Tour of the Gila goes UCI

[Tragic]

Anyone else care about this? This race has been a mainstay of the NRC for 25+ years. 5 stages in the spectacular southern New Mexico mountains (at 6000 -8000 ft) with some brutal climbs and great community support. All cats from Pro,1 to 4/5, men and women. Has been added to the UCI America Tour for 2012 at 2.2. Dates are May 2-6, finishing a week before ToC starts. It'll be interesting to see what PT teams with an eye to ToC show interest, and how the community of Silver City copes.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I like the race although they should reinvite mexican teams again. that was awesome seeing ladino win it

 

[craig1985]

I don't mind the race, but people like Levi etc. should not be allowed to race. Too scared to race and win the Tour of Romandie or have a go at the Classics instead?

 

[Fus087]

With it now being on the UCI calendar, there ought to be no way WT teams can participate. ProConti will, but even a undersized team under a different name (like they did with RadioShack and Garmin in recent years) shouldn't be possible in a UCI race. They'd have to make it a national selection or a special guest rider team (like in the Tour of Southland), with no guarantee that the WT riders have the teammates they usually have.

Definitely no possibility of WT teams lining up. Some WT riders may, in composite teams.

I agree that Mexican (or even South American) teams would add a lot to the race.

 

[Anonymous]

Anyone else care about this? This race has been a mainstay of the NRC for 25+ years. 5 stages in the spectacular southern New Mexico mountains (at 6000 -8000 ft) with some brutal climbs and great community support. All cats from Pro,1 to 4/5, men and women. Has been added to the UCI America Tour for 2012 at 2.2. Dates are May 2-6, finishing a week before ToC starts. It'll be interesting to see what PT teams with an eye to ToC show interest, and how the community of Silver City copes.

Erm, how many WT teams enter?.. how about none of them.. its a UCI 2.2 Race which means pro tour teams cant enter.

Entry is restricted to
- UCI professional continental teams
- UCI continental teams
- National teams
- Regional and club teams
- African mixed teams

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=34028&LangId=1

and to answer your first question.. No..

 

[Tragic]

Well, gee, aren't I stupid.

 

[Ferminal]

Wasn't it supposed to be 2.2 last year, but at the last minute lost that status?

I don't think it will necessarily change the composition of the field, the US Conti teams were there anyway.

 

[Tragic]

2012 Tour of the Gila

OK, guess I am pretty much a one-person fan club of this race, not even much on CN or VN.

All the maps, profiles and start lists on http://www.tourofthegila.com in case you are interested, I don't have time to cut and paste.

This is a great riders race. Defending champion Mancebo, in good form at Joe Martin, looks hard to beat. Kristin Armstrong will be looking to boost credentials for London.

Stage 1 - Silver City to Mogollon: Out across the desert, flattish with a few bumps and potentially wind to mix things up, then a 2 stage climb of 7 miles and 1700 feet, finishing at a wide spot in the road.

Stage 2 - Silver City to Fort Bayard loop. One stiff climb out of the Mimbres valley with about 20 to go sometimes breaks it up, but usually a bunch sprint.

Stage 3 - Tough 16.5 mile ITT

Stage 4 - Downtown Criterium: All day racing on the "community" day. Not much chance to change the GC, but the 1.1 mile circuit through town is pretty bumpy and fast.

Stage 5 - The Gila Monster: 107 miles, total elevation gain ~10000 feet, finish into Pinos Altos actually only hard the last 500 meters, but always a split, and the atmosphere at the finish line is intoxicating. In 2010 it was snowing.

As a racing fan, STOG is a lot of fun - small crowds, up close contact, and fantastic community involvement. Be there if you can.

 

[Lexman]

No tv broadcast or via the web??

 

[Tragic]

No tv broadcast or via the web??

The Crit was webcast last year, don't know of any plans.

 

[Tragic]

Wasn't it supposed to be 2.2 last year, but at the last minute lost that status?

I don't think it will necessarily change the composition of the field, the US Conti teams were there anyway.

There was push to go UCI in 2011 but it didn't happen.

Difference will be Pro Conti teams UHC, Sanofi Type 1 and Champion Systems, plus Columbian National.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

OK, guess I am pretty much a one-person fan club of this race, not even much on CN or VN.

Not at all. I absolutely love this little gem of a race.

I hope the UCI status won't do much harm on the racing style. I want to see attacks all over the stages. Hopefully someone can beat Mancebo, who seems to be again in a great shape (1st Tucson Bicycle Classic, 3rd Redlands Bicycle Classic, 1st Tour of the Battenkill, 1st Joe Martin Stage Race) at the moment.

 

[Tragic]

Not at all. I absolutely love this little gem of a race.

I hope the UCI status won't do much harm on the racing style. I want to see attacks all over the stages. Hopefully someone can beat Mancebo, who seems to be again in a great shape (1st Tucson Bicycle Classic, 3rd Redlands Bicycle Classic, 1st Tour of the Battenkill, 1st Joe Martin Stage Race) at the moment.

Thank you, me too. Been lucky to be at the last 5. Don't think the UCI status will change much, as will be mostly the same riders, albeit some on better teams. Used to be, when the TT was Stage 1 that a TT specialist (eg ONeill) would crush everybody, then defend in the hills. Now with Mogollon first, it tends to be a climber defending. The Monster (stage 5) the best for late stage attacks on the GC leader. Some names to watch - Baldwin, Wren, McCartney, Sutherland, Louder - and I'm sure some young guns will do well as usual.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I also love this race. I wish though they would invite again some mexican teams like some years ago. ladino even won this

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I like the race although they should reinvite mexican teams again. that was awesome seeing ladino win it

lol. I see I already posted this

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

There was push to go UCI in 2011 but it didn't happen.

Difference will be Pro Conti teams UHC, Sanofi Type 1 and Champion Systems, plus Columbian National.

ah cool. colombian national track team will ride. they also did joe martin stagerace. no real climbers though these guys

 

[Tragic]

I also love this race. I wish though they would invite again some mexican teams like some years ago. ladino even won this

Mexican National team was invited, so was Ecuadorian. A few years ago a Tecos rider was badly injured in the race, may have been 08 when Ladino won.

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

A few years ago a Tecos rider was badly injured in the race, may have been 08 when Ladino won.

That was Fausto Esparza in 2008. He crashed on a downhill section of the Gila Monster road race and remained until today (partly?) paralyzed. Tom Zirbel broke his collarbone in this crash, too.

 

[mikeNphilly]

I also like this race, I downloaded the app yesterday so I can keep track of it. I try to pay attention, to all races in the US, and support them in any way I can.

I'm sure it will have good crowds, people like this race alot.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

I have raced this as a Cat 3 several times. It's a fantastic race and a wonderful atmosphere.

Both Colombian and Mexican national teams are there. This is a huge pack of close to 200 riders. The climb up Mogollon should be a whopper. Usually you see even the pros come in ones and twos.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/sram-tour-of-the-gila-start-list-1

really great startlist!

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

Paul Mach (KPC) and Adam Carr (Ekio) are today's breakaway group. They still have a 4:26 lead with 40k to go.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

where can I follow this? no stream I assume?

 

[Bye Bye Bicycle]

There's a downloadable tracker on the race website, which does not work for me unfortunately. I rely on twitter updates.

 

[Tragic]

Armstrong and Sutherland. Joe Dombrowski 2nd, he did well last year.