At 10:40 a.m. Pacific Time today, the first rider will roll off the start line of the opening prologue of the Redlands Classic, the 3.1-mile Sun Time Trial, marking the beginning of the USA Cycling National Racing Calendar series competition. In 2009, Team TIBCO won the overall NRC team competition, and one of the goals for 2010 is to race to the top once again.

The Team TIBCO/To the Top roster for Redlands will include five members from the squad that took on the San Dimas Stage Race last weekend, including U.S. national road champion Meredith Miller, whose efforts in the final stage last weekend moved her up to 6th overall, as well as Rebecca Much, winner of the U25 category last weekend. They're joined by versatile Kiwi Joanne Kiesanowski, Amanda Miller and Australian Emma Mackie.

Two other riders will make their 2010 major-race debuts in Team TIBCO/To the Top kit. Stage race specialist Kristen LaSasso will be one of the team's leaders, while Alison Starnes, who helped the U.S. National Team win five stages and the overall title of the Women's Tour of New Zealand in February, will bring her powerful engine to the Redlands squad.

The team's standout sprinter, 2008 national road and criterium national champion Brooke Miller, rounds out the squad. She'll be focused on stage wins, in particular the criterium on Saturday.

"We have a very well-rounded, experienced roster for Redlands," notes team directeur sportif Emma Rickards said. "Most of our riders know this race very well. With no race radios this year, their experience will be critical to succeeding in this race, particularly during the two road race stages Friday and Sunday."

The four-day Redlands Classic opens today with a 3.1 mile climbing time trial. The hilly, 68-mile Beaumont Circuit Race follows on Friday. Saturday serves up a technical 60-minute criterium in downtown Redlands. The race concludes Sunday with the challenging, 68-mile Sunset Loop Road Race.

Notes:
Redlands also serves as the opening race in the Women's Prestige Series.

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Team TIBCO/To the Top for the Redlands Classic, March 25-28:
Joanne Kiesanowski, NZL
Kristen LaSasso, USA
Emma Mackie, AUS
Amanda Miller, USA
Brooke Miller, USA
Meredith Miller, USA
Rebecca Much, USA
Alison Starnes, USA