March 23, 2004 – Genevieve Jeanson of Team RONA won the prologue and took the lead of the Redlands Classic, held this week in Redlands, in the San Bernardino area in California.  Besides Jeanson, two other RONA placed in the top ten, Katrina Grove in 7th place and Katheryn Curi in 10th place.

Jeanson completed the 5.15-km ascending time trial in 9 minutes 58 seconds, at an average speed of 31.0 km/h. She led American Kristin Armstrong (T-Mobile) by 22 seconds and Canadian Sue Palmer Komar by 25 seconds.

“The pace was a little slower this year than last year, because the wind got stronger as we climbed Mount Rubidoux”, said Jeanson, who will be wearing the yellow jersey at the start of tomorrowís stage. “But I feel good, this year's field is strong, and Iím looking forward to a great week of racing. “

Tomorrow's stage will be an 85-kilometre road race.  The Redlands Classic is made up of six stages, including today's prologue, and will be completed Sunday.

Prologue :  Mont Rubidoux Time Trial Stage rankings and general classification (unofficial) 1. GeneviËve Jeanson (CAN, RONA)5.15 km in 9' 58'' (avg. 31.0 km/h) 2. Kristin Armstrong (USA, T-Mobile) 22″ 3. Sue Palmer Komar (CAN, Genesis Scuba) 25″ 4. Christine Thornburn (USA, Webcor) 31″ 5. Sandy Espeseth (CAN, Victory Breweing) 35″ 6. Lyne Bessette (CAN, Quark) 36″ 7. Katrina Grove (USA, RONA) 37″ 8. Trine Hansen (DEN, S.A.T.S.) 46″ 9. Melanie McQuaid (CAN, Ford) 50″ 10. Katheryn Curi (USA, RONA) 53″

Team RONA (www.teamrona.ca) is a Canadian women's cycling team in the Elite Category recognized by the International Cycling Union. The team is made up of four Canadian racers (GeneviËve Jeanson, Andrea Hannos, Emilie Roy and Erinne Willock), three Americans (Kathryn Curi, Katrina Grove and Anna Milkowski), Israeli Shani Bloch and Australian Helen Kelly. The team has exercised a policy of zero tolerance for banned substances since it was founded in 2000. This policy is explicitly stated in all its contracts.