Rebecca Reza

May 5, 2025

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Fount Cycling Guild’s Alia Shafi took her first win of the 2025 Tour de Bloom in the Twilight Criterium last night in Downtown Wenatchee. Shafi won in a fierce sprint finish, with Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty28’s Marlies Mejias placing next in second and Aegis Cycling Mixed Team’s Lauren Stephens taking third.

This year’s criterium, a six-block, 4 corner, 1 km loop through the heart of historic downtown Wenatchee, presented by Rookard Custom Pools, drew huge crowds and activity. The stage began late in the day, with daylight expected to diminish as the race continued. Despite the setting sun the downtown mood was lively and festive, crowds buzzing in anticipation of the upcoming battle. 

Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty28, after being unable to attend the other U.S. women’s UCI race at Tour of the Gila this year, were eager to show their team’s skill on the tight course. The powerful sprinting team moved up to control the front of the field. Twenty28’s Emily Ehrlich, one of the team’s strongest time trialist, moved to the front of the field to take control of the pace. Aegis’ Lauren Stephens also moved up to the front to remain safe, keeping an eye open on dangerous moves, using Twenty28’s draft to maintain her position. Fount Cycling Guild were also in the mix, beginning to establish their position at the front of the field.

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As they approached the first intermediate sprint, Marlies Mejias of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty28 fought her way to the front of the field, taking the first intermediate sprint and time bonus. Emily Ehrlich took the second, with Fount Cycling’s Alia Shafia securing the third. 

 

The field stayed together and in similar formation in the stretch leading into the second intermediate sprint. Competitive Edge Racing worked their way up the field, positioning to compete for the sprint bonus. Twenty28’s Marlies Mejias took the first bonus seconds in the second intermediate sprint, just as she had in the first sprint, followed by Lauren Stephens (Aegis). Competitive Edge Racing’s Mia Aseltine was able to cross next for the third place intermediate sprint bonus, showing that their team is one to watch in the remainder of the race. 

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The sun set fully shortly after the second sprint, and the lights came on in downtown Wenatchee. The stage began to heat up as riders readied themselves for the laps leading to the third and final intermediate sprint. Orange jerseys began to permeate the front of the race as Automatic Racing began making some moves for the front as well. Virginia's Blue Ridge Twenty28 continued to set the pace of this race, preventing the possibility of a lead group forming out front and forcing the field to maintain tempo. 

 

Tempo continued to increase as the field reached the final intermediate sprint. Just as in the last sprint, Mejias took the first-place time bonus, taking off an overall nine second bonus on her GC time and ensuring she keeps the green jersey moving forward. Lauren Stevens earned the second bonus again, granting her a four second bonus overall. Canadian Olympic Speed Skating Champion, Ivanie Blondin of Automatic Racin, took the third and final time bonus of the day. 

 

With only ten laps to go, Twenty28’s Rylee McMullen suffered a rear flat and fell back, weakening Twenty28’s hold on the front. Fount Cycling Elizabeth Dixon managed to break away and hold a small lead for a couple laps before being reabsorbed with six laps to go. CCB p/b Levine Law Group and Automatic Racing moved up the field as they began to position themselves for the final sprint to the line.

 

The final laps saw a frantic battle for control of the front of the field. Mejias, Fount Cycling, and Lauren Stevens shuffled for the lead, while PatoBike made a bid from behind and Automatic Racing moved up the right side of the field. It seemed as though the peloton would stay together until the end of the final lap, whenyt Fount Cycling’s Alia Shafi suddenly broke away from the field and sprinted for the finish, crossing the line and placing first on the Stage 2 UCI Twilight Crit. Marlies Mejias (Virginia’s Blue Ridge Twenty28) followed to take second, with Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Mixed Team) finishing third. 

 

Fount Cycling, as a Seattle-based team, had the finish line alive with excitement over Shafi’s win and the team’s overall success so far. The crowd could still be heard chanting her name in the background as Alia Shafi gave her statement on tonight’s win. “It wasn’t necessarily the plan,” she said, laughing. “There was a gap, and I just kept going.”

 

Stage Four is the Plain Road Race presented by Arlberg Sports. The course begins near Plain Cellars in the bustling village of Plain, with Pro Women beginning at 9:00 am.