. “But fortunately, stayed safe and still in yellow — everything went to plan.”
Looking ahead, Brunner flagged the next stage as decisive. “I think tomorrow is going to be the biggest GC day. It’s got quite a bit of climbing and that little gravel sector, so it’s going to pay to be aggressive and race from the front.”
Stage 3: Stephens and Frayre Claim Stage 3, Take GC Leads at Crafton Hills
Pro Women
Lauren Stephens (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) and defending champion Eder Frayre (L39ION of Los Angeles) won Stage 3 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic Friday, each taking victory on the Crafton Hills circuit and reshaping the general classification battles heading into Saturday’s downtown criterium.
Stephens’ win moved her into the overall race lead, where she now sits in 3:52:28, holding an 11-second advantage over stage 1 winner Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28). Jamie Chapman (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) climbed to third at 54 seconds.
Photo: ©VeloImages
Stephens delivered a commanding ride over the 41.4-mile circuit, winning in 1:48:36 after a selective and attritional day that shattered the field in the first lap across rolling terrain. Katherine Sarkisov (CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group) finished three seconds back in second, while Kira Payer (SpeedBlock-Terun Pro Cycling) rounded out the podium at 40 seconds.
“My team did a great job today,” Stephens said. “The plan was to make the race hard after the first QOM, and we executed exactly how we wanted. We ended up in a small break of four with my teammate Jamie and Kat, and then on the next time up the climb it was just Kat and me. It was nice to be up there with a former teammate.”
Stephens committed fully to the attack. “I went all in for the stage win and hoped we could move up in the general classification. The team was incredible, responding to attacks and setting the pace all day. We took it a bit easier yesterday with all the nerves, knowing today was the day to commit, and they delivered. Now we’ll see where that leaves us on GC.”
Grace Arlandson (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) and Cynthia Pham (Analog Racing Team) completed the top five, both conceding 41 seconds to the decisive move. The result further solidified Stephens’ control of the race, with Aegis placing two riders in the top four on the stage and two inside the top three overall. Stephens also leads the Queen of the Mountains classification. Olivia Cummins (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) tops the sprint standings, and Sarkisov holds the best amateur jersey.
Pro Men
In the men’s race, Frayre’s victory boosted him to the top of the GC in 4:35:36. Eric Brunner (Project Echelon) and Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) sit tied in second at one second back.
The 55.2-mile Crafton Hills Circuit Race averaged 26.46 mph before culminating in a reduced sprint. Frayre timed his move to perfection, winning in 2:05:09 ahead of Kent Ross (Cascadia Elite Racing), two seconds back, with Marcis Shelton (Competitive Edge Racing) taking third in the same time as Ross.
Photo: ©VeloImages
“It was a very complicated day, specifically for the GC,” Frayre said. “There were a lot of dangerous riders in the group, so everyone was watching me because they knew this was a day I could make a difference. I tried a few times, but everything was covered, so I waited for the right moment. Lap after lap I looked for the ideal spot, then with about 100 meters to go I went full gas and took the win on my favorite day.”
Frayre had also probed for an earlier decisive move. “We tried to break the race with three or four laps to go, but no one followed — the rhythm in the group was good so I came back, but the right decision was made to stay patient. The GC is going to be very close, down to seconds, but we’re in a good position. There’s still a lot of work to do over the next two days, and we’ll try to defend the lead and keep enjoying it.”
Owen Cole and Julien Ruhe (Kelly Benefits Cycling) followed closely, finishing within five seconds of the winner after a tightly contested finale shaped by the fast descent of San Bernardino Avenue and the grinding rise of Sessums Drive.
Frayre leads overall, with Brunner and Cole just one second behind. Jack Diemar (Kelly Benefits Cycling) sits fourth at nine seconds, and Joseph Laverick (Team Unknown) fifth at 20 seconds off the lead.
Stage 4: Sabo and Brown Win Stage 4 Criterium; GC Battles Tighten
Pro Women
Ella Sabo (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) and Jim Brown (L39ION of Los Angeles) claimed victories in the Stage 4 downtown criterium, presented by Arrowhead Orthopaedics, with both races producing fast, tactical finishes that reshuffled the general classification ahead of the final stage.
Sabo delivered a hometown win in the women’s race, sprinting to victory in 1:14:30 — her second stage win of the week — ahead of Lauren Stephens (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) and Heather Fischer (Analog Racing Team), with the top five credited with the same time.
Photo: VeloImages
“Oh my goodness, it was incredible. That was a hard race,” Sabo said. “People wanted things to get away, but they were always there. The girls just bossed up. I’m just so proud of everybody. They all believed in me again, so it feels so great to pull it off again — and to do it here in front of my family is so awesome.”
Raced over a 1-mile criterium course, the women’s event saw constant pressure from teams probing for a break, but the race held together for a high-speed sprint. TWENTY28 controlled much of the racing, repeatedly closing moves and positioning their leader for the finale.
“They were killers,” Sabo said of her teammates. “After a hard day yesterday, we were feeling it a bit, but we rallied and got it done.”
Following Stage 4, Stephens leads the GC in 5:06:51, holding a 15-second advantage over Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28), with Jamie Chapman third at 1:01 back. Katherine Rusch and Katherine Sarkisov round out the top five at 1:24 and 1:39, respectively. With time bonuses awarding 10, 6, and 4 seconds to the top three, the gaps remain tight heading into the final day.
“Tomorrow will be a battle for sure,” Sabo said. “But I’m glad to do it with this team.”
Pro Men
Brown timed his effort perfectly to win the men’s 1-mile criterium in 1:30:54, outkicking Luke Elphingstone (Project Echelon) and Alejandro Che (Kelly Benefits Cycling), all three credited with the same time.
“Last year, I was second here, and Danny Summerhill just got the jump on me coming into the last three corners,” Brown said. “So I made sure that it was me getting the jump this time. I was first into the last corner and still had enough left to finish it off.”
Photo: ©VeloImages
The men’s race, featuring 185 starters, saw aggressive racing throughout, with Ryan Drummond (Competitive Edge Racing), Michael Garrison (Team Unknown), and Andrew Carr (Voler Factory Racing) escaping in a three-man break. The trio held a gap of up to 25 seconds before the peloton reabsorbed them with fewer than 5 laps remaining, leaving the outcome to a bunch sprint. Carr now leads the points classification for his efforts in the move.
GC leader Eder Frayre (L39ION of Los Angeles) crossed the line in fifth, missing the crucial time bonuses awarded to the top three. Eric Brunner (Project Echelon) crossed just behind Frayre, slipping back into the GC lead after collecting 2 seconds in intermediate time-bonus sprints.
Following Stage 4, Brunner (Project Echelon) leads the general classification in 6:06:28, holding a two-second advantage over Frayre, with Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem) third in 6:06:31 — three seconds off the lead — further tightening an already razor-thin GC battle.
“The main job was to protect our leader,” Brown said. “If it got messy, I was going to start riding as well. The secondary aim was to go for the stage, and that worked out. He came through safe, but I think we may have lost the jersey on time bonuses. We’ll try to get it back tomorrow.”
Stage 5: Sabo and Ross Win Sunset Road Race; Stephens and Frayre Secure Overall Titles
Pro Women
Ella Sabo (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) and Kent Ross (Cascadia Cycling Team) claimed stage victories on the Sunset Road Race as Lauren Stephens (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) and Eder Frayre (L39ION of Los Angeles) sealed their overall titles, bringing the curtain down on a week of tightly contested racing.
Photo: © VeloImages
Rain poured relentlessly over the peloton in cool temperatures as the pro women rolled out for their 68.1-mile finale. Sabo out-sprinted her rivals to earn her third stage victory of the race in 3:03:31, finishing atop a reduced front group after a fast and selective day. Skylar Schneider (L39ION of Los Angeles) and Katherine Sarkisov (CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group) rounded out the podium.
Photo: © VeloImages
Stephens secured the general classification with a total time of 8:10:25, holding off Emily Ehrlich (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) by 15 seconds. Jamie Chapman (Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment) completed the overall podium at 1:08 back, with Katherine Rusch and Sarkisov rounding out the top five at 1:31 and 1:32, respectively.
“I can’t believe I won the Redlands Bicycle Classic,” Stephens said. “This race was so intimidating to me back in 2013, when I first started racing here. I had the chance to wear the yellow jersey but didn’t finish with it. To be here in 2026, wearing the yellow jersey with my team behind me, is just incredible. I’m so excited to be in this position.”
Stephens’ consistency across all five stages proved decisive. She also claimed the climber classification while leading Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment to the team classification title. Olivia Cummins (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) secured the sprint classification, and Sarkisov earned the best amateur jersey.
Pro Men
Ross took the men’s stage win in 3:25:42, emerging from a reduced group to edge Marcis Shelton (Competitive Edge Racing) and Frayre, all three credited with the same time.
The top three in the overall general classification arrived at the Sunset Loop finale separated by just three seconds. Frayre leveraged his experience and climbing prowess to sweep both intermediate time bonuses, and his third-place finish at the line proved enough to defend his overall title for L39ION of Los Angeles.
Frayre became the first Mexican rider to win the overall title when he triumphed the previous season. He celebrated with family and friends who had made the journey from his hometown of Ensenada, Baja California.
Photo: © Veloimages
“The rain made the race hard, but I know what I needed to do,” Frayre said. “I used my full team; I was confident that we got the job done and won again. Winning Redlands for the second time is special to me. When I was a junior this is where I saw professional cycling for the first time in my life, since I live close in Ensenada. Redlands made me love this sport and want to be a professional cyclist. I hope this race shows what I can do and opens the door for the next generation so they can come and race here before jumping to Europe.”
Ethan Dunham (APS Pro Cycling p/b Team Cadence Cyclery) claimed the climber classification, while Andrew Carr (Voler Factory Racing) secured the sprint classification. Owen Cole (Team Winston Salem–Flow) earned best amateur honors, and Modern Adventure Pro Cycling won the team classification.
Final General Classifications
Pro Women
| Pos. | Bib | Age | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | 333 | 40 | Lauren Stephens | Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment | 8:10:25 | — |
| 2 | 311 | 33 | Emily Ehrlich | Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 | 8:10:40 | +0:15 |
| 3 | 334 | 36 | Jamie Chapman | Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment | 8:11:33 | +1:08 |
| 4 | 351 | 29 | Katherine Rusch | CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group | 8:11:56 | +1:31 |
| 5 | 352 | 22 | Katherine Sarkisov | CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group | 8:11:57 | +1:32 |
| 6 | 301 | 27 | Kira Payer | SpeedBlock-Terun Pro Cycling | 8:12:18 | +1:53 |
| 7 | 451 | 21 | Amaia Ervin-Arambarri | TaG Cycling Race Team | 8:12:23 | +1:58 |
| 8 | 348 | 28 | Cynthia Pham | Analog Racing Team | 8:12:31 | +2:06 |
| 9 | 336 | 26 | Grace Arlandson | Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment | 8:12:37 | +2:12 |
| 10 | 472 | 26 | Olivia Reeve | United Cycling Women | 8:12:53 | +2:28 |
Pro Men
| Pos. | Bib | Age | Rider | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | 1 | 35 | Eder Frayre Moctezuma | L39ION of Los Angeles | 9:32:02 | — |
| 2 | 191 | 22 | Owen Cole | Team Winston Salem | 9:32:11 | +0:09 |
| 3 | 124 | 20 | Jack Diemar | Kelly Benefits Cycling | 9:32:20 | +0:18 |
| 4 | 67 | 28 | Eric Brunner | Project Echelon | 9:32:22 | +0:20 |
| 5 | 172 | 26 | Nathaniel Martin | Speedblock-Terun Elite | 9:32:35 | +0:33 |
| 6 | 31 | — | Marcis Shelton | Competitive Edge Racing | 9:32:55 | +0:53 |
| 7 | 11 | 25 | Patrick Welch | APS Pro Cycling | 9:33:01 | +0:59 |
| 8 | 81 | 30 | Kent Ross | Cascadia Elite Racing | 9:33:11 | +1:09 |
| 9 | 53 | 23 | Ian Lopez de San Roman | Modern Adventure Pro Cycling | 9:33:12 | +1:10 |
| 10 | 52 | 24 | Kieran Haug | Modern Adventure Pro Cycling | 9:33:27 | +1:25 |
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