View source for Tour of the Gila

{{short description|American cycling stage race}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox cycling race
| name          = Tour of the Gila
| current_event =
| image         =Tour of the Gila-logo 2021.png
| date          = April&nbsp;– May
| region        = [[New Mexico]], United States. (North America)
| english       = 
| localnames    = 
| nickname      = 
| discipline    = 
| competition   = [[UCI America Tour]]
| type          = Stage race
| organiser     = Tour of the Gila Inc.
| director      = 
| first         = {{start date|1987}}
| number        = 36 (as of 2024)
| last          = 
| firstwinner   = {{flagathlete|[[Andy Bishop (cyclist)|Andy Bishop]]|USA}}
| mostwins = {{flagathlete|[[Drew Miller (cyclist)|Drew Miller]]|USA}}<br>{{flagathlete|[[Burke Swindlehurst]]|USA}}<br>''(3 wins)''
| mostrecent    = {{flagathlete|[[Tyler Stites]]|USA}}
| history_women     = Women's history
| first_women       = {{start date|1987}}
| number_women      = 35 (as of 2024)
| last_women        = 
| firstwinner_women = {{flagathlete|[[Nancy Shipp]]|USA}}
| mostwins_women    = {{flagathlete|[[Mara Abbott]]|USA}} ''(6 wins)''
| mostrecent_women  = {{flagathlete|[[Lauren Stephens]]|USA}}
}}

The '''Tour of the Gila''' is a [[cycle sport|cycling]] [[stage race]] for both men and women located in [[New Mexico]], United States. It is sponsored by the component maker [[SRAM Corporation|SRAM]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Tour of the Gila |url=https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=239 |website=FirstCycling.com |language=en}}</ref> The "Gila" began in 1987.  Beginning in 2012, the men's Gila has been added to the [[UCI America Tour]] as a UCI classification 2.2 stage race, which permits [[UCI Pro Tour|UCI ProTeams]] to enter if they so choose; beginning in 2015, the women's Gila has also been added to the [[2015 in women's road cycling#Stage races (2.1 and 2.2)|women's UCI international tour]] as a UCI classification 2.2 stage race.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tour of the Gila (Usa) - Cat.2.2 |url=http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/etapes/eta_td_gila.php |accessdate=31 December 2021 |work=Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu |language=fr}}</ref>

Beginning in [[Silver City, New Mexico]], the men's course covers around {{convert|540|km|abbr=off}} over five days, while the women's course covers about {{convert|100|km|abbr=off}} less. It consists of three [[Road bicycle racing|road races]] (stages 1, 2 and 5, nicknamed the "Gila Monster"), an [[Individual Time Trial]] (stage 3) and a [[Criterium]] (stage 4).  Through 2011, the Tour of the Gila was classified as a national race, which prohibits both [[UCI ProTour]] and UCI ProContinental teams from competing in it. In 2009 and 2010, through a special agreement with the [[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]], individuals from those teams could compete as part of teams that were limited to three competitors, which led to a resurgence of interest among male cyclists in the Tour of the Gila.

Beginning in 2011, though, individuals from UCI ProTeams were completely prohibited from competing in such races.  The Gila planned to upgrade to a UCI Americas Tour race in 2011 as a result, but it was not able to secure sufficient funding and had to revert to a U.S. national race.  However, it upgraded to UCI America Tour status for 2012 and has remained on the UCI Americas Tour ever since, despite the collapse in American cycling sponsorship in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sram-tour-of-the-gila-added-to-uci-america-tour-for-2012 |title=SRAM Tour of the Gila added to UCI America Tour for 2012 |author=Cyclingnews |date=December 14, 2011 |work=CyclingNews.com |access-date=February 11, 2012}}</ref>

The women's race remained a U.S. national race through 2014, but was also added to the UCI Americas calendar in 2015, which was accompanied by a funding crisis that threatened the cancellation of both races.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gila-seeking-funds-for-womens-uci-race/ |title=Gila seeking funds for women's UCI race |author=Pat Malach |date=March 11, 2015 | work=CyclingNews.com |access-date=August 11, 2015}}</ref>  In the end, however, sufficient additional funding was found to continue both races as UCI events.

During the 2017 edition, Chad Young, a 21-year-old rider on {{UCI team code|AHB|2017}}, died from injuries sustained in a crash on a downhill section of the queen stage.<ref name="NBC">{{cite web |url=http://sports.nbcsports.com/tag/chad-young/|title=American cyclist Chad Young dies from injuries sustained in crash |date=April 29, 2017|access-date=April 29, 2017 |work=NBC Sports}}</ref>

==Recent editions==
{{update|section|date=April 2017}}

===2009===
Before the 2009 running, the race almost folded before SRAM was brought in as principal sponsor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sram.com/news/sram-takes-over-tour-gila-title-sponsorship-us |title=SRAM takes over Tour of the Gila title sponsorship (US) |author=Press release |publisher=[[SRAM Corporation|SRAM]] |date=March 14, 2009 |access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref>  Shortly thereafter, the race entered the spotlight when three riders from [[Astana (cycling team)|Astana]] (which was also sponsored by SRAM) -- [[Lance Armstrong]] and his {{UCI team code|AST|2009}} 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 [[2009 Vuelta a Castilla y León|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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Astana trio's Gila bid back on|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/apr09/apr28news3}}</ref> Leipheimer went on to win the event overall, while Armstrong took second.<ref>{{cite news|title=2009 Tour of the Gila Results:Final Stage|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/apr09/gila09/gila095}}</ref>  On the women's side, Olympic gold medalist [[Kristin Armstrong]] won for the second time, during her planned final season (though she un-retired in 2011).

===2010===
Once again, Leipheimer and Armstrong competed as part of Armstrong's "Mellow Johnny's" team, along with [[Team RadioShack]] teammate [[Jason McCartney (cyclist)|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.

===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 [[2010–11 UCI America Tour]] calendar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gila-jumps-to-the-uci-ranks-in-2011 |title=Gila jumps to the UCI ranks in 2011 |author=Kirsten Frattini|publisher=Cyclingnews.com|date=August 10, 2010|access-date=May 15, 2011}}</ref>  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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=5820 |title=Tour of the Gila 2011 NRC status adjusted |author=Press release |publisher=USA Cycling |date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=May 15, 2011}}</ref>  As a result, no [[UCI Pro Tour]] riders entered, unlike the previous two years.  The men's race was won by [[Francisco Mancebo]] 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.<ref name="gila2011" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/trek-livestrong-repeats-at-gila-time-trial-hughes-takes-over-womens-lead_170509 |title=Trek-Livestrong repeats at Gila time trial; Hughes takes over women's lead|author=Steve Frothingham|publisher=VeloNews.com|date=April 29, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2011}}</ref>  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.<ref name="gila2011">{{cite web |url=http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=6276 |title=Mancebo, Hughes top NRC standings after Tour of the Gila and Dana Point Grand Prix |author=Press release |publisher=USA Cycling |date=May 2, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2011}}</ref>

===2012===
The 2012 edition was scheduled for May 2 to 6, 2012, with the same stages as during the previous three editions.  Because of the Tour of the Gila's upgrade to UCI America Tour status, Tour organizers are required to invite the top three teams in the UCI America Tour rankings from the prior year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-releases-continental-team-rankings-for-2012 |title=UCI releases Continental team rankings for 2012  |date=January 27, 2012 |work=CyclingNews.com |access-date=February 11, 2012}}</ref>  Ultimately, three UCI Pro Continental teams chose to enter: {{UCI team code|UHC|2012}} and {{UCI team code|TT1|2012}} from the US and [[Champion System]] from China.<ref name="teams">{{cite web |url=http://www.usacycling.org/asian-cyclists-to-make-us-debut-at-sram-tour-of-the-gila.htm |title=Asian cyclists to make U.S. debut at SRAM Tour of the Gila |publisher=USA Cycling |date=April 26, 2012 | access-date=May 8, 2012}}</ref>  National teams from Mexico and Colombia also competed.<ref name="teams" /> The women's race, with its higher prize money, attracted a field led by two-time champion (and defending Olympic gold medalist) [[Kristin Armstrong]] of Team Exergy TWENTY12.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usacycling.org/olympic-medalist-armstrong-to-race-womens-sram-tour-of-the-gila.htm |title=Olympic medalist Armstrong to race Women's SRAM Tour of the Gila |publisher=USA Cycling |date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2012}}</ref>  In the race, American [[Rory Sutherland (cyclist)|Rory Sutherland]] of {{UCI team code|UHC|2012}} won the first stage and stayed close in the others to win the men's title by 15 seconds over [[Chad Beyer]] of [[Competitive Cyclist Racing Team]], while Armstrong won four of the five stages to win the women's title for the third time by a decisive 6:41 over Carmen Small.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/race-report/armstrong-sutherland-go-wire-to-wire-at-gila-craddock-wins-on-gila-monster_216888 |title=Armstrong, Sutherland go wire-to-wire at Gila; Craddock wins on Gila Monster |publisher=VeloNews |date=May 6, 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2012}}</ref>  Surprisingly, the [[Team RadioShack|Bontrager-LiveStrong]] under-23 youth team, a remnant of the now-defunct [[Team RadioShack]], took the top two places in the "Gila Monster" final stage with Lawson Craddock and Ian Boswell and won the men's team competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_20564275/tour-gila-bontrager-livestrong-tame-monster |title=Tour of the Gila: Bontrager-Livestrong tame Monster |author=Danny Udero |publisher=Silver City Sun-News |date=May 6, 2012 |access-date=May 8, 2012}}</ref>

===Classification jerseys===
*[[File:Jersey red.svg|20px]] – leader of the General classification
*[[File:Jersey green.svg|20px]] – leader of the Points classification
*[[File:Jersey polkadot.svg|20px]] – leader of the Mountains classification
*[[File:Jersey white.svg|20px]] – leader of the Young rider classification

==Winners==
===Men===
[[File:Hoehn Gila First Overall 2023.jpg|thumb|260px|[[Alex Hoehn]] won the 2023 edition]]
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name={{sortname|Andy|Bishop|Andy Bishop (cyclist)}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1988|name={{sortname|Gavin|O'Grady}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=Cannondale Racing Team}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name={{sortname|John|Lieswyn}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1990|name={{sortname|Drew|Miller|Drew Miller (cyclist)}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1991|name={{sortname|Björn|Bäckmann||Backmann, Bjorn}}|nat=SWE|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1992|name={{sortname|Kevin|Livingston}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1993|name={{sortname|José|Robles|José Robles (cyclist)}}|nat=COL|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1994|name={{sortname|Drew|Miller|Drew Miller (cyclist)}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1995|name={{sortname|Jonathan|Vaughters}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name={{sortname|Burke|Swindlehurst}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1997|name={{sortname|Bart|Bowen}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Saturn (cycling team)|Saturn]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1998|name={{sortname|Burke|Swindlehurst}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Nutra Fig]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1999|name={{sortname|Chris|Wherry}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Saturn Cycling Team]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2000|name={{sortname|Eric|Wohlberg}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SHA|2000}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2001|name={{sortname|Scott|Moninger}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Mercury–Viatel]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name={{sortname|Chris|Wherry}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Mercury Cycling Team]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2003|name={{sortname|Drew|Miller|Drew Miller (cyclist)}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Trek–Volkswagen]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2004|name={{sortname|Scott|Moninger}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|HNM|2004}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2005|name={{sortname|Burke|Swindlehurst}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Team Seasilver]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2006|name={{sortname|Chris|Baldwin|Chris Baldwin  (cyclist)}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TUP|2006}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2007|name={{sortname|Nathan|O'Neill}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|HNM|2007}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2008|name={{sortname|Gregorio|Ladino}}|nat=COL|natvar=|team=[[Tecos de la Universidad de Guadalajara]]|}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2009|name={{sortname|Levi|Leipheimer}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Team RadioShack|Mellow Johnny's]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2010|name={{sortname|Levi|Leipheimer}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Team RadioShack|Mellow Johnny's]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2011|name={{sortname|Francisco|Mancebo}}|nat=ESP|natvar=|team=[[Realcyclist.com Cycling Team]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2012|name={{sortname|Rory|Sutherland|Rory Sutherland (cyclist)}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UHC|2012}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2013|name={{sortname|Philip|Deignan}}|nat=IRL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UHC|2013}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2014|name={{sortname|Carter|Jones}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|OPT|2014}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2015|name={{sortname|Rob|Britton}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SSC|2015}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2016|name={{sortname|Lachlan|Morton}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|JBC|2016}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2017|name={{sortname|Evan|Huffman}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|RLY|2017}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2018|name={{sortname|Rob|Britton}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|RLY|2018}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2019|name={{sortname|James|Piccoli}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|ELV|2019}}}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2020–<br/>2021|reason=the COVID-19 pandemic}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2022|name={{sortname|Sean|Gardner}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=CS Velo Racing}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2023|name={{sortname|Alex|Hoehn}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Above and Beyond Cancer Cycling Team]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2024|name={{sortname|Tyler|Stites}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|PEC|2024}}}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

===Women===
{{Cycling past winner start}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name={{sortname|Nancy|Shipp}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1988|name={{sortname|Jane|Marshall|Jane Marshall (cyclist)}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name={{sortname|Carolyn|Donnelly}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1990|name={{sortname|Carolyn|Donnelly}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1991|name={{sortname|Laura|Peycke}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1992|name={{sortname|Jane|Gagne}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1993|name={{sortname|Martha|Wavrin}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1994|name={{sortname|Carolyn|Donnelly}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1995|name={{sortname|Carolyn|Donnelly}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name={{sortname|Desiree|Margagliano}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1997|}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1998|name={{sortname|Jeannie|Longo}}|nat=FRA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1999|name={{sortname|Kimberly|Bruckner}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2000|name={{sortname|Mari|Holden}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=Timex}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2001|name={{sortname|Geneviève|Jeanson}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team=Rona}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name={{sortname|Geneviève|Jeanson}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team=Rona}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2003|name={{sortname|Geneviève|Jeanson}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team=Rona Esker}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2004|name={{sortname|Amber|Neben}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=T-Mobile}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2005|name={{sortname|Kimberly|Baldwin}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=T-Mobile}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2006|name={{sortname|Kristin|Armstrong}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=Team Lipton}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2007|name={{sortname|Mara|Abbott}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=Webcor Builders}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2008|name={{sortname|Leah|Goldstein}}|nat=ISR|natvar=|team=ValueAct Capital}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2009|name={{sortname|Kristin|Armstrong}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|CWT|2009}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2010|name={{sortname|Mara|Abbott}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2011|name={{sortname|Clara|Hughes}}|nat=CAN|natvar=|team=Pactimo Cycling}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2012|name={{sortname|Kristin|Armstrong}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|EXG|2012}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2013|name={{sortname|Mara|Abbott}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Exergy Twenty16]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2014|name={{sortname|Mara|Abbott}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UHC2|2014}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2015|name={{sortname|Mara|Abbott}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Amy D Foundation]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2016|name={{sortname|Mara|Abbott}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Amy D Foundation]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2017|name={{sortname|Tayler|Wiles}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UHC2|2017}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2018|name={{sortname|Katie|Hall|dab=cyclist}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UHC2|2018}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2019|name={{sortname|Brodie|Chapman}}|nat=AUS|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TIB|2019}}}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2020–<br/>2021|reason=the COVID-19 pandemic}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2022|name={{sortname|Lauren|De Crescenzo}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=Cinch Rise}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2023|name={{sortname|Austin|Killips}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tourofthegila.com/2023-tour-of-the-gila-concludes-uci-women-press-release-stage-5/ |title=2023 Tour of the Gila Concludes-UCI Women Press Release – Stage 5 |date=May 1, 2023 |access-date=June 20, 2023}}</ref>|nat=USA|natvar=|team=Amy D Foundation}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2024|name={{sortname|Lauren|Stephens}}|nat=USA|natvar=|team=[[Cynisca Cycling]]}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|http://www.tourofthegila.com}}
*[http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/apr09/gila09/default Results and Articles] ''Cyclingnews.com''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tour Of The Gila}}
[[Category:Cycle races in the United States]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1987]]
[[Category:1987 establishments in New Mexico]]
[[Category:Road bicycle races]]