Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 29, 2011) – The 2011 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar is set to get underway this week with the four-day Redlands Bicycle Classic in California, March 31-April 3.

The first of 29 events in the season-long domestic road cycling series, Redlands will give fans a look at the early season form of the nation’s top domestic riders as 27 men’s teams and 15 women’s teams are signed up to toe the line.

Riders to be on the look-out for include 2010 men’s NRC winner, Luis Amaran (CUB/Jamis Sutter Home), as well as riders like Jonathan Cantwell (AUS/Fly V Australia), Ben Jacques-Maynes (Watsonville, Calif./Bissell Pro Cycling), and overall winner at Redlands last year, Benjamin Day (Boulder, Colo./Kenda PB Geargrinder). On the women’s side of competition, 2010 women’s NRC champ, Cath Cheatley (NZL/Colavita Forno D’Asolo), will be a strong competitor, as will riders like Theresa Cliff-Ryan (Colavita Forno D’Asolo), Alison Powers (Pinecliffe, Colo./Team TIBCO-To the Top), Evelyn Stevens (Dennis, Mass./HTC Highroad), Carmen Small (Durango, Colo./Team TIBCO-To the Top), and Mara Abbott (Boulder, Colo./SC Velo-Empower Coaching).

Competition kicks off on Thursday with the 3.1-mile Sun Time Trial prologue for both men and women. On Friday, the racers will take on the City of Beaumont Circuit Race, a 120.5-mile affair for the men and a 72.3-mile contest for the women. Racing will heat up as criterium racing overtakes the city of Redlands on Saturday with a 90-minute race for the men and a 60-minute contest for the women. The Redlands Bicycle Classic will then come to a close on Sunday with the Beaver Medical Group Sunset Road Race, which will see the men take 12 laps and the women go for nine. For more information on the stage race, including course maps, visit the Pro Stage Race page of the Redlands Classic website.

Following Redlands, the 15th season of the NRC will carry on with the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, Ala. on April 9 and the SRAM Tour of the Gila in Silver City, NM, April 27 – May 1. For a complete look at the 2011 NRC schedule, visit USA Cycling’s NRC webpage. When the series ends in early October, overall men’s, women’s, and team NRC winners will be crowned.