Copyright Blake Dahlin/Tour de Bloom
Rebecca Reza
May 2, 2025
The 2025 Tour de Bloom is gearing up for their 25th edition and the launch of their first UCI-level Women’s 2.2 stage race. For the first time in its history, and in decades of American racing, the complete five days of racing will have LIVE streaming coverage thanks to media partners, Duro al Pedal from Guatemala and Radio Tour US.
The race organization is hoping this opportunity to bring the LIVE racing action with real time results, for free to fans around the world, will set the standard for many years to come in American racing. The five days of racing kicks off Friday morning, and will see the first battle this season between Aegis Cycling Foundation Lauren Stephens, Fount Cycling Guild Alia Shafi, and Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty 28, Emily Ehrlich. Other teams to watch include Competitive Edge Racing, who last week celebrated stage wins in Downtown Silver City for both their men and women teams with Eric Brunner and Galen Bolard. SpeedBlock p/b Terún have brought both men and women squads as well, including Redlands Bicycle Classic Queen of the Mountain winner, Kira Payer. Mexico’s PatoBike will also be in the mix.
The pro men will begin their trek in the afternoon. Project Echelon are arriving directly from the Tour of the Gila, after winning the overall title for a second consecutive year. The current US National Road Champion, Stephen Bassett, will be racing his first stage race wearing the stars and stripes in Washington, after starting his season overseas. Rolling up alongside them, straight from Uruguay, is the recent silver-medalist at the Pan American Road Championships: Costa Rican Sebastian Brenes, racing for Canel’s Java. Recent Redlands Bicycle Classic Stage Winner, Quinn Felton (Cyclesport.com), breakaway specialists Allan Schroeder (RF Foundation) and Stephen Schaeffer (Landis Trek) are also racing. The Tour de Bloom is set in the beautiful valleys of Central Washington, alongside the Cascade Mountain range.
After a tough few weeks of racing that many are jokingly referring to as the “North American Grand Tour,” riders head into another tough week of racing. Stage 1 begins with the Still Properties Road Race along the classic Waterville wheat country, with the women taking to the stage in the morning at 9 AM, facing 2 laps and 58 miles, The men follow suit at 1:15 PM, racing 87 miles and 3 laps, with each lap including a mountain sprint line. The course profile is deceiving with its rolling hills, but wind may play a big factor in setting the first general classification standings.
The race organization will host a short team presentation, following the opening stage, to highlight the decorated athletes and teams who have traveled to the region from all over the world. Riders will then enjoy a much-needed opportunity to rest Saturday morning, as the party continues in Downtown Wenatchee with the Rookard Custom Pools Twilight Criterium for stage 2. The stage is set on a traditional 1km, 4-corner rectangular course in the heart of historic Wenatchee, over a six-block loop. A slight undulation on the backside should test the legs in the peloton after weeks of hard racing. The women take to the stage at 7:45 local time, after the amateurs have had their day, for 60 minutes of racing–after which the men will culminate the festivities, racing for 60 minutes starting at 9 PM.
Twenty28’s Marlies Mejias is back after a podium finish in the individual pursuit at the recent Pan American Track Championships. A multiple sprint stage winner, she will have a lot of eyes in the peloton fighting for her wheel. Fount will be fighting for control as well, after a spectacular showing at Redlands. The squad has plenty of options, with Ellexi Snovar and Elizabeth Dixon likely their favorites for the sprint. For the men, Quinn Felton will be a strong favorite after his success at Redlands, fighting against the powertrain of Project Echelon.
Hopefully the riders slept well the morning prior, because the alarms will be ringing before the sun rises Sunday for an early UCI women 9 AM start. Stage 3 Alberg Sports.com Plain Road Race will start and finish near Plain Cellars in the bustling village of Plain. This year’s stage will utilize the north and west roads of Plain, including some along the shore of scenic Lake Wenatchee. The UCI women will face two 24.5-mile laps of the undulating hills, with the men completing three.
Based on the overall standings, the GC contenders in the field will be ready to go to battle, setting their domestiques to work and looking to their teams to keep them fresh for the finish and safe throughout each day.
The field is deep, with a lot of strong riders among the UCI women’s peloton. Twenty28’s Emily Ehrlich won two gold medals just days ago at the Pan American Track Championships, and later followed with a silver medal in the Pan American Road Championships. Going up against her and the team will be decorated veteran Lauren Stephens, racing for her composite team Aegis Cycling Foundation. Stephens arrives hot off a second consecutive title win at the Tour of the Gila and winning Levi’s Gran Fondo last month. Meanwhile, Fount’s Alia Shafi earned her first overall title at the Redlands Bicycle Classic this year, confirming the talent and potential she has for the future. Shafi will be backed by Current US Master’s Road Champion and team coach, Jennifer Wheeler; along with Dixon, Snovar, and recent stage podium finisher at Gila, Minori Minagawa.
The penultimate stage serves up the BuildersSource Palisades Time Trial. A 30km out-and-back course, utilizing a dead-end country road with a beautiful backdrop of mountains and hills. There are no time bonuses for this stage, though the difficulty may increase dramatically should the wind pick up. The women take to the starting house at 11 AM, immediately followed by the pro men. A 20% time limit of the winning time will be followed for riders hoping to make it to the finale on Tuesday.
As the sun rises Tuesday morning, the pro men and women will be prepping for the final GC battle on the Queen Stage. Race organizers added extra spice to the finale, with a brutal 3.1km climb that includes a 12.4% max gradient near the finish. After previewing the course Thursday, US National Road Champion Stephen Bassett stated the new course will be the toughest in American stage racing. They will face two category 1 climbs before the HC-category summit finish, before crowning the 2025 Tour de Bloom Champions.
Live coverage begins one hour before the start of each stage, concluding with the podium ceremony via YouTube. The link will be provided on the official website at TourdeBloom.com with daily highlights and other coverage published on social media channels. This will be an exciting year for athletes and spectators alike.