The full Sho-Air/Sonance squad lined up for Stage 1 of the Redlands Classic today. Today's stage, the City of Beaumont Road Race looked like it may be difficult on paper. This proved to be true. With small time gaps on the G.C., the action on the front was sure to be fast and furious.

Right from the gun, the pace was high. As the field of 190 hit the first uphill section, a 5 mile rise of 3-5% grades, riders immediately started blowing off the back. Early on, the Sho-Air/Sonance boys hung tough, but the pressure of some of the world's top riders proved to be too much.

As the group hit the 12% kicker at the end of the first long climb, riders at the back of the group began to suffer. Travis Wilkerson, Jason First, and Johnny Rondash were able to stick with the peloton over the climb, while Trevor Mays, Brian Kull, and George Barthel worked with a second group of nearly 20 riders to keep the gap at a minimum.

Although the boys dug as deep into the suitcase of courage as they could, the intensity proved to be just a bit too much on this day.  As the race wore on, the hills and ever incresing wind took their toll. Kull and sprinter Tommy Robles were forced to abandon the race after three laps, while First made it through four. Wilkerson and Mays rode a strong tempo through the fifth and final lap, but finished just outside the time limit.

Full results here.