Axeon Hagens Berman Announces Redlands Line-Up

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By Sean Weide
05 Apr 16

The Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team's line-up for this week's Redlands Bicycle Classic includes Neilson Powless, who finished on the podium Sunday at the San Dimas Stage Race.

The third event on the new USA Cycling Pro Road Tour begins Wednesday in Redlands, California, and includes three road races (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday), a time trial (Friday) and a criterium (Saturday).

"You have to be well-rounded and on your game every day," Axeon Hagens Berman Assistant Director Jeff Louder said.

Powless, who was third at San Dimas in his first race with the team, will be joined on a six-man roster by fellow Americans Jonny Brown, Geoffrey Curran, Phil O'Donnell, Justin Oien and Chad Young.

Louder said he will share what he knows from his own racing experience at Redlands. He won the race in 2009 and also helped two teammates take the overall title during a professional career that spanned from 2000 to 2014.

"Redlands is a short race by time, but it is a pretty intense race," he said. "You have to be able to survive the Highland Circuit Race. Then you have to make it up Oak Glen, which is a pretty serious climb. You have to do a good time trial, then survive one of the tougher U.S. criteriums on the calendar, then turn around and race the Sunset Loop. To me, that is one of the harder circuits out there and it could really be a world championship course."

Redlands Bicycle Classic race roster (April 6-10): Riders: Jonny Brown (USA), Geoffrey Curran (USA), Phil O'Donnell (USA), Justin Oien (USA), Neilson Powless (USA), Chad Young (USA). Sport Director: Jeff Louder (USA).

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