Tour of the Gila
Encyclopedia
The Tour of the Gila is a cycling
stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico
, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987.
Beginning in Silver City, New Mexico
, the men's course covers around 540 km over five days, while the women's course covers about 100 km less. It consists of three road races
(currently stages 1, 2 and 5), a Individual Time Trial
(currently stage 3) and a Criterium
(currently stage 4). The Tour of the Gila is currently classified as a national race, which prohibits both UCI ProTour
and UCI ProContinental teams from competing in it. Through 2010, individuals from those teams could compete as part of other teams, which are generally limited to three competitors. However, beginning in 2011, individuals from UCI ProTeams were completely prohibited from competing in such races.
winner Lance Armstrong
and his teammates Levi Leipheimer
and Chris Horner
-- announced they would attend the race in preparation for the Giro d'Italia
. In addition, it was Armstrong's first race after he underwent surgery to repair a broken collarbone sustained in the Vuelta a Castilla y León
. The three entered the race under the team name "Mellow Johnny's", in reference to Armstrong's nickname and the name of his Austin bicycle shop. Leipheimer went on the win the event overall, while Armstrong took second. On the women's side, Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong
won for the second time, during her last season.
teammate Jason McCartney
. Armstrong also entered a "Livestrong" team of under-23 riders, including Jesse Sergent
, who won the stage 3 time trial, and Taylor Phinney
, who won stage 4, which, when combined with Leipheimer's stage 1 victory, gave Armstrong's teams victories in three of the five stages. Fellow American professionals Tom Danielson
and David Zabriskie
, who ride for Garmin-Slipstream, also entered, as part of Zabriskie's "DZ Nuts" team. Ultimately, Leipheimer defeated Danielson by 59 seconds for his second consecutive Gila title. On the women's side, Mara Abbott, the 2007 winner, won again.
of Realcyclist.com, who won two road stages, with 18-year-old Australian Dale Parker of Armstrong's Trek-Livestrong U23 team winning the time trial and finishing second. In the women's race, 1996 Olympic medalist Clara Hughes
of Pactimo Cycling won the time trial and criterium stages and defeated defending champion Mara Abbott of the Italian team Diadora Pasta Zara by about three minutes.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
stage race for both men and women located in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, USA. It is currently sponsored by the component maker SRAM. The "Gila" began in 1987.
Beginning in Silver City, New Mexico
Silver City, New Mexico
Silver City is a town in Grant County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 10,545. It is the county seat of Grant County. The city is the home of Western New Mexico University.-History:...
, the men's course covers around 540 km over five days, while the women's course covers about 100 km less. It consists of three road races
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
(currently stages 1, 2 and 5), a Individual Time Trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
(currently stage 3) and a Criterium
Criterium
A criterium, or crit, is a bike race held on a short course , often run on closed-off city center streets....
(currently stage 4). The Tour of the Gila is currently classified as a national race, which prohibits both UCI ProTour
UCI ProTour
The UCI ProTour was a series of road bicycle races in Europe, Australia and Canada organised by the UCI . Created by Hein Verbruggen, former president of the UCI, it comprises a number of 'ProTour' cycling teams, each of whom are required to compete in every round of the series...
and UCI ProContinental teams from competing in it. Through 2010, individuals from those teams could compete as part of other teams, which are generally limited to three competitors. However, beginning in 2011, individuals from UCI ProTeams were completely prohibited from competing in such races.
2009
Before the 2009 running, the race almost folded before SRAM was brought in as principal sponsor. Shortly thereafter, the race entered the spotlight when three riders from Astana (which was also sponsored by SRAM) -- seven-time Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
winner Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
and his teammates Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer
Levi Leipheimer is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . His major results are winning the 2007–2009 editions of the Tour of California, the 2006 Dauphiné Libéré and the 2005 Deutschland Tour, coming in second in the 2008 Vuelta a España, third in the 2001 Vuelta a...
and Chris Horner
Chris Horner
Christopher Horner is an American professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . A native and current resident of Bend, Oregon, Horner dominated the American road racing scene by winning the points standings in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar.-PAA-NutraFig...
-- announced they would attend the race in preparation for the Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
. In addition, it was Armstrong's first race after he underwent surgery to repair a broken collarbone sustained in the Vuelta a Castilla y León
2009 Vuelta a Castilla y León
The 2009 Vuelta a Castilla y León, the 24th running of the race, started on March 23 in Paredes de Nava, and concluded on March 27 in Valladolid. It was won by Levi Leipheimer.-Stage 1 - March 23, 2009: Paredes de Nava - Baltanás, 168.3km:...
. The three entered the race under the team name "Mellow Johnny's", in reference to Armstrong's nickname and the name of his Austin bicycle shop. Leipheimer went on the win the event overall, while Armstrong took second. On the women's side, Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong
Kristin Armstrong
Kristin Armstrong is a professional road bicycle racer and Olympic gold medalist, the winner of the Women's Time Trial at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Before temporarily retiring to start a family in 2009, she rode for in women's elite professional events on the National Racing Calendar ...
won for the second time, during her last season.
2010
Once again, Leipheimer and Armstrong competed as part of Armstrong's "Mellow Johnny's" team, along with Team RadioShackTeam RadioShack
Team RadioShack is a professional road bicycle racing team, with RadioShack as the title sponsor, the creation of which was announced on July 23, 2009. Lance Armstrong co-owns and leads the team, which plans to race in the Grand Tours and the UCI ProTour, as well as running and triathlon events...
teammate Jason McCartney
Jason McCartney (cyclist)
Jason McCartney is an American professional road racing cyclist for UCI ProTour team . His 2004 Tour de Georgia stage win led to his being named the North American rider of the year" by VeloNews Magazine. He represented the USA Olympic team in the road racing event in 2004 and 2008...
. Armstrong also entered a "Livestrong" team of under-23 riders, including Jesse Sergent
Jesse Sergent
Jesse Sergent is a New Zealand racing cyclist for .At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Sergent won the bronze medal as part of the New Zealand team in team pursuit, together with Sam Bewley, Hayden Roulston, and Marc Ryan....
, who won the stage 3 time trial, and Taylor Phinney
Taylor Phinney
Taylor Phinney is a world champion American racing cyclist, specialising on the track in individual pursuit. He is the son of former professional racing cyclist Davis Phinney and former Olympic gold medal racing cyclist and speed skater Connie Carpenter-Phinney...
, who won stage 4, which, when combined with Leipheimer's stage 1 victory, gave Armstrong's teams victories in three of the five stages. Fellow American professionals Tom Danielson
Tom Danielson
Tom Danielson is a professional road racing cyclist. Previously riding for the Saturn Team on the U.S. Pro Circuit, and for Fassa Bortolo in Europe, Danielson is currently a member of , but rode for the Discovery Channel team between 2005 and 2007.Danielson currently holds the record for the...
and David Zabriskie
David Zabriskie
David Zabriskie is a professional road bicycle racer from the United States who rides for . His main strength is individual time trials and his career highlights include stage wins in all three Grand Tour stage races and winning the US National Time Trial Championship six times...
, who ride for Garmin-Slipstream, also entered, as part of Zabriskie's "DZ Nuts" team. Ultimately, Leipheimer defeated Danielson by 59 seconds for his second consecutive Gila title. On the women's side, Mara Abbott, the 2007 winner, won again.
2011
After the success of the previous two editions of the Tour of the Gila, the event's organizers applied for the race to be added to the 2010-2011 UCI America Tour calendar. However, the organizers were unable to attract sufficient funding and had to request in January 2011 that the race be moved back to the U.S. national calendar. As a reault, no UCI Pro Tour riders entered, unlike the previous two years. The men's race was won by Francisco ManceboFrancisco Mancebo
Francisco Mancebo Pérez is a Spanish pro cyclist. He initially rode for team Illes Balears, but moved to AG2R Prévoyance in 2006....
of Realcyclist.com, who won two road stages, with 18-year-old Australian Dale Parker of Armstrong's Trek-Livestrong U23 team winning the time trial and finishing second. In the women's race, 1996 Olympic medalist Clara Hughes
Clara Hughes
Clara Hughes, OC, OM is a Canadian cyclist and speed skater, and has won multiple Olympic medals in both sports. Hughes won two bronze in the Summer Olympics in 1996 and four medals over the course of three Winter Olympics...
of Pactimo Cycling won the time trial and criterium stages and defeated defending champion Mara Abbott of the Italian team Diadora Pasta Zara by about three minutes.
Men
Women
External links
- Results and Articles Cyclingnews.com