March 25, 2006 – The second stage of the Redlands bicycle classis took place today on the streets of downtown Redlands. Stage 2 was the notoriously fast, technical criterium. Today’s race was a story of two races in one, the first being the race for the overall leader and the second was the race to win the stage.

In the race for the overall lead it became a battle of time bonuses as Amber Neben (SC Velo) held a one second lead over Lipton’s Kristin Armstrong. Armstrong won the first time bonus of the day and collected three seconds. Before the second time bonus, T-Mobile’s Ina Teutenberg launched an attack that no one could follow and gained an advantage of 10 seconds. Team Lipton went to the front and brought her back setting Armstrong up for another 3-second time bonus.

At this point teams and riders started to shift their attention to the second race with in the race, that being for stage honors. With four laps to go Teutenberg once again put in a blistering attack which was immediately covered by Colavita Cooking Lights Sarah Tillotson with teammate Tina Pic in tow. Colavita then kept the pace high with work from Dotsie Bausch and Sima Trapp.

With one lap to go it was three Lipton riders on the front, followed by Pic and Tuetenberg. Fans were treated to an exciting finish as they leaned over the fencing to get a glimpse of who would round the final corner in first. It was Colavita Cooking Light’s Tina Pic followed by T-mobile’s Tuetenberg, with Pic able to hold off the current World Cup Leader for the win. In third position was Lipton’s fast finisher, Laura VanGilder.

Tomorrow riders will face nine laps on the demanding Sunset Road circuit were the final general classification will be determined.

Redlands Classic stage 2
1. Tina Pic (Colavita Cooking Light)
2. Ina Teutenberg (T-Mobile)
3. Laura VanGilder (Lipton)

General Classification after stage 2
1. Kristin Armstrong (Lipton)