Guesting as a US Postal rider, rather than his official Trek / Volkswagen
team, Canadian World Championship Silver medallist Roland Green stormed to a
5 second win in the opening time trial of the Redlands Classic Road Race.

The climbing, technical city centre course obviously suited Green, who was
invited on to the team after he demolished USPS leader Armstrong in the 1999
MT Snow MTB race, prompting Lance to comment “We have to get this guy on the
road, he’s by far the strongest one out there.”
Now he’s moved from GT to Trek, it seems Lance has been as good as his word,
and released Roland’s road potential.

Other mountain bikers using the tarmac to start their 2001 season included
Cannondale’s Cadel Evans (9th) Alison Dunlap (GT) who took 4th in the women’s
event and Britain’s Caroline Alexander (Specialized) who placed 10th. Top British male rider
was Charley Wegelius, now racing for Mapei, who started his season with a
respectable 18th place. The WCPP MTB team are also taking part with 18 year
old Liam Killeen taking 58th, while coach Gary Foord led by example to come
in 90th, well ahead of the rest of the team.

We’ll keep you informed of any more thrills, spills or gossip through the
rest of the 5 day selection of road stages, criteriums and time trials, so
watch this space.