Travis McCabe (SmartStop Pro Cycling) finished just behind Haedo, and Mara Abbott (Team Wiggle Honda) was edged out for second as both races came down to bunch sprints.
Mia Manganello (Visit Dallas Cycling p/b Noise-4-Good), of Albuquerque, N.M., said her team is looking forward to keeping the momentum going after a big general classification win at San Dimas the weekend before. She said Wednesday’s circuit race had “one heck of a hill.”
“The whole team rode really well including Beth Ann, who was caught in a crash early in the race,” Manganello said. “Fortunately, she was able to get back on her bike and make the time cut for her favorite race tomorrow, the time trial. We were happy to finish the race with two girls in the top 10.”
Manganello’s teammates, Amber Neben, who won San Dimas, and Flavia Olivera are less than 10 seconds from the yellow jersey and are looking to make up some time Thursday’s Big Bear Time Trial, she said.
Manganello said her team has high hopes in California and knows it’s going to be a rough ride to the top, “but we’re up for the challenge.”
Although most riders didn’t know it during the race, a fellow competitor, Erica Greif (ZOCA-Halo Sports), 24, of Reno, Nev., was tragically killed in a car accident late Tuesday while driving to the the race. Riders, including Greif’s teammates, were in shock when they heard the news, and the stage race likely will take a somber tone as her fellow riders mourn the loss.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of our bike racing community,” Manganello’s team said in a statement on their Facebook page. “Our hearts are with the friends and family of this young woman, Erica Greif.”