Redlands Bicycle Classic: Ella Sabo and Sebastian Brenes Mata sprint to stage 2 victories on new circuit course

Ella Sabo and Sebastian Brenes Mata claimed victories in the second stage of the 2025 Redlands Bicycle Classic, held on a newly designed circuit course in Redlands, California. Sabo, the reigning US under-23 road champion, edged out her Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 teammate Olivia Cummins in a tightly contested sprint, while Costa Rica’s Mata narrowly defeated Mexico’s Carlos Garcia to take the men’s win. Both races concluded with bunch sprints on a fast, 2.7-mile loop featuring wide roads and minimal corners, which kept the peloton together throughout. The women’s race covered 43.2 miles over 16 laps, with Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 demonstrating strong team tactics to secure their second consecutive stage victory. Sabo credited her teammates for their support in positioning her perfectly for the final sprint, highlighting the collective effort behind her success. In the men’s race, Mata’s win was particularly significant as it marked his first stage victory at Redlands after two previous attempts without a podium finish. He expressed satisfaction at achieving a long-held goal, having carefully conserved energy for the decisive sprint. Despite the stage wins, there were no changes to the overall general classification, with Emily Ehrlich and Eric Brunner retaining their leads in the women’s and men’s races respectively. Sprint competitions saw Olivia Cummins and Roland Meunier take the lead positions, while no King or Queen of the Mountains points were awarded on this flat stage. The upcoming third stage promises a more challenging circuit with a climb on Overcrest Drive, which is expected to encourage breakaway attempts and shake up the race dynamics. The Redlands Bicycle Classic continues to showcase emerging talent and strategic racing, with the new circuit course providing a fast and spectator-friendly format. As the race progresses, riders and teams will need to adapt to the varied terrain and tactical demands, particularly with the introduction of climbing sections in the next stages. Both Sabo and Mata’s wins underline their growing prominence in North American cycling and set the stage for an exciting remainder of the event.