Pitel poised for possible podium finish at Tour of the Gila

Edwige Pitel has very little left to prove on a bicycle. The 50-year-old Frenchwoman is a two-time French road champion in 2007 and 2016 and has won her national time trial title three times. She won the Tour de Bretagne in 2003 and the Tour Feminine en Limousin in 2005. The all-rounder with a time trial pedigree has also taken three wins at the Chrono des Herbier in 2001, 2004 and 2005.

Growing up in Missoula, Montana, Pat competed in his first bike race in 1985 at Flathead Lake. He studied English and journalism at the University of Oregon and has covered North American cycling extensively since 2009, as well as racing and teams in Europe and South America. Pat currently lives in the US outside of Portland, Oregon, with his imaginary dog Rusty.