<figure ><img title="11082180_859410294123994_2277983004016688845_o" src="http://cdn.velonews.competitor.com/files/2015/04/11082180_859410294123994_2277983004016688845_o-320x201.jpg"/><p>Mara Abbot (LA Sweat) rode her way into the overall lead at Redlands in stage 3, ahead of Amber Neben (Visit Dallas-Noise) and Allie Dragoo (Twenty16-Sho-Air). Photo courtesy of Twenty16-Sho-Air.</p></figure><p>Phil Gaimon (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Mara Abbott (LA Sweat) won stage 3 of the Redlands Bicycle Classic, and with that, each took over the yellow jersey in their respective races on Friday.</p>
<p>As the men’s field took to the circuit, early break attempts by smaller squads were neutralized by a charging field working to keep the race contained. </p>
<p>Eventually a group of two with riders, Efren Flores (KHS-Maxxis-JLVelo) and Travis Samuel (H&R Block), held up to a minute advantage on the peloton on the last lap of the circuit, but were brought back by an organized chase between Silber Pro Cycling and Jelly Belly. </p>
<p>As the race ascended to Oak Glen, many short-lived attacks came off the front of the lead group and were quickly reabsorbed. By the midway point, only 11 riders remained, with pre-race favorites Gaimon, Chris Horner (Airgas-Safeway), Lachlan Morton (Jelly Belly), and Emerson Oronte (AltoVelo-SeaSucker) all in contention. </p>
<p>But, it was former overall winner Gaimon who would take the day, distancing his fellow climbers as the race reached one kilometer to go. He would charge to the finish with a 12-second advantage on teammate Michael Woods, who came across the line with Gavin Mannion (Jelly Belly) at the same time. The resulting overall classification shake-up puts Gaimon into a relatively comfortable 31-second advantage over Mannion in the GC, who sits in second. Following closely behind is youngster Adrien Costa (Cal Giant-Specialized) at 38 seconds back. </p>
<h2>Abbott claims stage and overall lead</h2>
<p>The women’s race was marked by hard racing from the gun, with Alizee Brien (Tibco-SVB) driving an early solo breakaway. She managed to drag her lead to well over a minute on the rolling circuit around Crafton Hills before finally coming back to the fold on the 4.5 mile-long finishing ascent to Oak Glen. </p>
<p>The lithe climbers hit the front, with Mara Abbott (LA Sweat) eventually shedding her companions at the finish in Oak Glen Village, coming in ahead of Amber Neben (Visit Dallas-Noise4Good) and Allie Dragoo (Twenty16-Sho-Air). </p>
<p>The general classification standings now mirror today’s stage finish, with Abbott holding 22 seconds on Neben and 45 on Dragoo.</p>
<p>The Redlands Bicycle Classic stage race continues with Saturday’s stage 4 criterium, a 60-minute race for women, 90-minutes for men. <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/live-2"target="_blank">Watch live coverage on VeloNews.com</a>. The women’s race begins at 2:30 p.m. PDT; the men will race at 4:30 p.m. PDT.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/road/gaimon-and-abbott-******-redlands-lead-on-stage-3_366156">Gaimonand Abbott ****** Redlands lead on stage 3</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com">VeloNews.com</a>.</p>
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<p>As the men’s field took to the circuit, early break attempts by smaller squads were neutralized by a charging field working to keep the race contained. </p>
<p>Eventually a group of two with riders, Efren Flores (KHS-Maxxis-JLVelo) and Travis Samuel (H&R Block), held up to a minute advantage on the peloton on the last lap of the circuit, but were brought back by an organized chase between Silber Pro Cycling and Jelly Belly. </p>
<p>As the race ascended to Oak Glen, many short-lived attacks came off the front of the lead group and were quickly reabsorbed. By the midway point, only 11 riders remained, with pre-race favorites Gaimon, Chris Horner (Airgas-Safeway), Lachlan Morton (Jelly Belly), and Emerson Oronte (AltoVelo-SeaSucker) all in contention. </p>
<p>But, it was former overall winner Gaimon who would take the day, distancing his fellow climbers as the race reached one kilometer to go. He would charge to the finish with a 12-second advantage on teammate Michael Woods, who came across the line with Gavin Mannion (Jelly Belly) at the same time. The resulting overall classification shake-up puts Gaimon into a relatively comfortable 31-second advantage over Mannion in the GC, who sits in second. Following closely behind is youngster Adrien Costa (Cal Giant-Specialized) at 38 seconds back. </p>
<h2>Abbott claims stage and overall lead</h2>
<p>The women’s race was marked by hard racing from the gun, with Alizee Brien (Tibco-SVB) driving an early solo breakaway. She managed to drag her lead to well over a minute on the rolling circuit around Crafton Hills before finally coming back to the fold on the 4.5 mile-long finishing ascent to Oak Glen. </p>
<p>The lithe climbers hit the front, with Mara Abbott (LA Sweat) eventually shedding her companions at the finish in Oak Glen Village, coming in ahead of Amber Neben (Visit Dallas-Noise4Good) and Allie Dragoo (Twenty16-Sho-Air). </p>
<p>The general classification standings now mirror today’s stage finish, with Abbott holding 22 seconds on Neben and 45 on Dragoo.</p>
<p>The Redlands Bicycle Classic stage race continues with Saturday’s stage 4 criterium, a 60-minute race for women, 90-minutes for men. <a href="http://velonews.competitor.com/live-2"target="_blank">Watch live coverage on VeloNews.com</a>. The women’s race begins at 2:30 p.m. PDT; the men will race at 4:30 p.m. PDT.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/04/news/road/gaimon-and-abbott-******-redlands-lead-on-stage-3_366156">Gaimonand Abbott ****** Redlands lead on stage 3</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://velonews.competitor.com">VeloNews.com</a>.</p>
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