Wiles wins Tour of the Gila

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UnitedHealthcare put an exclamation point on the team's performance this week at the Tour of the Gila during the final 'Gila Monster' stage on Sunday, sweeping the day's podium and taking the top two spots in the general classification with Tayler Wiles and final stage winner Katie Hall.

Hall and Wiles bridged to a late breakaway on the final climb to Pinos Altos and then rode away together to take the one-two finish. UnitedHealthcare's Ruth Winder was next across the line for third.

Wiles, who took the overall lead during stage 2, won the general classification by 2:08 over Hall, who jumped from eighth to second with her stage win. Sho-Air Twenty20's Leah Thomas was third overall, 2:48 back.

"This win means so much to me because of how incredible our team raced," Wiles said. "Everyone put their whole heart into every stage. We trusted each other and had confidence every step of the way. I've always dreamed of winning this race and winning as one team was perfect. I want to thank my coach Neal Henderson and my parents for surprising me by showing up in Silver City to watch the last two stages. It was really special."

The 106km Gila Monster stage included five QOMs and a summit finish in the small southwestern town of Pinos Altos. A dangerous move that included Kaitie Antonneau (Cylance), Nicolle Bruderer (Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank) and Beth Ann Orton (Visit Dallas DNA) went off the front and gained more than three minutes before Orton lost contact and drifted back to the peloton.

Wiles and Hall made their move on the final climb, distancing the shattered peloton and then reeling in the remaining leaders. At the finish, Hall took the win by six seconds over Wiles. Winder finished 2:08 back with Kristabel Doebel-Hickok (Cylance).

Hall also claimed the mountains jersey for her efforts, while Winder won the best young rider competition. Jamie Gilgen sealed the green jersey for Rise Racing.

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