Redlands (CA): In today’s longest and toughest stage of the Redlands
Bicycle Classic, Canada’s Roland Green (US Postal Service) edged out
Chris Horner (Prime Alliance) in a strategically textbook race, while
the women’s race was won by Saturn’s Judith Arndt with a monstrous
solo effort. Arndt attacked less than 10 kilometers into the
130-kilometer race and stayed away to the finish, causing a major
shakeup in the general classification.

In the men’s race, an early attack of six riders stayed clear until
the final 2,000-foot ascent to Oak Glen. Their 2-minute advantage was
quickly erased in an attack by race leader Horner, who was pursued by
Green. Saturn’s Soren Peterson bridged the gap to the leaders, where
Green put in a series of attacks that eventually shed Peterson and
left Green and Horner to fight out the stage win. Green jumped in the
final 300 meters to edge out Horner, who looked quite content with
his second place.

Asked about his strategy for the day, Green sounded as though he had
it all worked out. “The breakaway was in check the whole time. If
they had more than 3 minutes then I would have been concerned, but we
kept it in control and had it down to about two-and-a-half minutes
before the climb.”

In the women’s race, everyone seemed to know what Saturn was up to,
but no one expected the day to go as it did. Arndt attacked on the
first little climb, less than 10K from the start and Rona’s Andrea
Hannos jumped right on her wheel. “It wasn’t a plan,” Hannos said.
“She went and I was right there, went with her and sat on.”

The pair quickly gained time, and by the first climb of the day had
over 7 minutes on the peloton. But with 90K still to race, and Arndt
doing all of the work, it still appeared that the chase would mount.
It never did.

“It was a quiet race,” said race leader and last year’s winner
Geneviève Jeanson (Rona Cycling Team). “Nothing was moving (in
reaction to the break).”

To deliver anything quiet was certainly not what Saturn had in mind
for the day. But the outcome of the stage was not exactly planned
either. Winner Arndt commented: “It wasn’t planned to stay away. Once
they caught me, the next (teammate) would go. Geneviève is very
strong, so we have to play games. I just tried to go steady and to
save a little for the climb.”

At the base of the climb, Arndt attacked and was finally able to lose
her shadow Hannos.

Jeanson is now out of the Yellow Jersey for the first time since
stage one of last year and is more than 7 minutes down.

Results Women, Stage 3

1. Judith Arndt (Saturn/GER), 3:51:18

2. Andrea Hannos (Rona Cycling Team/CAN), 3:54:11

3. Geneviève Jeanson (Rona Cycling Team/CAN), 4:01:16

4. Susy Pryde (TalogoAmerica Cycling/NZL), 4:02:43

5. Lyne Bessette (Saturn/CAN), 4:03:02

Individual General Classification after Stage 3, Women

1. Judith Arndt (Saturn/GER), 5:41:11

2. Andrea Hannos (Rona Cycling Team/CAN), 5:47:29

3. Geneviève Jeanson (Rona Cycling Team/CAN), 5:48:48

4. Lyne Bessette (Saturn/CAN), 5:51:23

5. Susy Pryde (TalogoAmerica Cycling/NZL), 5:53:26

Team General Classification after Stage 3, women

1. Rona Cycling Team, 2 Saturn, 3 Cannondale-USA

Results Men, Stage 3

1. Roland Green (Canadian Cycling Team/CAN), 4:17:03

2. Chris Horner (Prime Alliance/USA), 4:17:03

3. Soren Peterson (Saturn/DEN), 4:17:32

4. David Zabriske (US Postal Service/USA), 4:17:34

5. Trent Klasna (Saturn/USA), 4:17:43

Individual General Classification after Stage 3, Men

1. Chris Horner (Prime Alliance/USA), 6:19:31

2. Roland Green (Canadian Cycling Team/CAN), 6:19:52

3. Soren Peterson (Saturn/DEN), 6:20:31

4. David Zabriske (US Postal Service/USA), 6:20:40

5. Trent Klasna (Saturn/USA), 6:20:45

Team General Classification after stage 3, Men

1. Saturn, 2. U.S.Postal Service, 3. Canadian Cycling