PELOTON SURE HAS WHITTLED DOWN FROM WHEN WE STARTED THERE WERE UNDER 100 RIDERS WHEN WE STARTED AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE THERE NOW BUT IT'S NOT 100 THAT SPEAKS TO HAUGH HARD -- HOW HARD THE RACE HAS BEEN.

>> WE FIND RA SAN.

>> WE'RE HERE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL MOUNT VERNON WE HAVE THE MONUMENT HERE.

TWO RIDERS ARE OFF THE FRONT RIGHT NOW.

55 HAD BEEN OFF THE FRONT BY HERSELF FOR A WHILE AND SHE GOT A PARTNER AND THE PELOTON IS ONLY 20, 25 SECONDS BEHIND.

THIS HILL IS NOT THAT STRENUOUS BUT IT IS A TIGHT RUN IN.

THERE IS A SHAH CANE BEFORE THEY COME UP THE MOUNTAIN VERNON HILL.

AS I SAY THAT THE MAIN PELOTON ABOUT 25 SECONDS BEHIND IS NOW STARTING TO WORK UP THE MOUNT VERNON CLIMB AND WE HAVE CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO ON THE FRONT FOLLOWED BY EF EDUCATION-OATLY FOLLOWED BY CYNISCA AND THE REST OF THE PELOTON WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT PACK NOT DWIDLED DOWN THAT MUCH AND THEY HAVE ONE MORE TIME COMING AROUND THIS MOUNT VERNON HILL.

>> THAT WAS A SHORT TIME AGO WHEN THEY ROLLED THROUGH HE HAD THE PERFECT FRONT ROW SEAT TO WATCH THESE TWO LEAD THE WAY.

THEIR GAP HALF A MINUTE.

CHRISTIE AND HENGEVELD AND DANICK HENGEVELD PACING THE EF RIDER AT THE MOMENT HERE ON THIS THIRD OF THE FOUR LAPS.

WE'RE UNDER 30 MILES LEFT TO GO.

SECOND HALF OF THE RACE TWO MORE CLIMBS FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN COMPETITION.

AND OF COURSE, WE WILL HAVE TWO MORE SPRINT POINTS.

AND REMEMBER, YOU HAVE CHRISTIE WHO BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT SHE WAS OUT FRONT BY HERSELF AT THE PREVIOUS LAP IS LEADING THE INTERMEDIATE SPRINT COMPETITION AS WELL.

SHE IS LEADING THE SPRINT COMPETITION, THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS AND LEADING THE RACE AS WELL WITH DANICK HENGEVELD.

>> YOU CAN SEE THEM LOOKING AT EACH OTHER WHEN THEY ARE STARTING TO FEEL LIKE YOU'VE DONE MY JOB ARE YOU GOING TO HELP?

AND TYPICALLY, IF ANOTHER RIDER IS NOT PUTTING PRESSURE ON YOU TO PULL THROUGH AND HELP AT THIS POINT YOU DON'T.

YOU WANT TO WORK TOGETHER.

BUT IT IS A FINE BALANCE BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH ENERGY YOU WANT TO BE SPENDING LESS ENERGY THAN THE RIDER YOU ARE WITH.

THEY WILL DO A STRONG PULL AND LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDER AND BE LIKE HEY ARE YOU GOING TO HELP A LITTLE BIT HERE?

THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON.

BUT THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER VERY WELL.

>> AND CAN GET DICEY WHEN YOU THINK OF THE TACTICS SOME RIDERS IF THEY HAVE SPECIFIC TEAM ORDERS FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR THEIR TEAMMATES BEHIND THEM, IF THEY ARE HARBORING AMBITIONS FOR THE REST OF THE TEAM PACK IN THE PELOTON SOMETIMES THEY WILL NOT PULL AT OBVIOUSLY.

IT DEPENDS WHAT THE TACTICS ARE AND WHAT THEIR TEAM IS HOPING TO GET OUT OF THE RACE.

>> YEP.

TEAM STRATEGY THAT TAKES PRECEDENT EVEN IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING EXCITING OR YOU FEEL LIKE DOING TO SHINE IN THE RACE, TOO BAD.

IT'S A TEAM SPORT.

>> THIS IS HARBOR EAST ADJACENT TO HARBOR POINT.

AND PART OF THE REVITALIZATION OF THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

THIS IS WHERE WE STARTED THE RACE TODAY VERY CLOSE TO WHERE THE RACE WILL FINISH.

AND THE HARBOR IS SPECTACULAR ON THIS BRIGHT, SUNNY EARLY SEPTEMBER SATURDAY.

IT IS A GORGEOUS SETTING NOW.

AND THIS IS AT THE INNER HARBOR THE COAST GUARD CUTTER PART OF SEVERAL SHIPS IN THE ARBOR YOU HAVE A SUBMARINE THAT DID 10,000 DIVES FOR THE U.S. NAVY.

ALL PART OF THESE TOURS YOU CAN GO ON.

YOU HAVE THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

AND YOU CAN COME DOWN, GET A TICKET, TOUR ALL OF THE BOATS AND SEE THE AQUARIUM THIS IS A GORGEOUS SETTING HERE RIGHT AROUND THE HARBOR.

AND THE RIVER.

THAT FUNNELS INTO THE HARBOR HERE IN CENTRAL BALTIMORE.

>> BALTIMORE'S SUCH A COOL PLACE I TOURED ONE OF THE SHIPS FROM COVID GUARD FROM 1936 AND MOST OF THE FITTINGS ARE ORIGINAL THERE WAS FUNKY STUFF.

>> WHAT WAS THE FUNKEST THING?

>> BOXES OF COOKIES FROM THE 1960s LEFT ONBOARD.

AND PACKS OF GUM.

>> WERE THEY OREO DOUBLE STUFFED.

I DIDN'T KNOW I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THEM.

>> YOU DIDN'T TAKE A BITE?

>> NO, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY.

>> THIS IS HARBOR EAST LOOKING BACK TOWARDS THE INNER HARBOR TO THE LEFT AND WHAT A TERRIFIC EPICENTER THIS IS FOR THIS RACE.

FOR THE MEN IT WILL BE THE THIRD EDITION AND THIS IS THE FIRST-EVER WOMEN'S EVENT.

AND THIS IS AN EVENT THAT PERSEVERED UNLIKE SO MANY OTHERS IN U.S. CYCLING OVER THE YEARS T HAD TO BE CANCELED TWO TIMES BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE A YEAR AGO.

BUT IT IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER IN 2025.

>> HATS OFF TO THE ORGANIZERS AND TO THE CITY OF BALTIMORE FOR MAKES THIS HAPPEN.

U.S.A. HAS BEEN THE PLACE WHERE THE MAJORITY OF TOP RACES HAVE BEEN IT'S HAD AN EXCELLENT CALENDAR AND THAT CREATED SUCH A PLACE WHERE STRONG TEAMS AND RIDERS CAN DEVELOP TO PERFORM ON THE INTERSCENE.

EVENTS LIKE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC ARE A HUGE DEAL FOR CYCLING.

>> AND THIS MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST SPORTS WEEKEND ALL YEAR IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE THIS RACE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST ONE-DAY PROFESSIONAL BIKE RACE IN THE COUNTRY, YOU HAVE THE BALTIMORE RAVENS TOMORROW NIGHT AGAINST JOSH ALLEN AND THE BILLS IN BUFFALO.

AND THE DODGERS ARE IN TOWN TAKING ON THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES WHO WALKED THEM OFF LAST NIGHT AT CAMDEN YARDS WHICH IS HALF A MILE WEST OF THIS INNER HARBOR.

AND TONIGHT YOU HAVE AT THE ORIOLES DODGERS GAME THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF CAL RIPKEN BECOMING BASEBALL'S IRON MAN PASSING LOU GEHRIG FOR GAMES PLAYED.

TOP THAT FOR A SPORTS WEEKEND ALL HERE THIS WEEKEND IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

>> WE'RE LUCKY TO BE HERE AND IT IS COOL THAT CYCLING IS PART OF THIS SPORTS WEEKEND.

>> MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC AND THESE ARE PEOPLE HERE GATHERING AT THE FINISH WHERE IN YEARS PAST THEY HAVE HAD 20,000 LINING THE BARRICADES.

AND THEY WILL BE HERE LATER ON FOR THE WOMEN'S FINISH AND THE MEN'S RACE IT IS A FULL DAY OF RACING.

THE WOMEN KICKING OFF AT 8:30 AM AND THE MEN WILL FINISH PAST 4:30 PM THIS AFTERNOON.

>> YEAH, THE WOMEN HAD TO GET UP EARLY TO START THE RACE AND THE ADVANTAGE THEY GET THE BEST WEATHER THERE MIGHT BE RAIN SHOWERS IN THE AFTERNOON THAT THE MEN WILL HAVE TO NAVIGATE.

BUT THE WOMEN ARE HAVING BRIGHT SUNNY SKIES.

A LITTLE OVERCAST NOW BUT NICE AND WARM AND NO RAIN AT ALL.

>> OKAY.

SO THE TWO LEADERS HENRY CHRISTIE AND DANICK HENGEVELD ARE ON FALLS ROAD A POPULAR AND DISTINGUISHED ROAD HERE IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

AND ON THEIR WAY TO THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB.

AND COULD BE A DECISIVE CLIMB FOR CHRISTIE WHO COULD LOCK UP THAT COMPETITION IF SHE HANGS ON AND GETS THERE.

THE THIRD TIME UP THE CLIMB TODAY.

CHRISTIE AND HENGEVELD OFF THE FRONT AS THEY APPROACH THE LINE.

CHRISTIE IF SHE SCORES FULL QM POINTS SHE WILL HAVE THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY IN THE BAG.

WE'LL SEE IF DANICK HENGEVELD LETS HER GO FOR IT.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED SHE DOES.

THE ONLY REASON DANICK WOULD HAVE THE REASON TO SCOOP UP THE POINTS IF SHE HAD A TEAMMATE GOING FOR THE JERSEY.

BUT IF I WAS IN HER POSITION I WOULD LET HENRIETTA GO FOR IT SO I COULD SAVE EXTRA ENERGY.

IT COSTS A LOT TO DO THAT EFFORT AND GET A SPRINT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE THE FIRST OVER THE LINE.

>> IF HENGEVELD GOES FOR IT, WHAT IS THE THE?

IF YOUR TEAMMATES AREN'T IN THE COMPETITION THERE'S NO SERIOUS MOTIVATION AND IT'S MORE BAD WILL YOU IMPART ON THE RIDER YOU ARE COMPETING AGAINST.

IF YOU ARE JUST DOING IT TO MAYBE BE SELFISH OR TO PREVENT THEM FROM WINNING IT.

BUILDUP CAPITAL IN TERMS OF THE GOODWILL AND THE SPORTSMANSHIP AND CHRISTIE WILL BE GOING FOR IT NONE THELESS AND WHAT A CHANCE SHE COULD LOCK IT UP WITH ONE MORE CLIMB LEFT TO GO AND THAT'S MORE STRESS OFF HER PLATE FOR LATER ON IN THE RACE.

AND IT'S FOUR POINTS IF YOU'RE FIRST OVER THE CLIMB.

AND SHE'S BEEN FIRST EACH OF THE LAST TWO TIMES SO FAR HERE TODAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND IT FEELS SO GOOD TO ALREADY HAVE A WIN IN THE BANK BEFORE THE FINISH OF THE RACE ACTUALLY HAPPENS.

SO IF SHE IS ABLE TO GET THOSE POINTS AND SECURE THE JERSEY THIS TIME THAT WILL BE A GOOD FEELING FOR HER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

20 SECONDS IS THE LEAD.

CHRISTIE AND HENGEVELD JUST OVER 25 MILES LEFT TO GO.

>> DANICK HENGEVELD AND CHRISTIE HAVE A SOLID GAP GOING UPHILL RIGHT NOW.

THE PELOTON DOESN'T HAVE AN ADVANTAGE OVER THEM IN TERMS OF DRAFT AND AEREO DYNAMICS THEY HAVE TO PUT OUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF POWER RIGHT NOW.

>> WELL, THIS IS OUT ON THE ROADS AROUND BALTIMORE.

BUT BACK NEAR THE FINISH AREA YOU HAVE THE MERCH TENT AND ANYTHING YOU WOULD WANT TEAM JERSEYS, T-SHIRTS, COW BELLS, WATER BOTTLES YOU CAN FIND IT OUT.

THE MERCH IS ON DISPLAY HERE NEAR THE FINISH AREA PART OF THE FAN ZONES THAT THEY HAVE LINED UP.

I GET THAT SIZE RIGHT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

LARGE?

FOR OUR BOY?

>> YEAH.

I'D SAY LARGE LOOKS LIKE HE LIKES A LOOSE FIT.

>> MAYBE EXTRA LARGE IT IS A TOUGH CHOICE THE FITTING ROOMS ARE AROUND THE CORNER, SIR.

>> YOU KNOW THE EVENT DID HAVE A REALLY GOOD SPONSOR APPAREL SPONSOR.

SO I THINK THAT THE T-SHIRTS ARE PRESHRUNK THEY WILL NOT GIVE SURPRISES THROUGH THE DRYER.

>> COOL STUFF.

THIS IS A ONE-DAY RACE AND ONLY COMES AROUND ONCE A YEAR.

SO TO GET THE LATEST MERCH ALWAYS A FINE PIECE OF CLOTH TO HANG IN THE CLOSET.

SO THEY ARE ON THE CLIMB BIG MOMENT FOR THE RIDER IN PINK THERE.

HENRIETTA CHRISTIE AVERAGING 7% THERE IS A SECTION OF 8% HALF A MILE LONG.

CHRISTIE LEADING THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION SHE HAS BEEN IN THE POINTS EACH TIME IF SHE GETS MAXIMUM POINTS SHE WILL WIN QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS FOR THE DAY.

FOUR POINTS FIRST FIRST ACROSS AND TWO POINTS FOR SECOND AND ONE POINT FOR THIRD.

>> THEY ARE PACING EACH OTHER UP THE CLIMB RIGHT NOW.

DANICK IS NOT GETTING AN ADVANTAGE TO BE SITTING ON HENRIETTA'S WHEEL BUT SHE WILL BE RIDING OUT AND PUTTING OUT ENOUGH POWER TO MAINTAIN A DECENT PACE TO GO FOR THE POINTS.

LOOKS LIKE THEY WILL SWAP OFF RIGHT NOW AND TAKE TURNS.

ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE LIKE VIRTUAL TEAMMATES THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS IN STAYING AWAY FROM THE PELOTON IN MIND.

SO THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER REALLY WELL.

>> THEY ARE CALLING IT 30 SECONDS YOU CAN SEE THE FIELD IN THE BACKGROUND THERE.

>> THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS ON A HILL THEY ARE GOING SLOWER THAN ON THE FLAT.

IT COULD BE A TRUE 30 SECONDS.

BUT MAYBE IT'S LESS NOW.

MAYBE IT'S GETTING CLOSED UP.

>> LATINX LEX WOULD THIS BE A SCENARIO WHERE CHRISTIE AND HENGEVELD TALKED ABOUT THIS I WILL LET YOU HAVE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS OR CHRISTIE ASKED DO THEY DISCUSS IT OR SILENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?

>> SOMETIMES THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED IF THIS WAS A SITUATION THAT WAS LIKE SUPER, SUPER IMPORTANT TO HENRIETTA THEY WOULD DISCUSS IT.

THEY PROBABLY JUST KNOW IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING DANICK KNOWS HENRIETTA IS GOING FOR IT.

>> SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

CHRISTIE IS GOING TO GO.

AND HENRIETTA CHRISTIE IS GOING TO WIN THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION HERE IN THE FIRST EVER EDITION OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC FOR THE WOMEN'S FIELD.

>> THERE WE GO.

THERE'S STILL QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS UP FOR GRABS ON THE NEXT LAP SHE HAS ACCUMULATED SO MANY POINTS THAT THE REMAINING ONES AREN'T ENOUGH FOR ANYBODY TO PASS HER IN THE COMPETITION SHE HAS THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY IN THE BACK AND A FIRST VICTORY FOR EF EDUCATION-OATLY BEFORE THE FINISH HAPPENS.

>> SHE HAS 12 POINTS NOW TOTAL IN THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS THE FINAL TIME UP THE CLIMB ON THE LAST LAP SHE CANNOT BE CAUGHT IN THAT CATEGORY.

>> NOW LET'S SEE WHO WILL GO FOR THE SPRINT POINTS.

SHE ALSO HAS FULL SPRINT POINTS BECAUSE SHE WAS OFF THE FRONT OF THE PACK AS THEY CROSSED THE START-FINISH LINE EARLIER ON.

LET'S SEE IF SOMEBODY ELSE IS GOING TO GO FOR THOSE POINTS.

I CANNOT IMAGINE SHE IS GOING TO TRY TO GET BOTH JERSEYS.

>> AND IT'S GOING TO BE A FURIOUS SPRINT AT THE END OF THE RACE IF THERE IS A LARGE GROUP TOGETHER.

AND THAT ASSUMES A SMALLER GROUP DOESN'T GET AHEAD OF THAT GROUP.

SO A LOT CAN CHANGE HERE.

BUT THEY HAVE ONE JERSEY IN THE BAG THAT IS A HUGE VICTORY FOR THE EF EDUCATION-OATLY SQUAD.

AND HENRIETTA CHRISTIE AND HOW MUCH GAS SHE HAS LEFT IN THE TANK.

[INAUDIBLE] LOOKS LIKE THE FIELD IS CLOSING IN.

>> AND SHE IS RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS SHE IS PRESSING THE BUTTON OF THE RACE RADIO IN HER RIGHT EAR SHE HAS AN EARPIECE WHERE SHE CAN HEAR THE DRIVER OF THE CAR THAT IS FOLLOWING AND GIVING HER RACE INSTRUCTIONS AND SHE HAS A MICROPHONE TUCKED INSIDE THAT SHE ACCURACY VACCINATES BY PRESSING THE BOTTOM.

I WONDER WHAT SHE IS SAYING.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE?

>> THE TEAM DIRECTOR IS PROBABLY ASKING HER HOW SHE IS FEELING AND GIVING HER THE OPTION TO STAY IN FRONT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SHE IS SLOWING UP BUT SOMEBODY WAY BACK THERE IS TRYING TO BRIDGE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

SHE IS LOOKING BACK.

SO SHE KNOWS THAT THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO CLOSE THE GAP.

THERE SHE GOES TALKING TO THE DIRECTOR AGAIN.

>> AGAIN THIS IS THE THIRD OF FOUR LAPS IT'S LARGELY DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE END OF THE LAP IN THE INNER HARBOR OF BALTIMORE.

>> IT'S TOUGH TO MAINTAIN A GAP OVER A PELOTON OR A GROUP OR A DESCENT BECAUSE OF THE ADVANTAGES THEY HAVE AS A BUNCH THEY WILL GO FASTER THAN A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL RIDER.

SHE IS GOING TO GET ABSORBED BACK IN THE PELOTON AND HER JOB IS TO GET IN BE A PART OF THE DRAFT AND SAVE AS MUCH ENERGY AS POSSIBLE TO BE AN ASSET TO HER TEAMMATES THE THE END.

>> OTHER RIDERS AND TEAMS ARE LOOKING AROUND AND THE QUESTION IS: WHO'S GOING TO GO?

WHO MIGHT LAUNCH AN ATTACK AND SET THE PACE AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD?

>> SO WE STILL HAVE CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO ON THE FRONT SETTING THE PACE EVEN THOUGH THE SELECTION IS ALTOGETHER NOW.

YOU SEE ANOTHER EDUCATION FIRST RIDER ALLISON JACKSON TALKING ON HER RADIO GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE TEAM CAR.

>> YOU ARE AT THE POINT OF THE RACE OVER HALFWAY THROUGH IT, THIRD OF FOUR LAPS WHERE ANYONE ONE MOVE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE THE KEY DECISIVE HOFF OF THE DAY.

YOU WANT TO BE ATTENTIVE TO OTHER RIDERS WHO MAY LAUNCH THAT MOVE AND AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU ARE ONE OF THE RIDERS THINKING ABOUT MAKING THE MOVE YOU HAVE TO ALSO PICK YOUR SPOTS WISELY, DECIDE WHERE YOU WANT TO ATTACK.

BECAUSE YOU MAY ONLY GET ONE BITE AT THE APPLE IT MAY NOT WORK YOU MAY USE TOO MUCH ENERGY AND THAT MAYBE THE END OF YOUR RACE.

YOU HAVE TO BE VERY SELECTIVE IN CHOOSING IF YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT KEY MOVE.

>> YEAH.

IT IS A FINE ART.

IT IS A FINE ART TO TIMING ATTACKS AND MOVES AND YOU DON'T WANT TO WAIT TOO LONG BECAUSE YOU ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME TO MAKE THE MOVES.

AND YOU ALSO DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH ENERGY TOO EARLY AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T HAVE THE CHOICE.

OTHER TEAMS ARE ACTING AND ATTACKING BEFORE YOU DO, THEN YOU'RE STUCK FOLLOWING AND GOING ALONG WITH THEIR STRATEGY.

>> IT WOULD BE HARD TO ATTACK SOMEWHERE LIKE HERE ON A DOWN PILL EVERYBODY'S AT PACE IT WOULD BE HARD TO GET AWAY.

IF YOU ARE THINKING AHEAD TOWARDS THAT FINAL LAP AND THE END OF THIS CURRENT LAP, WHERE WOULD YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOVE?

>> YOU WANT TO MAKE THE MOVE WHEN PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.

TOUGH SPOT WHERE PEOPLE ARE GOING HARD IF YOU'RE FEELING PAIN IN YOUR LEGS IF IT'S TOUGH TO BREATHE THEN IT'S TOUGH FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, TOO AND THAT IS THE TIME TO MAKE IT TOUGHER.

PEOPLE WILL SECOND-GUESS THEMSELVES SO IT'S LIKE HAS A PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT JUST AS MUCH AS PHYSICAL AFFECT WHEN YOU ATTACK IN THOSE MOMENTS THAT A GOOD SPOT ON THE UPHILLS AND IN TECHNICAL AREAS WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO KEEP SPEED THROUGH TIGHT CORNERS OR THE COBBLES.

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN YOUR BIKE HANDLING SKILLS ATTACKING BEFORE A TECHNICAL SECTION IS A BRILLIANT IDEA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CLOSING IN ON THE FINAL 20 MILES.

AND THE END OF THE THIRD LAP HERE AT THE WOMEN'S EDITION OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

EVERYONE LARGELY TOGETHER HERE.

SO FAR TEED THROUGH THE FIRST THREE LAPS WE'VE HAD SOLO MOVES.

WE'VE HAD A GROUP OF TWO RIDERS BRIEF GROUP OF THREE EARLIER IN THE DAY.

NO LARGE BRAKE FORMING IN THIS RACE.

SURPRISED THAT A BIG GROUP DID NOT GO UP THE ROAD A MINUTE OR TWO?

>> I'M NOT SUPER SURPRISED BUT WE'RE SEEING A RACE SELECTION THE PELOTON DWINDLED DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND THAT IS WHAT THE EFFECT OF THE BRAKES THAT DID GO AWAY CHASED DOWN THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF ENERGY AND THE CHASE GROUPS AND THE PELOTON WERE HAVING TO GO AT HIGH SPEEDS TO REEL IN THE RIDERS OFF THE FRONT.

EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN'T STAY AWAY THE BREAKAWAYS DID ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING BY TIRING OUT KEY PLAYERS IN THE RACE.

>> HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DOES HAVING THIS RACE AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT IN THE SEASON MAKE?

IT'S OBVIOUSLY AT THE TAIL-END.

YOU ARE STARTING TO GET INTO THE FALL.

FATIGUE HAS BUILT UP.

HOW ABOUT THIS PLACE ON THE CALENDAR AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE IMPACT OF THE RIDERS?

>> YES, ONE OF THE LAST RACES OF THE SEASON ANYBODY WHO DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE A CONTRACT FOR NEXT YEAR OR PEOPLE LOOKING TO GET A BETTER CONTRACT, ARE LOOKING TO SHOW THEIR COLORS.

IT IS LIKE ONE OF THE LAST CHANCES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IS COMING UP IN A COUPLE WEEKS IN RWANDA BUT NOT ALL THESE RIDERS WILL BE GOING BECAUSE THE SELECTIONS ARE STRICT AND LIMITED.

COUNTRIES ONLY EARN A NUMBER OF SPOTS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST CHANCES FOR THE RIDERS TO SHOW THEIR STUFF AND MAKE A MARK AND CATCH THE ATTENTION OF TEAMS THAT MIGHT SIGN THEM FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> PRETTY STEADY.

BUT MEASURED PACE IN THE GROUP RIGHT NOW.

AFTER 50 MILES.

WHAT IS A 72-MILE RACE OVERALL.

>> WE SEE SOME RIDERS HOLDING UP BOTTLES LOOKING TO GET FEEDS FROM THEIR CAR.

>> THIS IS WHERE THE RIDERS ARE RIGHT NOW HEADING BACK DOWN SOUTH TOWARDS THE START OF WHAT WILL BE THE FINAL LAP HEADING NORTH ON THE OUTBOUND PORTION OF THE COURSE AND BACK SOUTH AFTER THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB.

>> AND THIS TIME ACROSS THE FINISH LINE RIDERS WILL BE GOING FOR SPRINT POINTS AND THERE IS NO BREAK AWAY.

POINTS AREN'T GOING TO BE SCOOPED UP LET'S SEE HOW THE GROUP REACTS TO THE LINE COMING UP AND SEE WHAT THEY DO.

WHO WANTS THESE SPRINT POINTS?

>> THE SPRINT COMPETITION IS TRICKY BECAUSE FOR THE LAST FEW TIMES, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THE FIELD MAYBE GOING THROUGH TOGETHER AND THEN AT THE VERY LAST TIME, IT WILL BE THE SPRINT FOR THE VICTORY IN THE RACE ITSELF.

SO IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT FOCUSING ON THE SPRINT COMPETITION THAT IN SOME WAYS CAN BE FOLDED INTO THE OVERALL TACTICS OF WINNING THE RACE.

>> YEP.

YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

EVERY TIME YOU GO FOR A SPRINT YOU ARE SPENDING MATCHES IN NO MATTER HOW STRONG YOU ARE GOING FOR A SPRINT IT'S GOING TO COST YOU ENERGY AND THAT WILL BE ENERGY YOU WILL NOT HAVE AT THE END FOR THE FINISH.

>> MIGHT BE A CASE WHERE YOU CAN'T ISOLATE THE SPRINT COMPETITION THE WAY THEY COULD FOR THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS AND GO FOR THAT.

IT MIGHT BE A BONUS AS A PART OF TRYING TO WIN THE RACE ITSELF.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

I WOULD BE A TEAM PRIORITIZING GOING FOR THE SPRINT POINTS ESPECIALLY AT THIS POINT WHEN FULL POINTS WERE SCOOPED UP FOR HENRIETTA CHRISTIE.

WE SEEK AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HAVE A FEW EF EDUCATION RIDERS TOWARDS THE FRONT THEY KNOW THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT IN THE RACE AND THEY ARE READY TO CONTROL OR REACT.

>> RIDERS BRINGING BOTTLES FOR OTHER RIDERS AND THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING YOU LOOK AT GOING INTO THE FINAL LAP AS WELL.

YOUR LAST OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTTLES FOR FOOD TO BE TOPPED UP AND TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO EAT AND DRINK BEFORE THE RACE PICKS UP IN ITS INTENSITY AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T FUEL AT THE RIGHT TIME YOU BALK LATER AND YOU ARE IN TROUBLE.

>> YEP.

THEY MIGHT NOT BE FEELING LIKE THEY NEED TO TAKE IN A LOT OF NUTRITION BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SUPER LONG RACE.

BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THEY DO BECAUSE IN THE LAST LAP THEIR RESERVES WILL BE DEPLETED QUITE A BIT.

AND THEY ARE MAKING AN INVESTMENT RIGHT NOW AND MAKING SURE THOSE RESERVES ARE FILLED UP THEY ARE GETTING THE PROPER HYDRATION AND NOT SUFFER CRAMPS OR MUSCLES WITH NO STORES.

>> ONE OF THE CRAZY THINGS SOMETIMES IN A RACE THAT YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF TO EAT AND DRINK.

YOU GET THINKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS, THE TACTICS THE RACE ITSELF AND IF YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY FEEL TO GO IN YOUR BODY, YOU MIGHT FORGET ABOUT IT YOU HAVE TO REMIND YOURSELF I NEED TO DO IT IT'S PART OF THE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE YOU STICK TO IT.

>> YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL LIKE IT, TOO.

YOU MIGHT NOT FEELING LIKE HAVING TO HOLD YOUR BREATH TO SWALLOW THE WATER WHEN YOU ARE GOING HARD IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL LIKE DOING.

RIDERS SET ALARMS ON THE COMPUTERS AND PROBABLY HEARING FROM THEIR DIRECTORS THAT THEY SHOULD REMEMBER TO EAT AND DRINK ESPECIALLY DURING THE MORE CALM MOMENTS OF THE RACE COURSE.

>> HOW MANY BOTTLES ARE THEY GOING THROUGH ON A DAY LIKE TODAY?

>> PROBABLY GOING THROUGH BOTTLE-AND-A-HALF EVERY SINGLE HOUR.

AND IN THAT THEY HAVE ELECTROLYTES.

NUTRITION IN CYCLING HAS EVOLVED RIDERS ARE TAKING IN MORE CARBOHYDRATE THAN THINK USED TO.

THE MISSION USED TO BE EAT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE AND STAY SUPER LEAN RIDING ON FUMES BUT THE MENTALITY HAS CHANGED.

RIDERS ARE PUTTING OUT MORE POWER AND THEY ARE CONSUMING MORE CAORIES AND CARBOHYDRATES GREAT TO SEE.

>> WHAT IS THE GO TO NOW IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY ARE EATING ON THE BIKE ON A RACE LIKE THIS?

>> TYPICALLY A RACE WILL HAVE DIALED RACE TEAM WILL HAVE A DIALED NUTRITION SPONSOR AND PLAN.

THE BIGGER TEAMS HAVE THE RACE NUTRITIONISTS AS WELL THEY ARE USING THE SPONSOR'S FOODS AND SOMETIMES TOUGH THAT THEIR NUTRITIONIST IS RECOMMENDING.

LIKE THINGS AS SIMPLE AS RICE CAKES.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE LONGER RACES THEY ARE TURNING TOWARDS SLIGHTLY MORE SAVORY FOODS.

SALTY A LITTLE BIT.

>> RICE CAKES ARE NOT A SAVORY FOOD.

>> SOME OF THEM ARE.

I LOVE THE STEAM THAT YOU SEE COMING UP FROM PLACES OUT ON THE STREETS IN BALTIMORE.

IT'S COLD.

>> CLASSIC INNER-CITY FEEL.

>> LOOKS LIKE A MOVIE SCENE.

>> CINEMATIC.

U SO THE PELOTON IS CHILL RIGHT NOW.

NOBODY IS PUTTING ON MUCH PRESSURE.

>> YOU ARE SAYING THEY ARE NOT EATING THE ENTITY MEN'S NOT THE TWINKIES THAT WILL DO THE TRICK.

>> HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

>> NOW, THAT IS A COOL SHOT.

>> THAT IS A REALLY COOL SHOT.

>> THE HISTORIC GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS THE STEAM AND THE PELOTON HERE THROUGH CENTRAL BALTIMORE COMING TOWARDS THE END OF THIS THIRD LAP THEY WILL HAVE TECHNICAL CORNERS TO DEAL WITH HERE.

AND THEN THE STRAIGHT FLAT RUN IN TO THE FINISH.

>> I WAS TALKING WITH PFIEFER WHO IS A LOCAL SHE IS FROM AROUND HERE AND SHE DOESN'T RIDE HER BIKE IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC IT IS A REALLY SPECIAL THING FOR A CITY THAT IS SHUT DOWN TO TRAFFIC AND A RACE TO HAPPEN AND RIDE ON HER HOMETOWN ROADS DOWN HERE.

>> THIS ROAD RIGHT HERE IS TYPICALLY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER.

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, IT'S FULL WITH CARS ALMOST THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

VERY BUSY THOROUGHFARE.

THEY DIDN'T SHUT THIS DOWN UNTIL THIS MORNING WHEN THEY CLOSED IT TO TRAFFIC.

>> IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR A CITY TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND AGAIN IT SPEAKS TO THE VALUE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOLDING AN EVENT OF THIS CALIBER HAS FOR THE CITY, FOR THE SPORT AND FOR THE NATION.

IT'S SPECIAL.

>> SO WE HAVE A RIDER FROM FOUNT CYCLING GUILD IN THE GREEN LAUNCHING THE MOVE FOR THE SPRINT POINTS AT THIS STAGE EF EDUCATION-OATLY IN THE PINK TRYING TO COVER.

INTERMEDIATE SPRINT NUMBER TWO FOUR POINTS FOR THE FIRST TO CROSS THE LINE TWO POINTS FOR SECOND AND ONE POINT FOR THIRD.

>> THAT IS SEARS SHE IS A DOCTOR AND SHE HAS -- WON AND LED CERATIZIT PRO CYCLING SHE A BRILLIANT RIDER I'M GLAD TO SEE HER SCOOPING UP POINTS.

>> THE DOCTOR IS IN THE HOUSE IN BALTIMORE.

AND WINNING THE SECOND SPRINT WHICH TAKES US ON TO THE FINAL LAP HERE IN THE FIRST EVER WOMEN'S EDITION AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THREE LAPS DOWN, ONE TO GO.

JUST INSIDE OF 18 MILES TO THE FINISH.

AND NOW, LEX LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THE FINAL LAP USUALLY A BENCHMARK FOR ATTACKS AND THEY WILL HIT THAT STRETCH OF COBBLES ABOUT 500 METERS OF COBBLESTONES COMING UP SHORTLY.

>> LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

THE PELOTON IS STRUNG OUT PEOPLE ARE ATTACKING UP CLOSE TO FRONT EVERYBODY IS FOLLOWING WHEELS.

THIS IS WHERE THINGS START TO GET DANGEROUS THERE'S ONE LAP LEFT TO GO.

>> WE'VE SEEN THREE CRASHES ON THE FIRST LAP.

IT'S BEEN CLEAN RACING SINCE THEN.

>> YES, SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE WHERE PEOPLE ARE NERVOUS BUT THE NERVES ARE IRONED OUT NOW AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T SEE ANYMORE CRASHES.

>> SO NO ATTACKS AS OF YET HERE.

AND NOW WE ARE GOING TO GET A MOVE.

FIRST BIG ATTACK ON THIS LAST LAP.

>> EF RIDER OFF THE FRONT AND THIS MIGHT BE A STRATEGY THEY MIGHT BE LAUNCHING RIDER AFTER RIDER COULD THIS BE ALLISON JACKSON.

>> IT IS.

ALLISON JACKSON MULTI TIME CANADIAN NATIONAL DHAM I DON'T KNOW.

>> SHE IS AN EXCELLENT SPRINTER BUT NOT SCARED TO SHOW HER COLORS DURING THE RACE AND TRY TO ESTABLISH AND CREATE BREAKS.

SHE IS NOT THE SPRINTER THAT NEEDS TO SIT AT THE BACK FOR THE THE RACE AND SAVE ENERGY.

SHE HAS A AUDACIOUS RIDING STYLE AND OFTEN IT PAYS OFF FOR HER.

>> HERE ARE THE COBBLES LAID A CENTURY AGO IN BALTIMORE.

AS PART OF THE NEW DESIGN ON ROADS HERE TODAY.

THESE ARE OVER 100 YEARS OLD.

VERY UNEVEN, DIRTY, DUSTY.

AND VERY TRICKY WHEN YOU ARE RIDING YOUR BIKE.

>> NOT FOR ALLISON JACKSON SHE IS THE WINNER SHE WON THAT AND THAT IS A CLASSIC KNOWN FOR ITS COBBLES.

THE TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE SHE LIKES.

FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, YEP, IT'S TOUGH.

LOOK HOW FAR STRUNG OUT THERE IS A SPLIT HERE LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

CAN THE OTHER RIDERS IN THE SELECTION CLOSE THAT GAP?

>> IN A SINGLE FILE BEHIND THEM.

GROUP OF ABOUT NINE AT THE FRONT.

BUT THAT SINGLE FILE LINE IS SLOWLY CLOSING IT DOWN.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE HIGHEST SPEED WE'VE HAD AT ANY POINT IN THIS RACE AND THAT IS WHY A SINGLE FILE TIP TO TAIL HERE, FRONT TO BACK.

>> LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE LETTING UP A LITTLE BIT THEY SEE THAT THE GAP ISN'T SOLIDIFYING.

SOMETIMES THAT IS A HARD CALL TO MAKE DO YOU KEEP ON THE GAS AND LET THE OTHER PEOPLE SUFFER IN THE BACK AND HOPE THAT THE GAP GETS CREATED?

OR DO YOU HOLD-UP BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING AND IT IS AN EFFORT DONE IN VAIN.

>> THEY PULLED THE PIN AND THE PACE HAS BACKED OFF.

THINGS REGROUPING HERE AS WE BEGIN THE FINAL LAP HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

FINAL 16 MILES FOR THE WOMEN COMING OFF THE COBBLES AND NOW HEADING NORTH AND, AGAIN, THIS IS SLIGHTLY UPHILL FOR A WHILE UNTIL THEY HIT THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB FOR THE FINAL TIME TODAY.

ONE RIDER OFF THE BACK COMING THROUGH THAT FINISH AREA NOW.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL RIDERS WHO HAVE BEEN DROPPED SINCE THE RACE STARTED.

THESE ARE THE RIDERS YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE BUT THE ONES THAT THE SUFFER FROM THE PACE AT THE FRONT.

THIS IS WHERE THE RACE WILL FINISH IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE.

SHOULD BE ABOUT A THREE-HOUR EVENT ALTOGETHER AND WE STARTED AT 8:30 AM THIS MORNING.

AND NOW BACK TO THE FRONT.

AND EVERYONE LOOKING AROUND BECAUSE IT IS THE FINAL LAP AND THESE ARE THE KEY MOMENTS WHERE RACE WINNING MOVES CAN BE MADE.

THE RACE CAN BE LOST IF YOU ARE NOT ATTENTIVE.

>> SO IF THE WOMEN ARE TOO FAR OFF THE BACK THEN THE LAST TIME THEY GO THROUGH THE FINISH LINE FROM THE FIELD.

SO THEIR DAY IS OVER.

HERE SHE IS GETTING PULLED SHE WILL GO OFF TO THE SIDE.

SO SOMETIMES THAT IS A TOUGH MOMENT.

BUT OTHER TIMES WHEN YOU'VE DONE YOUR JOB THEN THAT A'S WHEN YOUR DAY ENDS AND YOU ARE HOPING FOR THE BEST THAT YOUR TEAMMATES CAN CARRY THROUGH THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND GET THE WIN AT THE END.

THE OTHER RIDERS THAT GOT PULLED HERE AT THE SIDE.

>> SO A SHORTER DAY AN ABBREVIATED RACE FOR THE RIDERS AND THEY WILL TURN INTO SPECTATORS AND WATCH THE REST OF THE WAY ON THIS FINAL LAP WITH THE FIELD TOGETHER ON THE FINAL LAP.

AND 15-AND-A-HALF MILES REMAINING HERE IN BALTIMORE.

>> SO THE REMAINING GROUP IS SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ROAD.

AFTER WE CLEARED THAT COBBLE SECTION THEY WERE STRUNG OUT AND NOW THE PACE LET UP QUITE A BIT.

TEAMS HERE RIGHT NOW THAT ARE CONFIDENT IN THEIR SPRINTERS WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE GROUP THIS SIZE BUT THE OTHER ONES WHO KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A SPRINTER WHO IS UP TO PAR TO BATTLE IT OUT IN THE FINAL SPRINT WILL BE LOOKING FOR EITHER A BREAK AWAY TO BE CREATED BY SOMEBODY ELSE THAT THEY CAN JUMP AND FOLLOW THROUGH TO BE A PART OF OR MIGHT BE TRYING TO ESTABLISH ONE.

LET'S SEE WHAT PLAYS OUT IN THE NEXT MILES AND KILOMETRES.

>> NERVEY POINT OF THE RACE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS COULD BE THE SIGNATURE MOMENT OF THE DAY.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.

YOU WANT TO BE READY.

>> IT IS NERVEY AND YOU WANT SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE ENERGY THAT WILL YOU NEED LATER WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE MAKES SOMETHING ELSE HAPPEN.

LIKE A GAME OF CHESS.

YOU SEE THE BIKE RIDER RAISING HER BATTLES BOTTLE IN THE AIR SHE WANTS HER CAR TO COME UP TO THE FRONT SO SHE CAN DROP BACK TO GET NUTRITION OR WATER BOTTLES OR AN ISSUE WITH HER RADIO TALK TO THE TEAM DIRECTOR.

OTHER RIDERS ARE SHEDDING THEIR BOTTLES GETTING RID OF THEM THROWING THEM OFF TO THE SIDE SO FANS CAN COLLECT THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, AS WE GET INTO THE FINAL 15 MILES OF THE RACE, LET'S QUICKLY TAKE A LOOK AT U.S. WOMEN'S CYCLING OLYMPIC RESULTS AND HOW GOOD THEY HAVE BEEN GOING BACK TO 1984 IN LOS ANGELES.

AND YOU HAVE CARPENTER WHO WON THE GOLD MEDAL IN THE ROAD RACE IN '84.

KRYSTEN ARMSTRONG A GOLD MEDALIST IN THE INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL A TERRIFIC RIDER.

REBECCA TWIG WON THE SILVER BACK IN LA AND MORE RECENTLY JENIFER, CHLOE AND SARAH HAMMER.

>> U.S.A. HAS GENERATED 30% MORE OLYMPIC MEDALS IN WOMEN'S CYCLING THAN MEN'S CYCLING.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN AS MUCH WOMEN'S CYCLING OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

THIS IS CHANGING ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS FINALLY WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THE WOMEN AND LETTING THEM SHINE.

>> AND THE U.S. WILL HOST THE NEXT SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES IN 2028 IN LOS ANGELES.

THE GOAL FOR U.S.

CYCLE SOMETHING 10 MEDALS FOR THAT EVENT.

AND THEY HAVE QUITE A GROUP THAT CAN CERTAINLY ACHIEVE IT INCLUDING HANNAH ROBERTS WHO WON IN PARIS AND KRYSTEN FAULKNER THE QUEEN OF THE MOMENT COMING OFF THE HISTORIC GOLD MEDAL WHEN SHE SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN PARIS LAST SUMMER.

17 WOMEN'S CYCLING MEDALS SINCE 1984 ACROSS DISCIPLINES IT'S ONLY GETTING DEEPER AND BETTER AND THEY COULD SET A NEW HISTORIC STANDARD ON HOME ROADS IN LOS ANGELES COMING UP IN THREE YEARS' TIME.

>> AND IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE COMMON RIDERS RIDING ON THE TRACK ON THE ROAD LIKE KRISTEN FALLER IN GOT A GOLD MEDAL ON THE ROAD AND THE TRACK THIS COULD HAPPEN IN THE NEXT GAMES IN LOS ANGELES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FOUR RIDERS HAVE MADE THE MOVE OFF THE FRONT OF THE FIELD HERE.

A FOUR-RIDER GROUP AHEAD OF THE PELOTON.

>> THIS IS A DANGEROUS MIX IT IS A PERFECT MIX.

WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM ALL THE TOP TEAMS.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE FORMER U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION, THE CURRENT CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION AND WE HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO.

BACK IN THE PELOTON THESE TEAMMATES PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO BE CHASING TOO HARD UNLESS THEY ARE SCARED THAT MAYBE THE SPRINTER, ALLISON JACKSON WON'T GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO WIN.

THIS IS A SOLID LITTLE BREAK AWAY.

>> EMMA LANGLEY IN A BREAK EARLIER TODAY BY HERSELF AND ALLISON JACKSON NUMBER 52 THE CANADIAN.

>> SHE IS KNOWN AS A DANGEROUS THREAT WHEN IT COMES TO SPRINTING AND OUT OF THIS GROUP OF FOUR SHE HAS THE HIGHEST CHANCES OF BEING ABLE TO WIN A SPRINT.

SHE IS ON THE FRONT PUTTING OUT A LOST OF ENERGY AND SHE CONSERVED IT THROUGH THE DAY AND DURING THIS RACE ALLOWED HER TO SIT IN THE PACK NICE AND CHILL AND SAVE HER ENERGY.

>> ALLISON JACKSON RIDING FOR THE EF EDUCATION-OATLY TEAM.

THEY ARE WEARING PINK JERSEYS SHE IS IN I ASPECIAL JERSEY AS THE NATIONAL CHAMPION FOR CANADA A MULTITIME CHAMPION SHE IS AT THE FRONT OF THE GROUP AND THIS GROUP OF FOUR, MARQUEE NAMES AND YOU WONDER COULD THIS BE A RACE DECIDING MOVE?

DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GAP IS BACK TO THE FIELD.

BUT YOU HAVE STRONG RIDERS LIKE THIS IF THEY GET A MARGIN OF ANY KIND ON THE FINAL LAP IT COULD BE DEADLY.

>> LOOKS LIKE EMMA LANGLEY IS DANGLING OFF THE BACK SHE MUST BE SUFFERING AND SHE WAS IN A SOLO BREAK IN THIS RACE AND THAT COSTS A LOT OF ENERGY.

ALLISON JACKSON IS TRYING TO GET THE OTHERS TO COOPERATE AND SHE IS A STRONG SPRINTER AND THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT ALLOWED TO COOPERATE WITH HER BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP HER GET TO THE FINISH LINE THEY WANT TO BE DRAGGED TO THE FINISH LINE AND SPEND AS MUCH ENERGY AS POSSIBLE AND 10 THEY WILL HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF OUT SPRINTING HER AND IF NOT THE TEAMMATES WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT RACING AGAINST ALLISON JACKSON IN THE FINAL SPRINT.

>> WHERE THE TACTICS BECOME CRITICALLIZED AND YOU HAVE DIFFERENT RIDERS AND TEAMS AND AMBITION IT IS CAN KILL A BREAK AWAY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT MIX LATE IN A RACE AND SOMETIMES RIDERS WILL HAVE TO DO MORE WORK AND OTHER ALSO SIT IN.

AND SOMETIME IT IS CAN BE FRUSTRATING FOR CERTAIN RIDERS WHO FEEL STRONG BUT THEY KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED IF THEY GO TOO HARD THEY WILL NOT HAVE IT IN THE END.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE FINAL LAP FOUR LEADERS COMING DOWN TO THE HEART OF THE RACE HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

>> INSIDE OF THE FINAL DOZEN MILES HERE IN THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

WE HAVE FIVE STRONG RIDERS AT THE FRONT.

FIVE SECONDS TO A CHASE RIDER AND 10 SECONDS BACK TO A REDUCED MAIN FIELD LOOKING DOWN AT RIGHT NOW.

SO THEY HAVE WHITTLED AWAY RIDERS FROM WHEN WE STARTED THE RACE WITH ALMOST 100 IN THE FIELD AND NOW DOWN TO A SELECT FEW AT THE FRONT AND ALSO JUST A HANDFUL IN THE FIELD THAT IS CHASING FROM BEHIND.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE A REDUCED MAIN FIELD, THAT'S PURSUING A SMALLER GROUP UP THE ROAD, IT GIVE AN ADVANTAGE TO THE SMALLER GROUP THE FIVE RIDERS THEY ARE ALL VERY GOOD AND STRONG AND THEY DON'T HAVE A BIG ORGANIZED CHASE COMING FROM BEHIND.

>> AND IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE THAT FIELD WAS NOT GOING SUPER FAST.

THEY WERE SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ROAD.

LET'S SEE WHAT THEY DO TO REACT AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO BRING THIS BREAK BACK.

THE TWO EF EDUCATION-OATLY TEAMMATES SPEAKING WITH EACH OTHER.

ALLISON JACKSON IS TELLING CLARA WHAT HER PLANS AND WISHES ARE THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE ENERGY AND POSSIBLELY SET ALLISON JACKSON UP FOR A SPRINT.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A TON OF COOPERATION FROM ALL OF THE OTHER RIDERS THEY WILL NOT GO 100% FULL IN BECAUSE THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE AS GOOD OF A CHANCE.

>> THIS IS DEVELOPING INTO A MEMORIAL DAY FOR THE EF EDUCATION-OATLY TEAM A TESTIMONY OF 53 IN THE PINK THERE.

AS WELL AS ALLISON JACKSON IN THE CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION JERSEY AND CLARA EDMOND IS THAT RIDER ALSO FROM CANADA FROM EF EDUCATION-OATLY SHE IS IN THE PINK AT THE FRONT YOU HAVE EF EDUCATION-OATLY WITH TWO I HAD RAOERS IN THE VERY FRONT.

YOU HAVE HENRIETTA CHRISTIE WHO IS BACK WITH THE FIELD NOW.

SHE HAS ALREADY WON THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN PRESENTED BY KELLYE BENEFITS STRATEGY COMPETITION BY VIRTUE OF HER CLIMBING ON THE KEY CLIMB EARLIER TODAY.

SO EF EDUCATION-OATLY HAS WON THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY PRESENTED BY KELLYE BENEFITS THEY CAN WINDUP WINNING THE RACE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO RIDERS HERE LATE AT THE FRONT OF THE EVENT.

AND TWO OF THEIR BEST WITH EDMOND AND JACKSON.

THE ONLY TEAM IN THIS BREAK AWAY AT THE FRONT WITH MULTIPLE RIDERS.

FOR THIS SQUAD, EF EDUCATION-OATLY THINGS REALLY LOOKING GOOD.

>> STEVE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW TALENTED THE WOMEN'S FIELD IS OFF THE BIKE AS WELL.

AND A FUN FACT ABOUT CLARA SHE IS A LAWYER BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

SHE IS A LAWYER AND A PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST AT THE TOP LEVEL.

>> AND WE'VE SEEN A DOCTOR WIN A SPRINT.

WE HAVE A LAWYER IN THE BREAK AWAY.

>> SOMETHING ELSE PRETTY COOL.

>> CAN WE GET A DENTIST ON THE NEXT CLIMB?

BY THE WAY, BALTIMORE THE CITY OF THE FIRST EVER DENTAL COLLEGE.

DID YOU KNOW THAT?

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED WITH ALL THE HISTORY I'M LEARNING BALTIMORE HAS.

>> YEP.

ALSO THE FIRST-EVER U.S. POST OFFICE.

>> AND NOW THIS IS THE FIRST-EVER U.S. RACE.

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> WHERE THERE IS AN AFRICAN TEAM.

>> MIND BLOWN.

AND SPEAKING OF THAT BENIN NATIONAL TEAM TEAM, THE KAISER PERMANENTTY JERSEY HONOR THOSE INFLUENCING BALTIMORE GOES TO THE BENIN NATIONAL TEAM THE FIRST AFRICAN TEAM HERE AT THIS RACE COMING FROM WEST AFRICA.

ALL RIGHT.

SO NOW LOOK AT THIS.

A MINUTE-AND-A-HALF TO THESE FIVE RIDERS.

THIS COULD BE IT.

THIS COULD BE THE MOVE THAT DECIDES THIS RACE.

IT COULD COME DOWN TO THE FIVE.

WITH THAT GAP AND CONSIDERING THE FACT IT IS A SMALL MAIN FIELD NO ORGANIZED CHASE THIS COULD BE THE MOVE OF THE DAY.

>> STEVE, IT'S NOT OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER I CANNOT MAKE THIS COMMENT AND HAVE IT PUBLISHED IN A PEER REVIEW JOURNAL BUT I WILL SAY IT THIS RACE IS OVER FOR THE CHASE GROUP THEY ARE NOT CHASING THEY ARE NOT WORKING TOGETHER THE WINNER OF THIS RACE IS GOING TO COME FROM THIS FIVE-RIDER BREAK AWAY.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL WE LEARN WHO IT'S GOING TO BE.

>> AND THE MATH WORKS IN FAVOR OF EF EDUCATION-OATLY.

THE ONLY TEAM IN THE MOVE THAT HAS MULTIPLE RIDERS.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

THEY HAVE RACED AN EXCEPTIONAL RACE TODAY.

HENRIETTA CHRISTIE WAS OFF IN THE FRONT ALL THE RIDERS WERE ABLE TO SIT IN THE PACK THEY WERE NOT STRESSED OUT.

THE OTHER TEAMS HAVE HAVING TO SPEND ENERGY TO REEL HER BACK IN WHICH THEY DID.

WE SAW PAINED FACES.

AND NOW THEY HAVE TWO RIDERS IN THE BREAK AWAY AND THEY HAVE TANKS FULLER THAN SOME OF THE COMPATRIOTS THERE.

>> AND COULD GET THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY THEY COULD GET THE SPRINT JERSEY AND WIN THE RACE.

MAKE IT A CLEAN SWEEP HERE TODAY IN BALTIMORE.

>> WOULDN'T THAT BE WILD?

>> SO THE QUESTION THEN BECOMES HERE ON THIS FINAL LAP HOW WILL THEY USE THEIR NUMERICAL ADVANTAGE AND HOW WILL THE OTHERS HOW WILL THEY COUNTER?

>> IT WILL BE UP TO CLARA EDMOND TO FOLLOW THE ATTACKS AND ANY OF THE RIDERS OTHER THAN ALLISON JACKSON TO HAVE A CHANCE OF WINNING THE SPRINT THEY WILL HAVE TO TAKE A FLYER.

WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IS ESSENTIALLY TEAM UP AGAINST HER AND TAKE FLAYERS THAT EF EDUCATION-OATLY WILL HAVE TO RESPOND TO TIME AFTER TIME.

SO THESE OTHER THREE RIDERS ARE GOING TO TRY TO WORK TOGETHER SOMEWHAT THEY ARE NOT TEAMMATES TO WHITTLE DOWN THE ENERGY THAT EF HAS TO PUT IN THE FINAL SPRINT THAT IS THEIR BEST CHANCE.

>> GOING THROUGH THE HAMPTON AREA OF BALTIMORE AN ECLECTIC NEIGHBORHOOD BLUE-COLLAR ROOTS THAT DATE BACK TO THE EARLY 1800s A MILL WORKER SETTLEMENT AND TRANSFORMED IN BALTIMORE'S MOST VIBRANT AND ARTSY NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> BALTIMORE IS SUCH A COOL CITY IT'S MADE UP OF VERY DISTINCT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH SO MUCH CHARACTER AND PEOPLE FROM BALTIMORE ARE PROUD ABOUT THIS SPECIAL ELEMENT OF THE CITY.

WE'RE LUCKY TO EXPERIENCE IT WITH A BIKE RACE.

>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE ALL TIME SHOWS IS THE WIRE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WATCHED IT BUT THE WIRE ONE OF THE BEST WRITTEN SHOWS OF ALL TIME BASED IN BALTIMORE AND IT'S ALL IN THE GAME.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I DON'T WATCH A LOT OF TV I SPEND MOST TIME ON MY BIKE.

>> TRUST ME IT'S ALL IN THE GAME.

SO THE GAP HOLDING AT A MINUTE 35 FOR OUR FIVE LEADERS.

AND THIS IS WHERE THEY ARE HEADED TOWARDS THE FINAL SIGNIFICANT CLIMB WHERE THEY HAVE THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS.

BUT, AGAIN THAT COMPETITION HAS ALREADY BEEN WON BY HENRIETTA CHRISTIE OF EF EDUCATION-OATLY.

BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT SHE WAS THE FIRST UP THAT CLIMB THE FIRST THREE TIMES EARLIER TODAY.

SHE CAN'T BE CAUGHT.

SHE IS BACK IN THE FIELD HER DAY IS DONE AND THEY WON THAT COMPETITION.

>> AND SOME RACES PRIZE MONEY GOES TWO, THREE, FOUR RIDERS DEEP IN THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION HERE IT'S TAKE IT ALL OR LEAVE IT.

SO THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO BE GAINED ON THE SPRINT LINE RIDERS ARE PRETTY MUCH GOING TO DISMISS IT THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT LINE ANYMORE.

>> ONCE THEY GET TO THE TOP OF THAT CLIMB IT'S DOWNHILL THE REST OF THE WAY BACK TO THE FINISH.

ONE OF THE RIDERS USE THAT TO TRY TO WIN THE RACE?

>> THE THING IS WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWNHILL AT HIGH SPEEDS THE DRAFT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT AT LOWER SPEEDS ON FLATTER TERRAIN IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO STAY AWAY AS A SOLO RIDER THAN IF YOU ARE IN A GROUP UNLESS THE DESCENT IS SUPER TECHNICAL AND RIDERS ARE HAVING TO BRAKE TO NAVIGATE THE DESCENT IN THE GROUP IT'S UNLIKELY THAT A SOLO RIDER WILL GET AWAY ON THE DOWNHILL THEY WILL WAIT UNTIL IT FLATTENS OUT AND GETS MORE TECHNICAL.

WE HAVE TO WAIT-AND-SEE WHAT THEY DO, THOUGH.

IT LOOKS LIKE A RIDER RIDER FROM CYNISCA IS TRYING TO MAKE THEIR WAY THEY HAVE NO REPRESENTATION THIS IS THEIR LAST SHOT AT BEING IN THE MIX FOR A WIN.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR HER QUINTON TO MAKE IT ALL THE WAY UP TO THIS BREAK THERE IS A SOLID GAP OF 25 SECONDS AND THAT IS HARD TO CLOSE ALL ALONE ESPECIALLY ON THE DESCENT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FACT IT'S EASIER TO GO DOWNHILL FAST IN A GROUP THAN IT IS SOLO.

BUT SHE IS GIVE TO GO A SHOT AND IS THAT IS WHAT SHE HAS TO DO.

>> QUESTION BECOMES WHO IS COMFORTABLE IN THIS GROUP?

IF IT COMES DOWN TO I A SPRINT AND WHO IS GOING TO NEED TO ATTACK FROM A DISTANCE IN ORDER TO GET THE WIN.

THE TWO EF EDUCATION-OATLY RIDERS AT THE VERY FRONT HERE.

AND NOW INSIDE THE FINAL EIGHT MILES, AGAIN, STILL SLIGHTLY UPHILL GOING TO THE FINAL QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB HERE.

AND THIS GOING TO BE THE RACE DEFINING MOVE THE PELOTON IS LOSING GROUND THAT REDUCED MAIN FIELD ALMOST TWO MINUTES BACK.

>> YOU KNOW, ANOTHER RIDER THAT WE GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR IS SHE IS A VERY, VERY STRONG RIDER.

HER TEAM CALLS HER RELIABLE AND VALUABLE TEAMMATE.

GUESS WHAT?

SHE YEAR SHE HAS HAD 14 TOP 10 FINISHES IN A WIDE RANGE OF RACES.

AND SHE'S FINISHED SUPER HIGH ON FOUR WOMEN'S WORLD TOUR RACES AND SHE IS ALSO THE POLISH NATIONAL TIME TRIAL CHAMPION IF SHE CAN PUT OUT A HIGH AMOUNT OF POWER AND SHE ALSO HAS A SOLID SPRINT.

SHE IS PROBABLY ONE THAT CAN BE A GOOD MATCH FOR ALLISON JACKSON.

I WONDER IF SHE WOULD TAKE A FLYER SHE HAS THAT TIME TRIAL STRENGTH AND DIESEL POWER.

BUT SHE HAS A GOOD SPRINT, TOO.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THAT RISK.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> SHE HAS NEVER BEEN ON A PODIUM BUT ONE OF THE RIDERS KNOCKING ON THE DOOR SHE HAS BEEN CLOSE.

SHE HAS SHOWN THE ABILITY TO COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN THE TT AS WELL AS IN THE SPRINT.

IT PROBABLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT'S HER COMFORT LEVEL WITH GOING HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH ALLISON JACKSON IN A SPRINT VERSUS TRYING TO OUT TIME TRIAL HER IN THE FINAL FEW MILES.

>> THIS COULD BE HER DAY SHE IS ONE OF THE QUIET ACHIEVERS AND SHE FLIES UNDER THE RADAR.

BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SHE SECURES A WORLD TOUR PODIUM AND THIS IS NOT A WORLD TOUR RACE.

IT'S VERY CLOSE TO A WORLD TOUR RACE AND THIS COULD BE HER MOMENT TO SHINE FINALLY.

>> BUT THE CATCH 22 BECOMES ALL RIGHT IF I'M GOING TO TRY AND TIME TRIAL TO THE WIN IF I'M GOING TO ATTRACT AS ONE OF THE RIDER HERE NOW IS LOSING CONTACT THAT IS INTERESTING THAT SHE IS NOW DROPPING OFF THE BACK HERE.

>> YES.

THAT'S MARTHA, AND SHE JUST FINISHED THIRD IN THE TIME TRIAL STAGE OF THE TOUR OF POLL LAND SHE IS A GOOD TIME TRIALIST A STRONG RIDER.

BUT YOU COULD TELL SHE IS GETTING TIRED AND IT'S NORMAL WE ARE TOWARDS THE END OF THE RACE THIS GROUP HAS SPENT ENERGY SO NOW IT'S WHITTLING DOWN TO FOUR.

AND THE NUMBERS ARE PLAYING EVEN MORE IN EF'S FAVOR NOW.

NOW THEY COMPOSE HALF OF THE BREAK AWAY.

>> AND TO FINISH THE THOUGHT, THE CALCULATION YOU HAVE TO MAKE IF YOU ARE A RIDER WHO CAN SPINT IF I GO FOR THE TT AND ATTACK FROM DISTANCE I HAVE TO MAKE IT WORK BECAUSE I MIGHT NOT HAVE THE ENERGY FOR A SPRINT.

YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT IS MY BEST CHANCE TO WIN?

IS IT THE SPRINT?

IS IT THE TT?

AND MAKE YOUR MOVE ACCORDINGLY.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT AND IF SOMEBODY COMES ALONG THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER ELEMENT TO CONSIDER SHOULD YOU KEEP GOING AND BRING THEM TO THE LINE CAN YOU OUTSPRINT THAT PERSON?

YOU CAN ONLY GET ONE CHANCE TO MAKE THE DECISION MAKING THAT JUMP COSTS A LOT OF MATCHES THAT YOU WILL NOT GET BACK AND YOU NEED THE MATCHES IF YOU WANT TO COMPETE AGAINST THE SPRINTER.

>> THE EF EDUCATION-OATLY RIDERS HAVE BEEN DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING LEADING THE GROUP MOST OF THE WAY.

TAKING TURNS ARE THEY WEARING THEM DOWN?

IS IT MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

COMING UP TO THE TOP OF THAT QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINT.

AND AGAIN THAT COMPETITION PRESENTED BY KELLYE BENEFITS THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY DECIDED, HENRIETTA CHRISTIE.

GETTING THE VICTORY.

SHE WINS THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS FOR THE RACE.

NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL TO GO FOR THIS TIME.

THE FINAL TIME UP THE FINAL CLIMB AND NOW FROM HERE IT'S GOING TO BE DOWNHILL FOR THESE RIDERS THE REST OF THE WAY TO THE FINISH.

>> IS THAT CLARA TRYING TO TAKE A FLYER FORCING OTHER RIDERS TO FOLLOW HER.

THAT IS A GOOD TECHNIQUE TO SHUFFLE THE CARDS A LITTLE BIT AND GIVE JACKSON A CHANCE TO MOVE TO THE BACK OTHERWISE THE RIDERS WOULD HAVE FORCED HER TO STAY IN THE FRONT SHE HAS MORE OF A DRAFT.

IF SHE CAN STAY BACK HERE AND SAVE HER ENERGY FOR THE SPRINT SHE IS GOING TO BE CONTINUE TO BE IN A GOOD POSITION.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS AND THE MATH WORKS IN YOUR FAVOR YOU CAN PUNCH COUNTER PUNCH ONE PERSON ATTACKS AND THE TEAMMATE ATTACKS AND YOU WEAR ON THEM BATTLE OF ATTRITION WORK THEM OVER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

BOTH OF THE EF EDUCATION-OATLY RIDERS SLIDING TO THE BACK HERE.

>> YEP.

WE HAVE EMMA LANGLEY FORMER U.S. NATIONAL CHAMP ON THE FRONT SHE KNOWS ALLISON WELL THEY WERE TEAMMATES.

SHE KNOWS WHO SHE IS UP AGAINST HERE.

CLARA DOING A BUNNY HOP CHECKING OUT HER TIRE PRESSURE DOUBLE-CHECKING SHE DOESN'T HAVE A FLAT WHEN YOU ARE PUTTING OUT POWER LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE RACE YOUR LEGS CAN FEEL LIKE WOOD AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE RIDING ON FLAT TIRES.

SHE IS CHECKING ON IT AND IT IS NOT AN ACTUAL BIKE ISSUE SHE IS EXPERIENCING.

ALLISON JACKSON BACK ON THE FRONT CLARA WILL HELP HER OUT HERE AND WE HAVE CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO TAKING A LITTLE BIT OF HYDRATION MAKING SURE SHE IS HYDRATED.

ALL THE RIDERS HAVE ONE BOTTLE ON THE BIKE NO REASON TO CARRY AN EXTRA ROUND UNDER SIX MILES TO GO.

>> CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO, EF EDUCATION-OATLY, AEGIS CYCLING FOUNDATION OUT OF TEXAS, THE TEAMS REPRESENTED IN THIS DECISIVE MOVE OF THE DAY.

>> SAW CLARA GIVE A FLICK OF THE ELBOW TO GET CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO TO PULL THROUGH.

TELL SHE WAS NOT IN A HURRY TO PULL THROUGH SHE IS BEING CAREFUL WITH HOW MUCH ENERGY SHE SPENDS WHEN YOU ARE IN A GROUP LIKE THIS YOU NEVER WANT TO BE THE ONE PUTTING OUT THE MOST EFFORT YOU WANT TO FORCE THE OTHER RIDERS INTO SPENDING ENERGY.

>> NOW, SHE DOES HAVE EXPERIENCE RACING HERE IN THE U.S.

THE POLISH RIDER WON A BRONZE MEDAL AT THE RICHMOND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BACK IN 2016 IN THE JUNIOR WOMEN'S ROAD RACE.

>> AND SHE'S BEEN RACING PROFESSIONALLY FOR SOMETIME NOW SINCE 2017.

EIGHT YEARS.

AND SHE IS ONLY 28 YEARS OLD.

SHE HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT CYCLIST FOR A LONGTIME NOW.

HERE GOES ALLISON JACKSON.

>> MAKING THE ATTACK AT THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE RESPONSE COMES FROM RIGHT BEHIND HERE.

>> SHE WANTS TO GET ON ALLISON JACKSON'S WHEEL.

NOW, OBVIOUSLY CLARA IS NOT GOING TO HELP ANYTHING NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP EMMA CATCH UP.

LOOK AT THIS ALLISON IS BACK WITH 50% ODDS MAYBE GOING TO GET MORE HELP.

TESTING THE WATER HERE.

THAT IS THE COOL THING ABOUT JACKSON'S STYLE OF RIDING SHE IS AUDACIOUS SHE WAS ATTACKING AND MIXING IT UP AND TESTING OUT THE LEGS OF THE OTHER PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, TOO.

>> MAKES THEM NERVOUS AND IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A YARDSTICK HOW THEY ARE FEELING.

IF THEY RESPOND, ALL RIGHT THEY ARE ON THEIR GAME AND READY TO ROLL.

HOWEVER IF A GAP OPENS YOU REALIZE MAYBE THEY ARE HURTING AND YOU CAN CRANK THE SCREWS MORE.

>> YES, I WAS SPEAKING WITH ALLISON BEFORE THE RACE AND WHAT HER STRATEGY IT WILL BE TO HAVE FUN AND THAT IS HOW SHE TENDS TO PERFORM THE BEST THAT IS HOW SHE SAVES HER ENERGY AND THE BEST RESULTS COME FROM.

IN A CAT AND MOUSE TYPE OF A GAME.

SHE ENJOYS BEING THE CAT, TOO.

>> COLLAR ARE EDMOND NUMBER 53 FOR EF EDUCATION-OATLY SHE WENT TO THE FRONT AND THIS IS WHEREAS TEAMMATES EDMOND AND JACKSON CAN WORK TOGETHER HERE TO KIND OF.

>> WHAT CLARA WAS GOING I THINK SHE WAS TRYING TO PUT DOWN AN ATTACK AND FORCE CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO AND CYNISCA TO CHASE BUT I CAN IMAGINE SHE DOESN'T HAVE A TON LEFT IN THE LEGS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW EFFECTIVE THAT ATTACK WAS.

BUT THE INTENT WAS THERE.

SO THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS DOING TRYING TO FORCE THE OTHERS TO WORK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GIVE HER TEAMMATE ALLISON MORE OF AN ADVANTAGE AND BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING IN THIS FINAL SPRINT.

>> ONE THING TO PUT IN AN ATTACK AS A TESTER BECAUSE YOU DON'T USE A TON OF ENERGY AND IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF YOUR OPPOSITION AND HOW THEY ARE FEELING BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO USE TOO MUCH ENERGY KNOWING YOU WILL NEED IT FOR LATER ON.

>> YEP.

A FINE BALANCE.

HERE THEY COME DOWN THE FAST DOWNHILL, TIGHT TURN THE PAVEMENT IS ROUGH TOO, HERE.

>> AGAIN THIS IS DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE FINISH.

NOW THE ONLY OTHER SIGNIFICANT FEATURES OF THE COURSE THEY WILL RUN INTO ARE THE 90° CORNERS.

TWO OF THEM AROUND TWO K TO GO INSIDE THE FINAL K WHICH IS JUST ABOUT A HALF A MILE OR SO FROM THE FINISH ITSELF YOU HAVE THREE 90° CORNERS.

BUT THEY ARE WIDE, THEY ARE NOT THAT DIFFICULT WITH ONLY FOUR RIDERS IT WON'T BE ANY ISSUE WHATSOEVER IN TERMS OF THE TECHNICALITY OF THE COURSE.

THEN YOU HAVE SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS OF STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH FROM THERE.

>> AND THAT'S WHERE THE RIDERS WILL NEED THE PURE POWER.

THEY WILL WANT TO NAVIGATE THE FINAL CORNERS OF THIS COURSE QUITE WELL SO THEY ARE NOT GAPPED OUT SO THEY DON'T LOSE ANY ADVANTAGE BUT IT WILL BE A QUESTION WHO CAN PUT THE MOST POWER OUT.

LET'S SEE IF SOMEBODY TRIES TO GET OFF THE FRONT BEFORE.

THREE-AND-A-HALF MILES TO GO.

THAT LINE IS COMING QUICK.

>> TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, LEX?

IN THE NUMBERS GAME WHERE THEY ARE RIGHT NOW WITH EF EDUCATION-OATLY IN A FOUR-RIDER BREAK WHEN YOU HAVE HALF OF THEM GROUP YOU HAVE TWO OF THE FOUR RIDERS, THE PERFECT SCENARIO RIGHT HERE IS YOU GET DOWN CLOSE TO THE END MAYBE INSIDE THE FINAL K, YOU HAVE ONE RIDER GO OFF THE FRONT TO SETUP YOUR SPRINTER TO FOLLOW THAT MOVE AFTER THE OTHERS RESPOND.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS THE OPTION TO PLAY, RIGHT?

THAT IS THE BEST TACTIC, WOULDN'T IT BE?

>> THAT IS THE BEST TACTIC IF THEY DON'T WIN WITH THE RATIO NUMBERS THEY WILL BE PRETTY MAD.

BUT WE HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR HER BECAUSE SHE IS THE RIDER THAT CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO HAD IN MIND TO SETUP FOR THE WIN AND THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THEY WANTED THE RACE TO PLAY OUT.

MAYBE NOT WITH THE RATIO THAT EF HAS BUT THEY WANTED HER TO BE IN A FINAL GROUP TOWARDS THE END AND GIVE HER THE CHANCE TO SHINE AND GET A FIRST PLACE FINISH.

>> AND THE KEY THING IS FOR THE OTHER RIDERS THAT RESPECT'S PART OF EF EDUCATION-OATLY.

YOU KNOW WHAT TACTICS YOU ARE GOING TO FACE.

WHEN YOU SEE THAT FIRST MOVE BEING MADE YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO REALIZE ALL RIGHT THIS IS NOT THE DECISIVE MOVE THE TEAMMATE ALSO JUMP HOW QUICKLY DO YOU RESPOND?

BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO LET THE RIDER GET AWAY AND YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF THE SECOND MOVE OF THE TEAMMATE COMING FROM BEHIND.

SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR RESPONSE AND WHEN YOU MAKE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THESE RIDERS ARE TRYING TO USE ALL THEIR SPIDEY SENSES THEY ARE TRYING TO LISTEN TO THE BREATHING THE GEARSHIFTS AND HEAR IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO JUMP AND THEY HAVE TO BE ON THE WHEEL OF ANYBODY THAT TRIES TO GO OFF THE FRONT SO THEY ARE THERE AND THEY CAN HAVE A FREE RIDE AND DON'T GET GAPPED OFF ANYTIME YOU ARE CHASING YOU HAVE TO PUT A LOT OF ENERGY.

YOU GET ONE CHANCE AND STAY SUPER ALERT.

>> WHEN YOU RESPOND MAYBE TO THAT INITIAL MOVE, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO TAKE THAT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH.

BECAUSE AT THAT POINT, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO COMMIT KNOWING THE TEAMMATE IS GOING TO COME FROM BEHIND YOU ALMOST HAVE TO GET ON THE PEDALS AND HOPE YOU CAN SUSTAIN YOUR POWER TO THE END.

>> YEP.

IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING A MOVE BY EF IF ONE OF THE RIDER FOLLOWS EF THEY WILL SIT ON THE WHEEL AND LISTEN FOR ANYTHING THAT IS COMING UP FROM BEHIND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE TO ACCELERATE INTO AND JUMP ON TO.

BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HELP PUT IN ANY EXTRA EFFORT TO BRING EF TO THE LINE THAT'S UP TO THEM.

>> YOU SEE THE GAP HOLDING STEADY FOR THE TWO RIDERS BETWEEN THE FIELD AND THESE FOUR.

JUST ABOUT HALF A MINUTE THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE RIDERS THEY ARE GOING BACKWARDS AND NOT FORWARDS.

THESE FOUR UNDERSTAND THE RACE IS GOING TO COME DOWN BETWEEN THE FOUR OF THEM AND NOW IT'S TACTICS AMONG THE FOUR TO FINISH IT OFF.

HERE WE COME BACK INTO THE CENTER OF BALTIMORE THREE MILES LEFT TO GO.

A COUPLE OF 90° CORNERS AND THEN WE ARE INTO THE SPRINT FINISH FOR THIS FIRST EVER EDITION OF THE WOMEN'S EVENT AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

>> OH, YEAH IT'S GOING TO GET SPICEY SOON.

THE RIDERS ARE MAINTAINING A GOOD PACE BUT NOT GOING FULL GAS EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO STAY ALERT AND ATTENTIVE.

CLARA ON THE FRONT SHE IS PROTECTING HER TEAMMATE ALLISON AND TRYING TO STAY AWARE OF ANY MOVES THAT THE CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO RIDER MIGHT BE MAKING OR CLARA EDMOND.

>> EMMA LANGLEY AGAIN THERE NUMBER 82 IN THAT WHITE JERSEY THIRD WHEEL AND EMON GOES LIFTING THE PACE.

YOU SEE JACKSON IS NOT FOG HER TEAMMATE SHE IS LETTING THE GAP OPEN AND FORCING THE OTHER RIDERS TO FOLLOW.

>> PERFECT TEAM EXECUTION HERE.

BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T FOLLOW, EDMOND COULD RIDE OFF WITH THE WIN AND THE TEAM GETS THE VICTORY.

ALLISON JACKSON SAVES ENERGY BY NOT CHASING SHE WILL TAKE THE DRAFT AND SHE IS FRESHER IF IT COMES DOWN TO A SPRINT FINISH.

>> THEY FORCED HER TO BLOW ANOTHER MATCH.

>> AND THERE GOES JACKSON AND SHE MAKES THE MOVE UP THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH TWO MILES LEFT AND SHE IS FRESHER BECAUSE SHE FOLLOWED HER TEAMMATE.

ALLISON IS PUTTING IN A TOUGH EFFORT HERE.

>> RIGHT BEHIND HER AND LANGLEY AND EDMOND AT THE BACK.

>> SHE HAS TO WORK HARD TO JUMP BACK ON HERE.

IT'S TOUGH WHEN IT IS A SMALL GROUP AND YOU PUT IN A SOLID ATTACK ESPECIALLY RUNNING ON A TANK GETTING CLOSER TO EMPTY TOWARDS THE END OF THE RACE SHE WILL TRY TO MAKE IT BACK SO SHE CAN BE USEFUL TO ALLISON.

ALLISON LET OFF THE GAS A LITTLE BIT.

>> COMING INTO THE CORNERS IN THE FINAL FEW K. 90° TIGHT CORNERS BUT AGAIN WIDE ROADS NOTHING TOO DIFFICULT OR TECHNICAL.

THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR IS IMPERFECT PAVEMENT ALONG THE ROAD CRACKS IN THE CONCRETE AND TRAFFIC BUT WIDE ROADS TO DEAL WITH HERE.

AND NOW SO I KA IS GOING TO WATCH LANGLEY GO UP THE ROAD AND NOW UP TO EMON TO CHASE THEIR.

THAT IS EMMA LANGLEY IN THE WHITE JERSEY, EMONITOR EF EDUCATION-OATLY BEHIND AND HER TEAMMATE JACKSON BEHIND HER AND SIX KA, THE RIDER IN THE GROUP AND EMON GOING AGAIN THERE MAKING THE MOVE ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THE GROUP.

>> SHE PUT IN A COUNTERATTACK AFTER SHE WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT EMMA BACK.

GOOD FOR HER FOR DOING THAT.

EXCELLENT WORK AS A TEAMMATE.

YAK SON SAW THAT AND SHE WAS GOING TO FOLLOW AND JUMPED BACK ON TO HER WHEEL.

LOOKS LIKE EMMA IS SUFFERING A LITTLE BIT.

SHE IS NOT HOPPING BACK ON TO THE WHEELS AS QUICKLY AS IF SHE WERE SUPER FRESH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD SHE IS FEELING FOR THE FINAL SPRINT BUT SHE IS IS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP AND SHE IS I HAD RAOING VERY, VERY VONG I CAN SENSE SHE IS GETTING FATIGUED HERE.

>> HEADED BACK INTO THE INNER HARBOR.

FINAL MOMENTS OF THIS WOMEN'S RACE LESS THAN A MILE LEFT TO GO.

THEY WILL BE COMING UP ON THE FINAL CORNER HERE SHORTLY AND STRAIGHT FLAT AND WIDE ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH FOR THE FINAL SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS.

>> ONE KILOMETRES TO GO YOU SEE THE SIGNS THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT NOW THREE CORNERS LEFT COMING IN QUICK SUCCESSION.

YOU HAVE EMON AT THE FRONT, SO I KA SECOND JACKSON THIRD AND LANGLEY FOURTH.

>> SO I THINK IT WILL BE A BATTLE BETWEEN YAK SON.

>> THEY SEEM TO BE THE TWO STRONGEST RIDERS FROM THE GROUP RIGHT NOW.

>> YEP.

SO.

>> A FOUR WOMEN'S BATTLE FOR THE FIRST-EVER MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

>> THIS IS THE FINISHING STRAIGHT AND THIS IS LIKE A GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING FULL GAS AND NOW JACKSON HAS TO DECIDE WHEN SHE IS GOING TO JUMP.

>> ALL RIGHT WE ARE COMING DOWN TO THE FINISH OF THE INAUGURAL MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC FOR THE WOMEN.

FOUR RIDERS IN CONTENTION FOR THIS PRESTIGIOUS FIRSTVIE ARE I. EMON OF EF EDUCATION-OATLY.

AT THE FRONT.

AND RIGHT BEHIND HER, SO I KA AND ALLISON JACKSON AND SKAL YAK AND JACKSON RESPONDS SHE IS ON HER WHEEL THE STRAIGHT FLAT WIDE RUN TO THE FINISH THEY ARE SIDE-BY-SIDE AT THE LINE!

>> STEVE WHO GOT THAT.

>> A PHOTO FINISH AT THE END.

SO I KA AND JACKSON WERE ALMOST PEDAL FOR PEDAL STROKE FOR STROKE AT THE FINISH FROM THE OVERHEAD HARD TO TELL WHO GOT IT.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PHOTO FINISH THAT WAS SO CLOSE.

>> WHAT A RACE WHAT A FINISH.

>> AND GREAT RIDE BY HER.

WOW.

>> STILL WAITING FOR OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION AS TO WHO GOT THE VICTORY.

WHAT A WAY TO END THIS WOMEN' RACE.

>> HERE IS JACKSON WITH ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT HAS BEEN AROUND IN CYCLING.

>> ALLISON JACKSON IS LOOKING AT THE PHOTOGRAPHER TRYING TO GET THE PICTURES TO SEE WHO WON IF SHE WON.

>> SHE IS NOT SURE.

WOW IS THIS AMAZING.

AND COULD THIS BE A TIE?

WHO KNOWS.

>> SHE IS HAVING TO CHECK WITH A PHOTOGRAPHER HERE.

HE'S LOOKING BACK OVER THE PICTURES OF A PHOTO FINISH IN THIS WOMEN'S EVENT.

>> SHE IS NOT SURE HERE.

WE'RE ALL SITTING ON THE EDGE OF OUR SEAT.

IT.

>> IT IS SOJKA AND UPSETS THE CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPION ALLISON JACKSON.

>> WHAT A DAY FOR CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE RIDER WHO IS SUCH A AVAILABLE TEAMMATE.

HERE SHE IS SHE WON THE FIRST-EVER WOMEN'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC RACE.

GOOD FOR HER.

>> AGAINST THE VERY POWERFUL EF EDUCATION-OATLY SQUAD THAT HAD TWO RIDENERS THAT KEY MOVE.

SOJKA WAS BY HERSELF YET THE 28-YEAR-OLD POLISH CHAMPION GETS THE BIGGEST WIN OF HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

>> AND LOOK AT THIS SPRINT.

SHE WAS LEADING THAT SPRINT THE WHOLE WAY DOWN THE STRETCH THERE ONCE SHE LAUNCHED IT AND JACKSON WAS TRYING TO COME UP AND PASS HER BEFORE THE FINISH LINE BUT SHE JUST NEEDED A FEW EXTRA METERS AND DIDN'T HAVE IT.

THE SPRINT WAS TOO POWERFUL AND PERFECTLY TIMED.

DESPITE THE ODDS THE RATIO THAT EF EDUCATION-OATLY HAD CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO TAKES THE VICTORY OF THE FIRST EVER WOMEN'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

LOOK AT THE POWER.

>> THE BACK WHEEL OF JACKSON KIND OF POPPED OUT A LITTLE BIT RIGHT AT THE END.

WIGGLED.

>> YEP.

IT SURE DID.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE DIFFERENCE AS CLOSE AS THAT WAS, WHO KNOWS.

WATCH AGAIN.

ALLISON JACKSON ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE WATCH THAT BACK WHEEL.

>> YEAH, SHOOT!

I WONDER HOW THAT HAPPENED?

THAT MUST HAVE FELT REAL SKETCHY.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WAS JUST FREQUENTING ON THE PEDALS TOO HARD AND THAT MADE THE WHEELS SLIP OUT FROM UNDER HER I CAN'T TELL MAYBE THERE WAS A OILY PATCH ON THE ROAD THERE.

IT'S TOUGH TO TELL.

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE WHERE SHE NEEDED MAYBE ANOTHER 10 YARDS, RIGHT AND MAYBE SHE GETS THE VICTORY.

>> HERE WE GO.

THE CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO RIDER FROM POLAND SHE IS THE CHAMPION HERE.

SPECIAL DAY FOR HER AND WHAT A WAY TO FINISH OFF THE 2025 SEASON SHE MIGHT HAVE MORASS LEFT BUT WE ARE AT THE TAIL-END SHE HAS ANOTHER TOP RESULT TO ADD TO HER 14 TOP 10 FINISHES OF THE SEASON AND HERE IS A TOP ONE SHE HAS THE WIN.

>> LET'S GO DOWN TO THE WINNER.

THIS GUY WATCHED YOU HAVE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE AND YOU MADE HISTORY NOT ONLY DID YOU WIN A BIKE RACE YOU MADE HISTORY.

>> I'M SO HAPPY THAT I GOT THIS SPOT IN THE SEASON.

I WORKED SO HARD.

BUT WE RIDE SUPER GOOD AS A TEAM WE PICK UP EACH OTHER.

I HAD FLAT TIRE ONE OF THE LAP AND THE TEAM WAIT FOR ME.

SO I'M GRATEFUL.

AND YEAH, LIKE FOR ME MY MEMORY ALWAYS GOOD BECAUSE I WAS [INAUDIBLE] AS A JUNIOR ON THE WORLDS WITH THIRD PLACE.

I'M HAPPY TO COME TO AMERICA.

>> SO RICHMOND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS MADE THE PODIUM AND NOW THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S RACE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC WHAT WAS THE HYPE BEHIND IT DID IT LIVE UP TO THE HYPE HOW WAS IT ON THE COURSE?

>> IT WAS REALLY FAST COURSE.

WITH SOME COBBLE SECTIONS.

IT WAS SO MANY ATTACKS AND IN THE END, WE WENT WITH TWO [INAUDIBLE] AND THEY WERE ATTACKING ME ALL THE TIME.

SO IT WAS QUITE HARD.

BUT IN THE END, I'M SO PROUD AND HAPPY THAT I COULD MAKE AND WIN THIS RACE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF WINNING, IN THE TEAM MEETINGS WERE THEY RACING FOR YOU?

YOU ARE ONE OF THE TOP TEAMS IN THE WORLD SO THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE THE OTHER TEAMS ARE FOCUSING ON CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO WAS THE TEAM TACTIC TO GET YOU TO THE LINE FIRST?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN WE HAVE A FEW OPTIONS WITH THE GIRLS LIKE BREAK AWAY BUT WE KNEW IF IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE SPRINT THEY WILL GO FOR ME.

SO IN THE END, WAS BREAK AWAY.

AND I WAS THERE.

SO, YEAH, I WON FOR US.

>> THIS HAS TO BE A HUGE CONFIDENCE BOOST JACKSON WON THE MONUMENT YOU GO TOE-TO-TOE TO THE LINE AND COME OUT VICTORIOUS ONE LAST THING FOR THE AUDIENCE TELL US HOW YOU FEEL IN THIS MOMENT?

>> I'M SUPER PROUD AND I MEAN, I DESERVE THIS AND I'M HAPPY THAT I ALMOST AT THE END OF THE SEASON I GET THIS FIRST PLACE.

>> AWESOME.

THIS IS OUR WINNER THE 2025 MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC FROM CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO WHAT A DAY, WHAT A RACE.

AND WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> THEY CALL HERRAL GEORGIA SHE WILL BE KNOWN AS A WINNER HERE IN BALTIMORE AS SHE GETS OUT JACKSON AND EMMA LANGLEY WHO COMPLETE THE PODIUM TODAY.

POLAND, CANADA AND THE U.S.

REPRESENTED IN THE TOP THREE.

IN THIS MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

BUT EF EDUCATION-OATLY WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE IN SO MANY THINGS HAD BEEN GOING THEIR WAY IN THE RACE BUT THEY COME UP EMPTY WITH THE TOP STEP OF THE PODIUM THEY WIN THE KELLYE BENEFIT STRATEGY QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION.

>> SO COOL TO SEE ALL THE EMOTION.

YOU COULD TELL HOW MUCH WINNING THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC MEANS TO HER.

SHE HAS HAD AN UP AND DOWN SEASON AND HAD CHALLENGES IN THE RACE WITH THAT FLAT TIRE.

HERE TEAMMATES REALLY CAME THROUGH FOR HER AND SHE CAME THROUGH FOR THEM WITH THE WIN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AGA GETS THE WIN HERE TODAY.

AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH MORE FROM HERE IN BALTIMORE AND THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

BEAUTIFUL SATURDAY IN BALTIMORE AT THE INNER HARBOR.

THE WOMEN COMPLETING THEIR RACE.

THE MEN WILL TAKE TO THE ROADS IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE.

FULL DAY OF RACING HERE AT WHAT WILL BE THE THIRD EDITION FOR THE MEN THIS WAS THE FIRST FOR THE WOMEN AND COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER FINISH AS IT WAS A PHOTO FINISH AT THE END.

>> RIGHT DOWN TO THE MILLISECOND THE TOP TWO FINISHERS AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.

WILD.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO HAVE A BIKE RACE.

WHAT A NEAT WAY TO SHOWCASE HOW AWESOME BALTIMORE IS.

THIS CITY HAS SO MANY HISTORICAL POINTS TO IT THAT ARE EXCITING TO DISCOVER AND BE ABLE TO WITNESS ON TV AND FOR THE RIDERS TOO COMING FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

WE HAD OVER 20 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN THE WOMEN'S FIELD TODAY.

RIDERS TRAVELING ALL THE WAY FROM AFRICA TO BE HERE AND IT IS A NEAT WAY TO PUT BALTIMORE ON THE MAP OF PROFESSIONAL CYCLING.

>> TERRIFIC WEATHER FOR THE WOMEN AS WELL.

TEMPERATURE RIGHT AROUND 80° FOR MOST OF THE RACE SUNNY SKIES.

THE MEN MIGHT ENCOUNTER RAIN LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON BUT RIGHT NOW SO FAR SO GOOD.

ON THIS EARLY SEPTEMBER SATURDAY.

>> YEP, PERFECT WEATHER THERE IS A NICE BREEZE MOST OF THE COURSE IS SHELTERED FROM THE WIND THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY PLAY INTO HOW THE COURSE IS RIDDEN OR THE TACTICS PLAY OUT.

BUT THE WEATHER IS PERFECT FOR RACING.

HOPEFULLY THE GUYS DON'T GET POURED ON BY THE RAIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON BUT SOMETIMES THAT CAN MAKE THE RACE SPICIER.

>> HARBOR POINT PLAZA WILL BE THE START OF THE MEN'S RACE.

AND THAT IS COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE WHILE.

LET THAN AN HOUR FROM NOW.

AS THE WOMEN ARE JUST FINISHING UP TODAY IN BALTIMORE.

12:30 PM LOCAL TIME HERE ON THE EAST COAST THAT IS WHEN THE MEN STAKE THE START HERE AT HARBOR POINT PLAZA.

NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE IT WILL WILL FINISH AND THE SIX LAPS FOR THE MEN WILL FINISH DURING THE COURSE OF THE RACE.

THE WOMEN RACED THIS COURSE FOUR TIMES IT WILL BE SIX LAPS FOR THE MEN.

108 MILES AROUND THE 18-MILE CIRCUIT.

SO BEFORE WE GET TO THE MEN, LET'S TAKE YOU BACK THROUGH THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WOMEN'S RACE WHICH WAS JUST COMPLETED THIS WAS THE START EARLIER IN HARBOR POINT.

FIELD OF JUST UNDER 100 RIDERS TAKING THE START.

>> EMILY NEWSOME STARTED THE ACTION RIDING WITH FEARLESS FEMME RACING.

THE FIRST CRASH OF THE DAY A COUPLE OF THOSE EARLY ON.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE RIDERS ARE NERVOUS FIRST LAP.

AND LAP ONE WE SEE THE GROUP ALTOGETHER AND ANOTHER CRASH TWO RIDERS GO DOWN AND HIT THE DECK.

THEN WE HAVE HENRIETTA CHRISTIE OFF THE FRONT FOR EF EDUCATION-OATLY SHE WAS IN A BREAK AWAY SOLO BREAK AWAY FOR A GOOD PART OF THE RACE FLYING COLORS FOR HER TEAM AND PICKED UP THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAIN TITLE.

BRIDGING UP TO JOIN HER AND THEY WORKED TOGETHER FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

RIGHT UP UNTIL THE PELOTON LEFT.

THIS IS WHERE THEY GOT CAUGHT BY THE FIELD.

HENRIETTA CHRISTIE SCOOPING UP THE LAST QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS SHE NEEDED TO SECURE THE JERSEY THAT IS THE FIRST WIN FOR EF OR THE WIN FOR EF EDUCATION-OATLY WITHIN THE RACE.

GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE MOVING FORWARD.

HERE WE -- THAT IS LAP THREE HERE.

AND WE SEE THE BREAK AWAY THIS IS THE DAY'S BREAK THE FOUR RIDERS THAT MADE IT RIGHT TO THE FINISH IN THE BATTLE FOR FIRST PLACE.

AND THE SPRINT.

>> THIS WAS THE SPRINT FOR THE WIN AND WHAT A SPRINT IT WAS.

JACKSON ON THE LEFT.

AND ON THE RIGHT.

>> SO CLOSE AND THE RIDERS WEREN'T SURE WHO WON THAT ONE.

AND LOOK HOW MUCH THIS VICTORY MEANS TO AGA FROM CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO.

TWO POLISH RIDERS IN THE TOP FIVE.

AND TWO CANADIAN RIDERS AND EMMA LANGLEY FROM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THAT IS A SOLID TOP FIVE IN THE RESULTS.

>> CANNES CANADIANS THE AMERICANS AND THE POLISH RIDERS REPRESENTED IN THE TOP FIVE HERE TODAY.

>> NATALIE GWYNN FROM THE U.S. COLUMBIA AND KENNA PFIEFER FROM THE U.S. NATIONAL TEAM ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 10.

>> NATALIE GWYNN WAS A RIDER WHO TRIED TO BRIDGE ACROSS ON THE FINAL LAP WAS CAUGHT IN THE NO MAN'S LAND BETWEEN THE FIELD AND THE FRONT OF THE RACE.

ON THE FINAL LAP.

[♪♪] ALL RIGHT.

SO THE WOMEN ENDING THEIR RACE AND THE MEN GETTING SET FOR THEIRS AS WE'RE BETWEEN COMPETITIONS HERE.

AND THERE IS THE POLISH WINNER.

BIGGEST WIN OF HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER AND GOING THROUGH THE MEDIA DUTIES AT THE FINISH OF THE RACE.

>> COOL FOR THEM TO HAVE THE WIN THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE TEAM HAS BEEN BACK TO AMERICA SINCE THE 2019 TOUR OF COLORADO AND THEIR PLAN WAS TO RACE FOR NOTHING SHORT OF A WIN AND THEY GOT THE WIN.

THEY HAD SAID BEFORE THE RACE THAT WE NEEDED TO LOOK OUT FOR AGA SHE WAS GOING TO BE THE DESIGNATED LEADER AND THE PLAN AND STRATEGY WORKED.

>> DIDN'T HAVE TO DO A LOT, EITHER.

IT WAS EF EDUCATION-OATLY THAT ANIMATED THE RACE EARLY.

CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO KIND OF WORKED AT THE FRONT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

BUT IN TERMS OF SETTING UP AGA TO GET THE VICTORY THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO A LOT OF PULLING OR WORK TO GET HER THERE.

>> YEAH, AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY WERE PLANNING THEY WERE PLANNING TO HAVE TO HOLD MORE RESPONSIBILITY IN DETERMINING OR ESTABLISHING THE BREAK AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO THEY WERE ABLE TO FOLLOW AND EXECUTE THEIR PLAN WITH AGA.

AND IT'S COOL TO SEE HOW MUCH THIS WIN MEANS TO HER.

FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE AMERICA WILL BE A SPECIAL PLACE IN HER HISTORY BOOKS ESPECIALLY AFTER THE THIRD PLACE FINISH IN RICHMOND AND NOW A VICTORY AT THE FIRST-EVER WOMEN'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC RACE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHE WILL GET READY FOR THE PODIUM PRESENTATION COMING UP SHORTLY.

AS SHE BASKS IN HER BIGGEST WIN SO FAR COMING TODAY IN BALTIMORE.

WE'RE BETWEEN RACES AND YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT START FROM WHERE THE FINISH IS.

YOU WILL BE HAVING THE WOMEN'S PODIUM CEREMONY GOING ON IN ONE PART OF THE COURSE AND THE MEN GETTING SET FOR THE START IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COURSE.

ONLY A SHORT WALK BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> YEAH, THE RACE ORGANIZERS SET THE DAY UP THERE IS NOT A DULL MOMENT IN THE DAY.

WE HAVE THE WOMEN'S PODIUM AND THE START OF THE MEN'S RACE AFTER AN EXCITING MORNING OF THE WOMEN'S RACING.

IS THIS A SPECIAL DAY FOR THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

HERE IS A LIVE SHOT OF THE CITY AND THE COBBLE SECTION.

THIS IS FELLS POINT.

IN BALTIMORE THEY CALL THE COBBLES BELGIAN BRICKS LIKE A BALTIMORE EXPRESSION TO DESCRIBE THE COBBLES.

I LEARNED THAT FROM THE GUY THAT DESIGNED THIS COURSE.

>> LOOK AT YOU.

>> HIS NAME IS MIKE.

THANKS, MIKE.

>> WELL, THIS WEEK KAISER PERMANENTE AND RACE ORGANIZERS ATTENDED BALTIMORE SCHOOLS TO RAISE AWARENESS OF FITNESS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[♪♪] >> WE ARE VERY, VERY PROUD TO HAVE THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC HERE.

>> AND SUPPORTED BY OUR KAISER PERMANENTE SUPREME BIKES TO RECYCLING TO BRING LIFE PSYCHOLOGY SKILL SETS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

>> A TEACHER HAD AN INTERVENTION WITH ME AND MY PARENTS AND THEY INTRODUCED ME TO THE SPORT OF BIKES.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO EXERCISE KAISER PERMANENTE IS PARTNERING AND WE HAVE DONATED BIKES.

>> WHAT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIDS TO GET BIKES AND TO GET EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVEL RACING IN THIS WHOLE ENDEAVOR HERE IN BALTIMORE.

THAT WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK.

AND GAVE OUT SO MANY BIKES, VISITED SEVERAL SCHOOLS.

IT HAS BEEN A WEEK LONG PROJECT HERE.

AND OF COURSE, THIS RACE HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS GET TO GO READY AND THE MEN'S RACE IS UP NEXT AFTER THE WOMEN JUST FINISHED A SHORT TIME AGO.

HARBOR POINT EAST.

AND THE RACE BEGINNING IN HARBOR POINT PLAZA.

AND THE MEN COMING UP WITH THEIR RACE AT 12:30 LOCAL TIME HERE IN BALTIMORE.

NOW, THIS MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC SHOWING A BRAZILIAN SIDE FIRST SCHEDULED FIVE YEARS AGO, IT'S BEEN CANCELED MULTIPLE TIMES.

ONCE BECAUSE OF COVID.

LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE BUT IT'S COME BACK EACH EVERY TIME THE BEST EDITION STRONGEST AND DEEPEST FIELD IF YOU FOLLOWED CYCLING FOR ANYTIME YOU WILL KNOW THAT ONCE A RACE FALLS OFF THE CALENDAR IT'S VERY TOUGH FOR IT TO COME BACK FOR A LITANY OF REASONS.

SO COME BACK MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER CANCELLATIONS AND POSTPONEMENTS, THAT SHOWS JUST HOW COMMITTED THE ORGANIZERS EVERYONE THAT WAS HAS A INVESTED INTEREST IN THIS RACE HAS BEEN TOWARDS MAKING THIS HAPPEN IN 2025.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT IS A SIGN THIS RACE IS HERE TO STAY IT MIGHT BECOME ONE OF THE CLASSIC AMERICAN RACES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT EVERYBODY AROUND THE WORLD LOOKS FORWARD TO COMING TO.

YOU KNOW, THE C.E.O.

OF U.S.A. CYCLING WAS TALKING ABOUT HOW HE FEELS AND HE KNOWS THAT ALL OF THESE TEAMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO COMING TO THE U.S.A. TO RACE.

AND THE FACT THAT THIS RACE IS ON THE CALENDAR IS GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICAN RIDERS TO SHINE AND DO THEIR STUFF AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE AT THIS LEVEL ON THIS SIDE OF THE POND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

WE HAD ABOUT 20 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN THE WOMEN'S FIELD AND WE HAVE A FEW COUNTRIES REPRESENTED IN THE MEN'S FIELD AND THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT COMPEL ORGANIZERS HAVE A MIX OF INTERNATIONAL RIDERS IN THE FIELD.

THERE MUST BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRADE TEAMS AND A CERTAIN NUMBER OF COUNTRIES REPRESENTED BECAUSE IT MAKES FOR AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT.

>> NOW, THE INNER HARBOR IS GLORIOUS ON THIS EARLY SEPTEMBER WEEKEND.

AS WE ARE BETWEEN RACES HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THE WOMEN FINISHING UP.

THE MEN GETTING SET TO START.

BALTIMORE THE SCENE AND ALL AROUND THIS INNER HARBOR AREA, THE START JUST A LITTLE WAYS AWAY FROM THE FINISH.

BUT THE FINISH IS ALSO THE END OF EACH OF WHAT WILL BE SIX LAPS FOR THE MEN'S RACE.

TERRIFIC FOR THE SPECTATORS THEY CAN WALK BETWEEN THE START AND THE FINISH VERY CLOSE A LOT OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.

THIS IS A LOOK BACK TO THE END OF THE WOMEN'S RACE A PHOTO FINISH.

>> SO THESE TWO RIDERS THEY WERE NOT SURE WHO GOT THE WIN AND THEY HAD TO LOOK AT CAMERAS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHERS TO FIGURE IT OUT ON THEIR OWN.

HERE WE HAVE AGA FROM CANYON SRAM ZONDACRYPTO HERE LIFTING UP HER BIKE SHE IS SUPER HAPPY ABOUT THIS WIN.

SHE IS THE TEAM'S FIRST TIME BACK RACING IN NORTH AMERICA SINCE THE 2019 COLORADO CLASSIC.

AND THEY MADE AN AWESOME COMEBACK WITH THE VICTORY.

AND THEY PLANNED TO SET AGA UP FOR THE WIN AND IT'S NOT EVERY RACE THAT YOUR RACE GOES TO PLAN BUT THEY MADE IT HAPPEN THIS IS SPECIAL ESPECIALLY FOR HER SHE IS A WORKER FOR HER TEAM AND SHE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE.

>> AND THE WAY SHE HAD TO DO IT WAS NOT EASY.

SHE WAS OUT NUMBERED IN TERMS OF THE OPPOSITION IN A FOUR-RIDER GROUP.

EF EDUCATION-OATLY HAD TWO RIDERS SHE WAS BY HERSELF WITHOUT A TEAMMATE.

SHE KNEW THAT EDMOND AND JACKSON WERE GOING TO WORK ON HER AND THAT THEY DID.

SHE HAD THE STRENGTH TO FOLLOW THE MOVES WHEN THEY WERE TESTING HER SHE WAS ON THE WHILE AND LOOKED STRONG SHE LOOKED FRESH AND HAD THE ENERGY IN THE END THEY DIDN'T WEAR HER DOWN LIKE SOMETIMES YOU SEE TEAMS WITH THAT ADVANTAGE AND THAT IS WHAT THEY WILL DO SHE RESPONDED TO EVERY MOVE AND IN THE END SHE GOT THE WIN WHEN SHE WAS CALLED INTO THE SPRINT.

>> YEP.

AND YOU KNOW, I WAS PROBABLY A GREAT TEAM EFFORT, TOO SHE DID HAVE A MECHANICAL SHE HAD A FLAT AND HER TEAM WORKED WITH HER AND HELPED GET HER BACK AND SHE DIDN'T WASTE TOO MUCH AND SHE OUTSPRINTED THE COMPETITION SHE WAS OUTNUMBERED IN AND SHE IS TAKING HOME THE VICTORY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WITH THE MEN ABOUT TO TAKE TO THE ROADS LET'S REMIND YOU WHAT THIS ONTARIO-MILE COURSE LOOKS LIKE AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE ROADS AN BALTIMORE AND WHAT THE MEN WILL BE NAVIGATING WE ASKED OUR COMPETITION DIRECTORS TO RIDE THE COURSE AND COMMENT ON THIS URBAN SETTING FROM A PRO RIDER'S POINT OF VIEW.

>> LET'S EXAMINE THE FIRST KILOMETRE OF THE COURSE.

FROM THE START LINE HERE AND ONLY 300 METERS TIME WE START THE COBBLES AND THE COBBLES ARE 500 METERS LONG AND GO THROUGH A CUTE VIBRANT PART OF THE CITY AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THIS BEFORE IN U.S.

RACING.

IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING.

>> JOANNE WHEN I FIRST HEARD AT THE COBBLESTONES WERE INCLUDED IN THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IN 2025 I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE A SMOOTHER SURFACE.

LET ME TELL YOU AFTER RIDING THEM TODAY, THEY ARE THE REAL DEAL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SO FAR OF THE COBBLES?

>> THEY ARE DEFINITELY BETTER LINES THAN OTHERS.

THEY WILL BE RECOUNTING THESE IN THE DAYS PRIOR AND FIGURING OUT IS THE LEFT SIDE OR THE RIGHT SIDE BETTER WHICH WAY IS FASTER AND SMOOTHER?

>> PATTERSON PARK IS THE LOCATION OF THE BIKE JAM AND ONE OF THE SECTIONS THAT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH ELEVATION GAIN BUT AFTER RIDING IT I CAN TELL YOU AFTER A COUPLE LAPS THAT WILL STING THE LEGS A LITTLE BIT.

HEADING OUT OF LITTLE ITALY TOWARDS ORIGINAL GEORGE WASHINGTON MONUMENT WITH ANOTHER TINY SECTION OF COBBLES AROUND THIS ROUNDABOUT, GEORGE WASHINGTON MONUMENT IS THE HIGH POINT OF CENTRAL BALTIMORE.

WE CONTINUE THROUGH HAMPDEN AND ON TO THE NORTHERN PARKWAY WHICH IS WHERE WE HAVE THE KOM THIS YEAR.

IT IS A BIG WIDE ROAD.

YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP.

AND LET ME TELL YOU THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF ACTION ON THAT KOM LINE.

>> THAT WILL BE A GREAT PLACE TO WATCH THE ACTION THE CLIMB IS 900 METERS LONG AND 8% IN SECTIONS.

>> YOU GO FROM THE WIDE ROADS UP THE CLIMB AND DOWN THIS DESCENT AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU WILL BE BACK IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

IT'S LIKE YOU ARE SEEING TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES NOT JUST PARTS OF ONE LITTLE CITY.

>> NOW, WE'RE BACK ON FELLS ROAD AND IT'S DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY INTO THE CITY AND BACK INTO THE INNER HARBOR AREA.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

COMING DOWN ST. PAUL RIDERS WILL HIT BETWEEN 40 AND 55-MILES-PER-HOUR.

IT IS GOING TO BE A SCREAMER.

>> WITH LESS THAN A KILOMETRE TO GO WE WILL TURN LEFT ON TO PRATT STREET AND THAT IS BALTIMORE'S MAIN STREET.

IT WILL BE A LONG DRAG ALL THE WAY TO THE LINE.

>> AFTER THE FINISH LINE WE TURN ON TO PRESIDENT STREET AND INTO THE VIBRANT HARBOR EAST AREA.

>> YEAH.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL HERE UP-AND-COMING.

THE MARINA, RESTAURANTS, THERE'S NIGHT LIFE A LOT HAPPENING DOWN HERE AND WE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO BE RACING THROUGH THE HEART OF THAT.

>> TO SEE A CIRCUIT WITH THE HISTORY THAT BALTIMORE HAS, IS REALLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT I THINK ALL THE RIDERS FROM EUROPE WHO OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE HISTORY WILL REALLY ENJOY.

>> REALLY COOL COURSE.

THIS IS NOT THE SAME COURSE THAT THE MEN RODE ON IN THE FIRST TWO EDITIONS OF THIS RACE.

IT IS THE SAME FINISH.

BUT THE OLD COURSE USED TO GO NORTH OF HERE INTO BALTIMORE COUNTY THE ROLLING HILLS AND THE COUNTRYSIDE.

BUT THE COURSE THIS YEAR IS ALL WITHIN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

IT IS AN URBAN CIRCUIT.

BUT YOU ARE NOT SACRIFICING CLIMBING OR CORNERS.

YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT FEATURES THAT MAKEUP A VERY COMPELLING AND COMPETITIVE COURSE.

WE HAVE A KING OF THE MOUNTAINS SECTION.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE TECHNICAL CORNERS THAT YOU OFTEN FIND IN CITY CIRCUITS.

YOU HAVE A LOT TO TEST THE RIDERS AND WE WILL SEE THAT COMING UP HERE IN A LITTLE WHILE.

THE MEN'S RACE NOW 35 MINUTES AWAY.

THE WOMEN WILL HAVE THEIR PODIUM PRESENTATION COMING UP.

AND THE MEN WILL GET SET FOR THE START OF THEIR RACE ON WHAT IS TURNED INTO A WARM DAY.

TEMPERATURE RIGHT NOW CLIMBING INTO THE MID-80s.

MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES THERE IS A THREAT OF RAIN FOR THE MEN LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON.

THE WOMEN HAD TOTALLY DRY CONDITIONS.

BUT THE MEN MAY ENCOUNTER THUNDERSTORMS LATER ON THIS AFTERNOON.

WE WILL SEE FOR THE MOMENT, WARM AND DRY HERE IN BALTIMORE.

MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS PRESENTED BY VISIT BALTIMORE.

PROUD HOST OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL BIKE RACE.

BALTIMORE YOU WON'T GET IT UNTIL YOU GET HERE.

KAISER PERMANENTE, OFFICIAL HEALTHCARE SPONSOR WE BELIEVE THAT GOOD HEALTH BEGINS WITH THEM THINK COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES TO HELP MARYLAND THRIVE.

AND BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND FROM THE SANDY BEACHES OF THE EASTERN SHORE TO THE MOUNTAINS OF THE WEST AND EVERYWHERE IN-BETWEEN.

MARYLAND IS HOME TO SPECTACULAR NATURAL BEAUTY.

THE MEN GETTING THE BENEFIT OF THE LATER START AND THE WOMEN COMPLETED THEIR RACE IN DRY CONDITIONS.

AND THE MEN WILL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE WHEAT AND THE HUMIDITY PLUS POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON.

THE FORECAST IS FOR THE INCLEMENT WEATHER TO MOVE IN BETWEEN 2:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M.

THE RACE ITSELF SHOULD RUN BETWEEN 12:30-4:30.

ABOUT FOUR HOURS FOR THE TOTAL MEN'S RACE, 108 MILES.

IN THE BULLSEYE FOR WHEN THE NASTY WEATHER MAY HIT.

EITHER WAY, THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

EVEN IF YOU DON'T GET THE PRECIPITATION YOU HAVE THE HEAT AND THE HUMIDITY THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND THAT IS TOUGH.

>> ON A LONG TOUGH COURSE WITH HOT WEATHER LIKE THAT, IT MAKES THINGS MORE DIFFICULT AND THE RIDERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY ON TOP OF THEIR NUTRITION AND HYDRATION OTHERWISE THEY WILL SUFFER FROM CRAMPS AND EMPTY FEELING IN THOSE LEGS F IT DOES GET HOT FOR THEM THAT WILL BE AN EXTRA CHALLENGE THEY WILL BE FORCED TO DEAL WITH.

HERE WE HAVE THE EF EDUCATION-OATLY TEAM SIGNING IN.

WHAT A COOL OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE TOP RIDERS IN THE WORLD RACING HERE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AGAIN THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE DAY RACE IN UNITED STATES AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RIDERS COMING FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND THEY ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE.

I ACTUALLY OVERHEARD RIDERS LAST NIGHT IN THEIR RACE HOTEL IN THE ELEVATOR SAYING MAN I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME SUNDAY CAN WE STAY AN EXTRA WEEK LONGER AND THAT WAS COOL TO HEAR.

>> THE EF SQUAD ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE WAS VERY PROMINENT THROUGHOUT THE WOMEN'S RACE.

THEY WON THE KELLYE BENEFITS QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS COMPETITION.

THEY HAD TWO IN THE KEY BREAK AWAY LATE FINISHED SECOND WITH ALLISON JACKSON.

>> WELL AS WE GET SET FOR THE MEN'S RACE, WE WILL SHIFT FROM LEX TO ANOTHER SPECIAL CO-COMMENTATOR.

LEX DON'T GO ANYWHERE YET.

HANGOUT FOR A SECOND.

BUT, BUT LET'S WELCOME IN HERE THE STAGE WINNER.

A THREE-TIME NATIONAL TIME TRIAL CHAMPION.

A TOUR OF DUE BY WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS HE HE HAD SUCCESS?

LET'S GET A CHANCE TO COME TO THE DARK SIDE OF CYCLING THE BROADCASTING WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WELCOME TAYLOR FINNEY HERE TO THE BOOTH FOR THE MEN'S RACE.

>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

AND LISTEN TO YOU GUYS ALL MORNING.

GREAT JOB I'VE LOVED IT.

>> WE HAVE NOT JADED TOO MUCH WE HAVE NOT TURNED YOU AWAY.

>> NO I'M HERE AND READY TO GO AND HAPPY BECAUSE A FRIEND OF MINE WON THE RACE SHE IS A FRIEND OF MY WIFE.

AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.

>> WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HER?

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HER AND WHAT IS THE DYNAMIC LIKE?

>> SHE IS FROM SOUTHERN POLL LAND LIKE MY WIFE.

THEY ARE FROM A SIMILAR REGION IN THE MOUNTAINS DOWN SOUTH.

AND YEAH, AI ACTUALLY RAN TO HER AND TOLD HER THAT THE ANNOUNCERS WERE SAYING THAT SHE WON BECAUSE SHE DSHT KNOW AT THE END OF THE RACE.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF A COOL MOMENT TO HAVE BACK HERE.

AND THE REST OF THE TEAM.

>> WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE END OF THE RACE WHEN WE WERE SETTING THINGS UP ABOUT HOW SHE HAD BEEN KIND OF KNOCKING ON THE DOOR.

SHE HAD BEEN CLOSE TO SOME BIG RESULTS AND HAD PUT HERSELF IN SOME POSITIONS AND WORLD TOUR RACES BUT NEVER GOT A SIGNIFICANT WIN.

NOW OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN'T A WORLD TOUR RACE A SIGNIFICANT VICTORY AS SHE ONCE AGAIN PUT HERSELF IN THE SPOT SHE NEEDED AND CAME THROUGH AND CLOSED THE DOOR.

>> SHE HAS BEEN SECOND, THIRD ON THE PODIUM HERE FOR FOURTH AROUND.

SHE IS ALWAYS UP THERE IN THE SPRINTS BUT SHE HAS ACCOUNT QUITE HAD THAT DECISIVE VICTORY.

WE SAW HEROIN THE TIME TRIAL IN EVERY TEAM NEEDS WINS THESE DAYS AND A RACE AS BIG AS MARYLAND, THE TEAM WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME TONIGHT.

>> LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TOWARDS THE MEN'S RACE COMING UP SHORTLY, ABOUT A FOUR HOUR EVENT.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO SIX LAPS.

THE WOMEN DID FOUR, 108 MILES, HOT, HUMID, MAY BE WET.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECKING FROM-- EXPECTING FROM THIS THIRD EDITION OF MEN'S COMPETITION?

>> I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A SPICY RACE.

I MEAN AS WE SAW FROM THE WILLS RACE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HAVING A GROUP SPRINT OR SOMETHING AT THE END YOU HAVE FOUR RIDERS.

ON PAPER, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE THE HARDEST RACE ON THE CALENDAR BUT EACH TEAM COMING HERE IS COMING WITH A STRONG ATTACKING TEAM.

THE BIG WORLD TEAMS ARE HERE WITH OPTIONS.

YOU HAVE AMERICAN RIDERS LIKE QUINN SIMMONS, KNEEL SON PALACE WHO WANT TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND FAST AND I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE FROM THE START, THE U.S.

TEAMS, THE DOMESTIC TEAMS, THE SMALLER CONTINENTAL TEAMS AND THE PRO-TEAMS WORLD TOUR TEAMS JUST GOING FOR IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AS WE MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM THE WOMEN TO THE MEN, TAYLOR STEPPING IN, LEX, YOU ARE DONE FOR THE DAY.

PERFECT DAY AT THE OFFICE.

HOW DID YOU LIKE IT?

>> IT HAS BEEN SO COOL TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE BARRIERS AND WATCHING THE WOMEN DO THEIR STUFF.

THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING RACE.

I'M SO GLAD IT'S ON THE CALENDAR AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO CONTINUE MANY YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> HOW ABOUT FOR A FIRST EVER EDITION OF A RACE LIKE THIS.

YOU HAVE BEEN TO EUROPE AND U.S. ALL OVER THE WORLD, HOW DID THIS FIRST INAUGURAL EVENT STACK UP?

>> IT HAS BEEN EXCELLENT.

THE FIELD WAS SUPER DEEP.

IT WAS GREAT TO SEE SO MUCH REPRESENTATION FROM COUNTRIES ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND THE RACE COURSE, WE NOT SURE HOW THE RACE WOULD PLAY OUT BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON A COURSE LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT IT HAS PROVEN TO BE AN EXCITING RACE COURSE AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON THE RACE IS GOING TO COME BACK OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND TEAMS ARE GOING TO SEEK OUT TO PUT THIS RACE ON THEIR CALENDAR.

>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THE REST OF THE DAY.

>> I'M GOING TO WATCH THE MEN RACE.

>> GOOD ANSWER.

>> BRING US SOME LUNCH OR SOMETHING.

WE HAVE FOUR HOURS TO GO.

>> I CAN DO THAT.

>> MAKE A WHICH I POTELEY RUN OR SOMETHING.

LEX ALBRECHT, TOP CANADIAN RIDER FOR SO MANY YEARS AND WE WILL MAKE THE SWITCH TO THE MEN'S EVENT COMING UP SHORTLY.

IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES FROM THE START AS THE MEN HEAD OVER TO INNER HARBOR AND OVER TO HARBOR EAST AS THEY GET LOOSE AND SET.

THIS IS THE INNER HARBOR WHERE THE RACE WILL FINISHMENT THE START JUST A SHORT WALK FROM HERE AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH MORE IN OUR COVERAGE THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC RIGHT AFTER THIS.

THE MEN WILL SEE THIS BANNER SIX DIFFERENT TIMES IN THEIR UPCOMING RACE.

SIX LAPS.

THIS IS WHERE EVERY LAP ENDS.

IT WILL ALSO BE THE INTERMEDIATE SPRINT POINT, THE START JUST A SHORT WAYS AWAY FROM HERE.

HARBOR POINT PLAZA SO HARBOR POINT PLAZA, THE INNER HARBOR, ALL OF THE KEY SCENIC LANDMARK SPOTS IN THE CENTER OF BALTIMORE.

FOR THE FANS TO COME OUT.

THEY CAN TAKE IT ALL IN.

IF YOU ARE WATCHING SOMEWHERE ELSE, WE WILL TAKE YOU TO ALL OF THE KEY SPOTS HERE.

STEVE, TAYLOR HERE ON THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AND THE MEN, WHEN YOU COMPARE THEM TO THE WOMEN, IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE RACE UNFOLDS.

THE WOMEN'S RACE IS A SHORTER RACE, SHORTER LAPS.

WE HAD SOLO RIDERS GOING OUT IN FRONT AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

ONLY HAD MULTIPLE RIDERS IN A MOVE LATE IN THE FINAL LAP WHEN IT WAS THE DECISIVE GROUP OF FOUR THAT CAME TOGETHER AND DROPPED THE FIELD AND THEN DECIDED THE RACE AMONGST THEMSELVES.

WILL THE MEN HAVE A SIMILAR STRATEGY OR WILL IT PLAY OUT IN THE SAME WAY?

ALWAYS HARD TO TELL.

PROBABLY NOT JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY STRONG AND DEEP TEAMS.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THE MEN'S RACE COULD GO HERE.

SOME SOME EDITIONS WE HAVE SEEN A RIDER GO SOLO AT THE VERY END, A SMALL GROUP OR A BIG GROUP COME TO THE LINE TOGETHER.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS BRAND NEW RACE COURSE THE MEN ARE RACING FOR THE FIRST TIME HERE THIS YEAR IN BALTIMORE.

AS WE CONTINUE HERE, THE MEN ARE GETTING POISED FOR THE START OF THEIR RACE LET'S, WHILE WE HAVE A MOMENT, LET'S ACCEPTED YOU OVER TO RASAN WHO IS NEAR THE STARTING LINE.

>> I'M HERE WITH UNO-X JONAS ABRAHAMSEN.

WHAT IS YOUR FEELING OF BEING IN NORTH AMERICA.

>> HAVE I NEVER RACED HERE SO IT IS VERY NICE HERE.

SPECIAL OUTSIDE THE TOWN THERE, IT'S AMAZING RIDE AND YES, GOOD FOR TRAINING.

SO, YES, PERFECT.

>> NOT TO PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON YOU BUT I'M FROM SOUTHERN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD CYCLING CULTURE THERE AND YOU ARE A FAN FAVORITE.

HAVE YOU FELT THAT HERE AT ALL?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT.

A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE STATES.

HOPEFULLY CAN I DO GOOD TODAY.

>> YOU GUYS COME FROM A LONG WAY, NORWAY AND HOW HAS IT BEEN HERE AND WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TODAY'S MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC?

>> IT'S VERY NICE TO BE HERE AND IT'S A HARD LOOP.

CAN BE A HARD RACE WITH SMALLER GROUPS SO IT'S VERY OPEN RACE.

SO LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING OUT IN THE STATES LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK TODAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MANY OF THE RIDERS GATHERING THERE AND GETTING READY FOR THE START.

HOW ABOUT SOME INDIVIDUAL NAMES TO LOOK FOR AS THE FAVORITES IN YOUR MIND, TAYLOR?

WHO DO YOU THINK.

>> WELL, LET'S SEE I'M LOOKING AT THE STARS AND STRIPES QUINN SIMMONS, THE REIGNING WINNER ON HIS TEAM IS MOSER, THEY HAVE BEEN TRAINING TOGETHER IN COLORADO THE LAST THREE WEEKS.

THEY SEEM TO BE REALLY TIGHT.

THEY HAVE QUITE A BROMANCE FORMING AND-- >> LEGIT BROMANCE ON THE LIKE.

>> THEY WERE CLEAR ABOUT THEIR BROMANCE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

THAT HELPS STRATEGY, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES, I THINK THEY GOT A REAL 1-2 ARE ATTACKING-- ATTACKING PUNCH FOR LIDL-TREK LOOKING FOR A RETURN VICTORY HERE.

I CAN ALSO SEE EDUCATION FIRST JUST LIKE IN THE WOMEN'S BEING UP THERE.

>> LET'S TAKE YOU THROUGH THE START LIST HERE AND WE'LL GO OVER EVERYONE WHO COULD MAKE A DENT IN THIS RACE TODAY.

13 TEAMS, SIX RIDERS PER TEAM WE'VE GOT 89 RIDERS IN TOTAL.

SET TO LINE UP SHORTLY.

AND WE WILL ALSO SPEAK WITH THE WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL MEN'S RACE BACK IN 2022 SETHA.M.

MARKHAM.

BUT THE ON FOREMENTIONED LIST, STARTING WITH TUDOR, LARRY WARBASSE FROM THE U.S. POPULAR HERE ON THE HOME ROADS.

AND FOR THE EF EDUCATION EASYPOST SQUAD KNEEL SON POWLESS .

THEY HAVE A SECOND RIDER, FROM SOCAL HE IS SUPER EXCITED TO BE JOINING THE TEAM.

HE HAD A WIN IN WEST BOHEMIA TOUR A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

GREAT CELEBRATION, A LOT OF ENERGY WITH HIM.

I THINK VANDENBERG IS VERY FAST BUT NEILSEN STATED THAT HE WANTS TO BE UP THERE GOING FOR THE WIN FINALLY.

>> ALFREDO BUENO SAYING NO BUENO.

THE.

THE NORWEGIAN PART OF THIS LARGELY NORWEGIAN SQUAD HERE.

>> YEAH, JONAS HAS BEEN ON A REAL TEAR.

HE WON STAGE 11 OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE AHEAD OF SCHMIDT.

TIGHT FINISH LIKE THE WOMEN'S RACE, A PHOTO FINISH AND HE HAS WON, I THINK TWO RACES SINCE THEN.

ONLY WON FOUR RACES AS A PROFESSIONAL SO HE HAS THREE WINS IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF.

ON FIRE I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY.

SO WE CAN DEFINITELY LOOK TO HIM TO ANIMATE.

HE IS TRYING TO MAKE THE RACE HARD.

HE IS NOT AN OUT AND OUT SPRINTER.

BUT HE IS A WINNER.

HE HAS THE TARGET CAPABILITIES.

>> REAL PREMIER TECH WITH SIMON CLARK, THE AUSSIE WHO ALWAYS HAS A FAST FINISH, RILEY SHEHAN.

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY USED TO TRAIN WITH RILEY SHEEHAN.

HE IS EIGHT OR SO YEARS YOUNG ERR THAN ME BUT HE WOULD COME OUT WITH HIS DAD CLARK SHEEHAN AT THE AGES OF 12, 13, 14 AND TRAIN WITH US WITH THE LIKES OF CHRISTIAN VANDERVEALED AND HE IS ON A TEAR SNAGGING PODIUMS IN EUROPE AND DOING REALLY WELL THIS SEASON.

SIMON CLARK IN HIS LAST YEAR AS A PRO- >> YOU BURIED THE HEADLINE, FROSTED TIPS SHOULD ALWAYS GO FIRST.

>> HEY, MAN, IT'S MY FIRST TIME.

>> THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE.

SPEAKING OF THE AUSSIES, HOW ABOUT MICHAEL MATTHEWS COMING BACK FROM A PULMONARY EMBOLISM, A HEALTH SCARE EARLIER THIS SEASON AND AFTER MISSING THE TOUR DE FRANCE, HE'S BACK HERE IN MARYLAND.

>> MICHAEL MATTHEWS HAVING BLOOD CLOTS IN HIS LUNGS OVER THE SUMMER, FINDING OUT AT AN ALTITUDE TRAINING CAMP.

SUPER SCARY FOR HIM.

HE IS AN INCREDIBLE COMPETITOR.

HE HAS BEEN ON TOP OF THIS SPORT FOR EVERY YEAR THAT HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED.

HE WON IN FRANKFURT EARLIER IN MAY.

HE WAS TOP 10.

SO HE IS DEFINITELY HERE WITH A STRONG TEAM.

ALSO MAURO SCHMID.

>> AND JUST STARTED BACK AGAIN IN EARLY AUGUST.

JEFFREY SLOOP AN ACCOMPLISHED RIDER FOR THIS FRENCH TEAM.

>> HE HAS AN AMAZING BEARD AND ANTHONY, HE WON THE A STAGE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

HE IS A STRONG BUILT RIDER, ANOTHER BIG BOY.

I ALWAYS RESPECT A BIG BOY ON A BIKE.

>> BUT THE BEARD THOUGH.

THE BEARDED ONE ON A HOT AND HUMID DAY, THAT'S GOT TO BE TOUGH.

>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS RAINING.

ESPECIALLY IF IT GETS DIRTY, BUT HEY I'M SURE HE MAKES TIME FOR MAINTENANCE.

>> AND THEN YOU MENTION QUINN SIMMONS ALREADY.

AND YOU ALSO HAVE LAST YEAR'S WINNER OR I SHOULD SAY THE WINNER OF THE MOST RECENT ADDITION OF THIS RACE TWO YEARS AGO.

>> YOU HAVE SKJELMOSE WHO UNVEILS A NEW NOSE STRIP DESIGNED BY HIS SISTER AT EVERY RACE.

WONDER WHAT HE WILL SEE ON HIS NOSE HERE.

OTHER THAN THAT, THE BROMANCE IS STRONG AND ONLY GETTING MORE TIGHT.

SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY GOT GOING ON.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THE NOSE STRIP BUSINESS COULD BE SO INVOLVED AND SO IMPACTFUL BUT APPARENTLY IT IS.

WE'LL WATCH OUT FOR THAT AS THIS DAY UNFOLDS.

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TEAM SOLUTION TECH VINNIE PHON TEENY PHON TEENY.

THESE GUYS ARE A STAPLE.

THE ONLY NON-ITALIAN IS MARK STEWART.

I'VE RACED AGAINST THIS TEAM MULTIPLE TIME.

>> AND TEAM MEDELLIN-EPM, THEY FEATURE OSCAR SEVILLA WHO IS NOW 110 YEARS OLD AND STILL RACING.

>> 4 YEARS OLD HE WAS A DOMISTIQUE WITH T-MOBILE.

HE STARTED RACING BEFORE HE WAS BORN BUT HE WON A TOUR OF ECUADOR THIS YEAR AND HE IS STILL ON TOP.

HE IS STILL DOING IT.

>> TEAM KNOW IF OWE NORDISK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OLD STAPLES.

I DON'T WANT TO SAY OLD BUT THEY HAVE BEEN ON THE TEAM FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

THIS TEAM, THEY'RE RACING WITH TYPE ONE DIP BEATS, BRINGING AWARENESS TO BEING ABLE TO REET THAT AND STILL COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IS VERY INSPIRING.

>> TEAM SKYLINE, WITH SEVERAL AMERICANS DOTTING THE ROSTER HERE.

>> TEAM SKYLINE IS AN AMERICAN CONTINENTAL TEAM, ONE OF ONLY TWO REMAINING CONTINENTAL TEAMS HERE IN THE U.S.

ALONG WITH PROJECT ECHELON THAT ARE HERE IN THIS RACE.

THEY'RE JUST COMING OFF OF A RACE IN PORTUGAL.

THEIR BIGGEST RACE YET, 11 STAGES ACROSS PORTUGAL.

THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD SOME PRETTY INTERESTING STORIES OF HAVING TO UBER OFF THE TOP OF MOUNTAINS AND SUCH BUT A YOUNG PEOPLE, IRISH AND AMERICAN AND THEY'RE STOKED TO BE HERE.

>> SO THERE IS NOT A QUICKER WAY OFF THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN THAN TO UBER.

>> JUST WAITING FOR THE UBER WOULD TAKE TOO LONG.

>> WE DIDN'T GET INTO THE DETAILS.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THEY HAD UBER IN RURAL PORTUGAL BUT PROJECT ECHELON IF I CAN JUST MENTION THEY USE CYCLING TO COACH, MENTOR AND MOTIVATE OVER 600 VETERANS SO THAT'S VERY COOL AND WE HAVE TEAM USA WITH A YOUNG TEAM AND STANDOUT COMING OVER ON LOAN FROM UAE BRANDON McNULTY, FRESH OFF THE TOUR de PALON.

OVERALL STAGE WIN.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST, HIGHEST PROFILE NAMES IN THE RACE, BRANDON McNULTY.

A GUY WITH INTERNATIONAL CHOPS BUT BACK ON THE HOME ROADS HERE TODAY FOR THIS THIRD EDITION OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC COMING UP SHORTLY FROM HERE IN BALTIMORE MAJORITY LEADER-- IN BALTIMORE MARYLAND.

INSIDE OF 10 MINUTES TO THE START.

SO THE MEN STARTING TO LINE UP HERE HARBOR POINT PLAZA.

>> THERE IS MICHAEL MATHEWS RIGHT THERE.

HIS NICKNAME IS BLING.

HE USED TO WEAR A LOT MORE FLASHY JEWELRY THAN HE DOES NOW BUT HE STILL HAS A GREAT SHOE COLLECTION.

HE DOES LIVE IN MONACO SO HAVE YOU TO KEEP THE STANDARDS HIGH WHEN YOU ARE CRUISING THE STREETS.

>> THE PRESSURE IS HIGH TOO, THE PRESSURE IS UNRELENTING WHEN YOU ARE IN MONACO.

>> HARD TO KEEP UP AND THAT'S WHY I DON'T LIVE THERE.

BUT-- >> HE IS NOT DOING HIMSELF ANY FAVORS.

YOUR NICKNAME IS BLING, YOU LIVE IN MONACO, THE STANDARD IS UNRELENTING.

>> A HIGH BAR BUT HE IS DOWN TO JUMP.

>> HOW DO YOU LIKE MICHAEL MATHEWS FOR THIS COURSE?

>> WELL, HE IS A VERY FAST RIDER AND A RIDER WHO HAS A KEEN RACE SENSE AND WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO MARKING THE RIGHT MOVES BETWEEN HIM AND MAURO SCHD, THEY A ROLE TO PLAY.

WE'LL SEE WHAT ATTACKS COME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RACE AND HOW BIG THIS BREAKAWAY ENDS UP BEING AND HOW IT REALLY UNFOLDS.

I CAN'T SEE IT BEING A GROUP SPRINT NECESSARILY BUT IF IT WERE TO COME TO THAT, JAYCO ALIEU LA ARE READY TO PACE.

>> EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR AUSTRALIA, BUT THE FIRST IN AFRICA, AND HE IS GETTING READY FOR THOSE IN A FEW WEEKS IN ROW WAN DO.

-- RWANDA.

THIS IS THE FRONT ROW OF THE MEN'S RACE.

NOW JUST MINUTES AWAY THERE IS LUKE DURBRIDGE WITH NELSON NEXT TO HIM, AMERICA'S DARLING.

>> LET'S GO TO RASAN WHO IS WITH BRANDON McNULTY.

>> I'M HERE WITH U.S.

OWNED BRANDON McNULTY, THIS IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME HERE.

WE ARE USED TO SEEING HIM ON THE WORLD TOUR LEVEL RACING IN THE HIGH MOUNTAINS BUT IS HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

FIRST TIME THOUGHTS SO FAR.

>> SUPER EXCITED TO BE HERE.

WE DON'T GET TO RACE IN THE U.S.

VERY OFTEN SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO BE HERE FOR A HARD RACE.

>> SO, YEAH, YOU TALK ABOUT THE RACE BEING HARD.

WE SAW THE WOMEN'S RACE BLOW UP WITH ONE LAP TO GO.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS HOW THE RACE WILL GO FOR THE MEN'S.

>> SUPER AGGRESSIVE, THE SAME THING, A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE SUFFERING AND A LOT OF ATTACKING.

IT'S SUPER OPEN HARD RACE.

>> NOT REALLY KNOWN FOR YOUR CLOSING SPEED BUT DEFINITELY A VERY SMART RACER.

WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON THAT.

I KNOW WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

IT COULD COME DOWN TO A SELECT GROUP OF MAYBE FOUR TO EIGHT RIDERS AND I THINK YOU HAVE A CHANCE ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IS THAT SOMETHING IN YOUR HEAD.

>> MY IDEAL IS TO GO SOLO BUT OUT OF A GROUP OR THREE OR FOUR, I CAN STAND MY OWN IF IT'S THE RIGHT THREE OR FOUR GUYS AT LEAST.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU ARE ON ANOTHER LEVEL AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU OUT THERE.

SO GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> ALL RIGHT, BRANDON McNULTY LOOKING TO PUT ON A SHOW HERE ON THE HOME ROADS IN THE U.S. AND IT'S GOT TO BE SPECIAL TAYLOR.

WOULD YOU KNOW THIS.

HE HAS SPENT SO MUCH TIME RACING IN EUROPE AND AROUND THE WORLD TO COME BACK FOR A PRESTIGIOUS RACE HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD HAS TO BE COOL.

>> ANY TIME YOU GET TO DON THE U.S.

KIT, IT'S A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE.

HE IS RACING WITH A BUNCH OF YOUNG RIDERS ON THE TEAM.

I KNOW THAT CAN BE FIND OF KIND OF FUN FOR HIM.

HE IS A QUIET RESERVED KIND OF A GUY.

HARD TO GET A FULL SENSE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN HIS HEAD BUT ONCE HE GETS OUT THERE ON A BIKE, HE IS A SPEED DEMON AND TO WIN THE TOUR A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I KNOW HE IS ON ONE OF THE BIGGEST TEAMS IN THE WORLD BUT THAT'S A DANG HARD RACE.

SO BIG PROPS TO HIM AND I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE ACTIVE TODAY FOR SURE.

>> HIS FELLOW AMERICAN NEILSON SPOKE WITH HIM.

>> I'M HERE WITH TWO-TIME PODIUM RIDER NEILSON.

I KNOW YOU ARE FEELING GOOD.

HOW IS IT GOING WON A PINK JERSEY ON THE PINK STEP, BROUGHT A SPRINTER AND MYSELF FOR AN AGGRESSIVE RACE READY FOR ANY SCENARIO GOING TO BE CHASING THE WIN TODAY.

>> YOU ARE ONE OF THE PRIDES OF THE U.S. REALLY BIG RESULTS OVER IN EUROPE.

GOT TO BE A PLEASURE BEING BACK IN THE STATES.

>> ALL YEAR I'M JEALOUS OF THE EUROPEAN RIDERS WHO RACE ON EUROPEAN SOIL.

THIS IS MY CHANCE TO GIVE IT BACK TO THEM THEY ARE ONE OF THE FAVORITES AND SUPPORT TO GET THEM THERE THEY HAVE A GOOD SPRINTING OPTION NEILSON DID A LOCALE CRITERIUM LAST WEEK HE WAS TELLING US ABOUT IN HOUSTON SO EVERY WEDNESDAY COMMUNITY GETS TOGETHER AND HOSTS A CRITERIUM AND HE HAD SOME FUN OUT THERE, SO HE IS HAPPY TO BE BACK IN THE U.S. AND IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT FEELING RACING IN THE U.S.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET TO RACE