Bike racing in March in the IE is the focus of the nation with four big events. March 16-17 is the US CUP MTB series at Bonelli Regional Park. Followed the San Dimas Stage Race 22nd - 24th. next weekend is US Cup MT series at Sothridge park in Fontana. The four weeks finish off with the famous Redlands Bicycle Classic Stage Race. April 4th -7th. all these races get pros roadies and MTBers across the USA and some from other nations. Some pros will racing in the upcoming Tour of California or world cups of MTB later in year. All excellent chances for spectating or even racing your self as the US Cups and San Dimas Stage Race is open to locals & non pros as well.
US Cup Bonelli is a course from hardpack to looose fireroads and trails, grass, rock gardens, and some pavement over a 4mi (pros) & 6mi (non pros) courses. Course is on the south of the park at Pinic Valley just west of the 57 freeway at Via Verde. Courses is with lots of short punchy climbs and drops. Racing is rain or shine. Weather has been changing from week to week so course conditions up in the air. It is looking like a good weekend ahead which should make for some good racing to start the four weeks off.
San Dimas Stage Race (SDSR) is final warm up for road pros in the US before going to Redlands that starts the National Racing Calander (NRC) comprised of the big stage and one day road races in the USA. pro teams bring their Redlands line up so plenty of top talent shows up to take on the locals peak event of the year. Friday, the 22nd is the Glendora MT. Rd. 4.25mi uphill ITT as it winds up to the first saddle on the road. Grade hovers between 4% to 6% most of the way with short flat section start and % grades going to 8% in spots. SDSR then moves to Bonelli Park Road Race on the outskirts of San Dimas/La Verne on the 23rd. Rolling hills to flat 7 mi loop around the edge of the park with climb up Cannon Ave over looking downtown San Dimas pushes racers limits more. Stage three moves to downtown San Dimas for a 1 mi. L shaped crit around the City Hall and the homes just north of it. Racing is for beginners to pros (men & women).
Easter weekend is US Cup Fontana at Sothridge Park. The park host many mountain bike events through the year. Fireroads to technical trails await racers with big climbs and descents along the ridgeline. Also on Easter weekend is Ontraio 3 crit just a few miles west. One of the standard California industiral/office park crits.
Last week of the fours weeks is the Redlands Bicycle Classic, kicking of the NRC starting April 4th with ITT at Big Bear. April 5th is Beamount road race loop which replaced Oak Glen with rolling hills and lots of wnd to make racing hard. April 6th at sunset is Redlands Downtown Crit. one the fastest and most tricky in the nation. The 6th is Sunset Loop RR with start and finish in downtown Redlands. The pros start at downtown Redlands and do laps around 7mi Sunset Loop in hills above town before coming into downtown for the finish. While the pro men and women are doing their Sunset Loops, downtown hosts crit racing for local racers. Local racers look forward to this crit every year to show what they got to the pro teams if their team was not one the lucky one or two teams that were allowed to do the stage race. Also for local racers and pros not doing the stage race is Rosena Ranch #2 race. An out and back 4mi loop at Glen Helen. This month is peak for local racers for year hoping to the big win that makes the year and maybe impress the pros for a contract next year.
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