Five day stage race begins today, runs through May 6
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2011 Tour of the Gila, Stage 5, Gila Monster road race, 105.7 miles.(Image credit: Mitch Clinton)
Things get strung out as the men cross over the Gila River.(Image credit: Jon Devich/Cyclingnews.com/epicimages.us)
The men's field crosses over the Continental Divide.(Image credit: Jon Devich/Cyclingnews.com/epicimages.us)
The women's general classification podium.(Image credit: Mitchell Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com)
The SRAM Tour of the Gila kicks off on Wednesday, and the edition marks the first time that the event has designated as a UCI 2.2 stage race. Consequently, the grueling five-day stage race has attracted professional racers from Pro Continental teams UnitedHealthcare, Team Type 1 and Champion System - a Hong-Kong based sports apparel company. This team of eight adds to the already strong field of international participants from Belgium, Spain, Columbia, and Mexico.
The race features five stages; a criterium, time trial, and three road stages, with approximately 15,000 feet of climbing, making it one of the most challenging stage races in the US.
US-based Competitive Cyclist Racing Team will likely be placing high hopes on their captain Franciso Mancebo to nab his second win at the SRAM Tour of the Gila.
UnitedHealthcare plans to start Tour of Spain stage winner and Olympian Jason McCartney, NRC Calendar winner Rory Sutherland and climbing specialist Jeff Louder. Team Type 1 – Sanofi’s roster includes Rubens Bertogliati, past Tour de France stage winner.
In the women’s pro/1/2 field, all eyes will be focused on US Olympic gold medallist Kristen Armstrong. Racing for the Exergy TWENTY12 Pro Women’s Cycling team, Armstrong will be using the five-day stage race to prepare for the London Olympics, where she will defend her 2008 time trial gold medal.
Cyclingnews is assisting with the live coverage, you can follow the ticker below or at the Tour de Gila's Tour Tracker website here for live updates of all the action.
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Pro Continental Teams
ChampionSystem Pro Cycling Team (China) Team Type 1 – Sanofi (USA) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Continental Teams BMC Hincapie Sportswear Development Team (USA) Bissell Cycling (USA) Bontrager Livestrong Team (USA) Competive Cyclist Racing Team (USA) Ekoi.com-Gaspesien (Canada) Team Exergy (USA) Jamis/Sutter Home (USA) Kenda 5 Hour Energy p/b Geargrinder (USA) Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies (USA)
Elite Teams California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized (USA) Colombian National Team (Columbia) Hagens Berman Cycling (USA) Jet Fuel Coffee (Canada) Juwi Solar Elite Cycling Team (USA Landis/Trek (USA) Mexican National Team (Mexico) Team Rio Grande (USA)
Women's Teams Team TIBCO Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies NOW and Novartis for MS Exergy TWENTY12 FCS|ROUSE p/b Mr. Restore Primal/MapMyRide Women's racing Landis/Trek Colavita-espnW Pro Cycling
