By the time the field decimated by rain, wind, cold and non-stop attacking started the short finishing circuits, the stage win for the final stage of the Redlands Bicycle Classic was down to a seven-rider race which included two California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized riders. After a solo flyer, Evan Huffman took second place while Stephen Leece claimed fourth in one of the hardest Sunset Road Race on record.
The two espoir riders, Huffman (22), and Leece (20), were in a small chase group led by the yellow jersey as they entered the first of five wet 1-mile short laps with a solo rider up the road.
“We were just looking for the stage finish, the GC guys were fighting each other to keep it together. We were looking good. They brought back (Francisco) Mancebo on the finishing circuit and Evan put in a solid attack.” explained Leece.
“It was coming through with two to go, the pace went down and I just attacked as hard as I could. I was solo for a little bit, Bevin came across solo, sat on me for one straightaway and then went over the top of me and dropped me right away.” said Huffman who couldn’t close on eventual winner Patrick Bevin (Bissell). “He was definitely the strongest guy.”
Leece played it textbook, sitting on with his teammate on the attack. “I was really happy Evan was up the road. Mancebo jumped early and I wasn’t in a good position to get right on his wheel so I wasn’t able to do it.” said Leece who outsprinted two other riders to finish fourth.
Both Huffman and Leece also jumped up to top 10 overall in the first NRC race of the season. Huffman finished seventh, at 46 seconds down from overall winner Phil Gaimon (Kenda/5-Hour Energy) and Leece, ninth, at one minute and 18 seconds. The California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized team also claimed third in the overall team classification.
Team Manager Anthony Gallino was thrilled with the results on Sunday’s stage. “Sunset is one of the toughest stages of the NRC and you throw in the conditions that were there today, it made just epic. I couldn’t be happier with the way Evan and Stephen, all the guys rode today, they just laid it out there today.”
Under sunny skies but ominous clouds, the race started off hard with the general classification riders fighting for the early time bonus on the first time up the climb in the tough 6.5-mile Sunset loop.
“We went out really hard as expected. The Sunset Loop is pretty much ride out of your mind for the first few laps until we get thinned out quite a bit.” said Leece.
After an early break which included Chris Stastny was brought back, Huffman, Leece and Nate Wilson kept alert in the field while the yellow jersey’s team controlled the front, keeping the next break in check.
Huffman was easily following wheels.“I was feeling good. I followed a few attacks early on but ended up largely playing it pretty conservatively just sitting in the pack for the middle part of the race and then, it started to really slim down towards the end.”
The skies opened up and the field simply blew apart with less than four big loops to go around Sunset. Leece, for one, liked the weather. “The rain was a huge factor today, I think that played a little bit to my advantage, I like cold wet weather so I was happy with that out there. I think that helps me a little bit to keep on with the lead GC guys as they were hammering, they were attacking each other and I was sitting there, either looking for a winning move or looking for what would give me good results on the day.”
With less than two to go, the dwindling field splintered. Huffman and Leece made the front group with Wilson in the chasing group. Attacks continued, dwindling the front group until they raced back to downtown Redlands for the final showdown.
Both Huffman and Leece were obviously happy with their result on Sunday, but both also expressed disappointment with their prologue.
“I was really disappointed with my prologue and kind of still am. I’m capable of a lot more but I’m glad that I raced hard today and I did everything I could to get the best result possible. It was a good learning experience for next time.” said Huffman.
“Overall I think we did really well. We obviously had a strong showing today, obviously with can dice it up with the big guys on these long hard days so it’s really great that Evan was going so strong. Evan and I were able to make all the selection and be up there. I think that it bodes really well for the rest of the season.” said Leece.
For Gallino, it was a good learning experience for the young riders on the squad. “It’s a huge confidence booster for them and it also shows the importance of the prologue, if Evan has a good prologue, he’s fighting for the overall GC. Another great learning experience for young kids and I couldn’t be more pleased with the way they rode today.”
