La Verne Stage Race 2022, Stage Two Road Race

 Alright then, let me just say it and get it out of the way, be done with it - Go Gauchos! You know if there is a collegiate race nearby, and anyone travels down from UCSB to compete, well, you know those two words are going to show up somewhere in the race recap. And after all, that collegiate mens 'A / B' race was among the most consistently competitive of the day, the lead group fluctuating between two riders with four chasing right behind, five riders bunched and, ultimately, settling on a selection of four - two Gauchos from UC Santa Barbara, one Trojan of USC, and one Aggie of UC Davis.

I was able to make it over to the course for most of the later morning races, those being the Collegiate Men A&B, the Cat 3/4, and the Masters 40+ and 50+. While that latter race came down to Charon Smith striking a very familiar pose while crossing the finish line, both the Masters and the Cat 3/4, like the Collegiate Mens A/B came down to a fiercely fought competition between a select group of four riders.

Anyway, if you were unaware, and following Fridays' stage one permitting flub and subsequent cancellation, today marked the return of stage racing to the Pomona Valley with the inaugural La Verne Stage Race. Presented by Majestic Cycling, USC Cycling and Incycle, the three-stage race follows the familiar pattern started by the old San Dimas Stage Race, as well as the even older Pomona Valley Stage Race, with an opening day time trial (on Glendora Mountain Road), a stage two road race in and around Bonelli Park, and a third stage circuit race / criterium. 

Not only are most of the regions' major teams competing, so are the national powerhouse teams L39ion of Los Angeles and LUX-CTS, and the juniors Hot Tubes team. Both the mens' and womens' pro fields can boast a roster of riders from across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, including Kendall Ryan, Chloe Patrick, Shayna Powless, Julien Bourdevaire, Eddy Huntsman, Tyler Locke, and the Williams brother, Justin and Cory, to name but a few. Between the varied courses, each presenting its own challenge, and the talent-packed fields of racers, everything (excluding that stage one mix-up) is in place for an envious beginning to what will, hopefully, become a successful annual event.

Gauchos, one and two over the dam

though shut out from the podium at the finish, this rider from UC Davis seemed to be very active, at least along the Puddingstone Drive side of the course

this might be the womens' 3/4 race

a USC Trojan Fighting On!

One Trojan, one Gaucho at the front of the Collegiate mens A/B race

You know, I love it when Michael Fleming spots me and rides over to say hello and talk a bit; he truly is a fount of local racing lore; and he know everyone. We'll be talking and someone will go by and he'll say something like, "there's so and so... he's a real..." or "there's... he's one hell of a..." - I'll leave the blanks to your imagination, and no, they are not all curses, Michael is just as free with the praise of someone's riding talent, as he is with someone's less favorable qualities. If i'm really lucky, someone will stop by to talk to Michael, and I can sit back and just listen to some really good, and probably a few raunchy stories. If you ever have an opportunity to hang out with Michael, do - it is worth it every time.

I apologize for the lack of names / results - I just never did see them posted anywhere. Well, better luck on Sunday, I suppose. Anyway, beside the few photos here, you can find the usual selection of more, 117 in this case, in the album here.

See you Sunday in La Verne. 

One last update: The recap from the stage three criterium can be found here.