38TH BICYCLE CLASSIC NEEDS MARSHALS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR 5 STAGES APRIL 10-14

Several platoons of race marshals provide necessary protection for the riders and race officials as well as spectators, pedestrians and motorists during each running of the Redlands Bicycle Classic presented by San Manuel Band of Mission Indians.

This year’s event is in need of over 300 volunteers to work the five days of competition by pros to amateurs at the various sites, according to John Walker, the event’s Chief Race Marshal.

Included in the volunteers are cadets training to be San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies at the Glen Helen Training Center in San Bernardino. They will perform a community service project and serve as marshals at the City of Redlands Sunset Road Races on Sunday, April 14.

A breakdown of where marshals will be needed during the 38th edition of the Bicycle Classic.

  • Thirty-five marshals for the City of Highland Circuit race for men and women pros with the start-finish line near the intersection of Base Line and Church Street on Wednesday, April 10.
  • Sixty-eight volunteers for the point-to-point race for men and women pros on Thursday, April 11. Half of the volunteers are only needed for the urban part of the race to Onyx Summit with the other half stationed along Highway 38, the mountain highway. The men start their 50-mile ride at San Bernardino International Airport while the women begin their 40-mile ride at Hangar 24 brew pub at Redlands Municipal Airport.
  • Just 15 marshals are needed for the 11.7 mile time trial starting at the Lake Perris State Recreation Area between Moreno Valley and Perris on Friday, April 12. The trials begin at 9:45 a.m.
  • On Saturday, April 13-14, a total of 56 volunteers are needed to provide safety for participants, pedestrians and riders in various events in the vicinity of Citrus Avenue starting at 8 a.m. Walker said there will be two shifts of 28 volunteers each. The Arrowhead Orthopedic Criteriums for men and women will start at 2:15 p.m. Saturday for the women and 4 p.m. Saturday for the men.
  • The climatic event of the Classic is Sunday, April 14, featuring Sunset Road Races for the pros at 10 a.m. Sunday (women) and 2 p.m. Sunday (men). Two shifts of 28 marshals each are needed for various downtown events including a junior criterium, criterium for novice/Cat riders, men masters. A timed Redlands Mile Fun Run and 5K run and family fun walk will take place from 6:45 a.m. to 8:05 a.m.

Area residents interested in volunteering their time for any of these dates should log on to www.redlandsclassic.com and click on volunteers to fill out the application form and submit it. Or email racemarshals@redlandsclassic.com.

“The sooner the better,” said Walker.

Non-profit organizations can earn a donation for volunteering at least 40 hours with ten or more volunteers. Marshals must be 16 years of age and older.

Dave Saputo, who worked the Oak Glen road race in 2022 and 2023, and will be a marshal for this year’s Onyx Summit event, says his experience has been mostly positive with regard to pedestrians and motorists in the area’s he worked along Bryant Street and Sand Canyon Road in Yucaipa.

In one instance, he said, cones had been placed to block entrances along the route and “a few knuckleheads” tried to run over the cones to get to their destination. “When we told them what was going on, they said ‘oh gosh, I didn’t know.”

For this year’s race to Onyx Summit, he will be stationed along Pioneer Avenue in north Redlands. Saputo said overall “it certainly has been a positive experience” serving as a marshal.

A special video designed to provide training for those interested in serving as marshals is now available on the classic website. Click on volunteers and scroll down to the video.

Meanwhile, registration is now open for various racing events. Here are the links.

Criteriums: https://www.bikereg.com/redlands-classic-criteriums

Junior stages: https://www.bikereg.com/redlands-classic-juniors

Pro racers: https://www.bikereg.com/redlands-classic-composite