TUMALO — The Cascade Cycling Classic was already Jasmine Duehring’s favorite race on the calendar this year.

The sections of dirt and gravel in Wednesday’s Tumalo Circuit Race made it even more so, she said.

The 26-year-old Canadian rider for TWENTY20 outsprinted two other riders to the finish line on Couch Market Road to win Stage 1 of the 39th Cascade Cycling Classic.

The 39-rider field of pro women raced three laps of the 15.5-mile circuit through Tumalo that included 4 miles of gravel roads.

“We have a super-fun course out here,” Duehring said. “The gravel on the course really mixes it up. That’s the new style of racing that’s really growing in popularity across North America. I think it’s great that the race organization is getting a head start on that, and giving the riders the kind of races they want to be doing.”

Duehring, who is from Vancouver, British Columbia, but now lives in Southern California, finished the 47-mile race in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 22 seconds. Heidi Franz of Rally Cycling was second with the same time, and Maddy Ward of the Amy D Foundation took third, also with the same time.

Duehring said there were no significant attacks during the race until the third and final lap of the circuit.

“The third lap it was just attacks flying left and right the whole way,” Duehring said. “The last 5 miles or so were pretty awesome — just a real battle. It was great.”

Two riders gained about a 10-second lead on the main pack about 7 miles from the finish, but they were caught at the bottom of a hairpin turn on one of the gravel sections.

Transitioning from the dirt road to the asphalt road near the finish, the pack was mostly together. Duehring made her move along the fast, slightly downhill finish along Couch Market Road.

“The end of the gravel is about half a mile from the finish line, and there’s a pretty technical turn about a mile out,” Duehring said. “So its a real battle for position. One attack after another through the gravel makes it really tough.”

Duehring’s teammates on TWENTY20 include Emma Grant and Bend’s Jennifer Luebke. The team raced in the prestigious Tour of California last week.

“We have some new courses, which will be super fun,” Duehring said of the CCC. “Some more gravel on Friday. (Luebke) gave me all the pointers for today. We’re all super excited to be here. We’re definitely here to put the pressure on.”

—Reporter: 541-383-0318,

mmorical@bendbulletin.com