When the Tour of California comes to Big Bear Lake in May for the stage 5 time trial, US domestic riders will be in familiar territory. For the past three years, half of the 24.2km course for the California stage has been used in the Redlands Bicycle Classic.
The Tour of California time trial starts in the heart of Big Bear Village – which sits at about 2,050 metres of elevation – on the south shore of the lake, then travels 5km through a winding residential neighbourhood before crossing over to the lake’s north shore and onto the 12.5 km out-and-back Redlands route.
The course travels along the lake to the small town of Fawnskin, then reverses direction and heads back to Big Bear Village on essentially the same route as the first half of the trip.
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Domestic riders have had three opportunities to cover the north shore section of the route on closed roads and at race pace. But whether that previous experience will provide the them with a home court advantage depends on who you talk to.
“Heck yeah it does,” said Tom Zirbel (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies). “That’s three times at race pace, and over there with the twisty turns, that’s the most technical part of the whole course, so that’s going to give me confidence. It’s definitely going to help, especially for a rider like me. I need to know my limits.”
Zirbel has won the Redlands time trial for two consecutive years, most recently on Thursday, when he covered the 12.5km route in 15:02, six seconds slower than his 2014 time. Before Thursday’s Redlands race, he had a chance to ride the section of the route that will be used for California.
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