This past week I raced in my second ever Tour of the Gila.  It was 5 days of hills, sun, wind, and low oxygen.

Stage 1: Mogollon Road Race

I went into this day with the objective of sprint points.  There were 2 intermediate sprints in the race before the steep uphill climb to the finish.  I felt good and went for the first, but after avoiding a crash about 100m to go I was 4th, so no points.  Not too long after there were attacks and I made the break that stuck.  10 of us stayed away for 60km until 5km to the climb.  Since the intermediate sprint came while we were away I went for that and snagged 3rd for 1 point.  When we hit the base I turned on tempo mode in my legs and rode up smooth.  It was a great start to the race and had a lot of fun overall.

Stage 2: Inner Loop Road Race

I set myself up to go for the first of 2 sprints, but 12km in when the sprinters attacked for the line my legs didn’t have the same idea.  I crossed with the group but that was also when the first hill began.  The effort from the first 10km and fatigue hit me hard and I struggled on this climb.  I focused however on the technical downhill and used that to catch the group in front of me.  We rode pace lining through the valley that presented a challenging wind the whole way.  I was a bit mad to not stick with the front pack, but considering the girls in this pack, they were all the main sprinters and non climbers, so I felt a little better about my position.  Getting to the last climb and over towards the finish we continued to work together. It was a VERY hard day and even though it was a group of about 20 there was no hiding or relaxing the whole race.

Stage 3: Tyrone Time Trial

Since I was not sitting in a top GC spot, this was a race that I put in a good effort, but also didn’t dig into deep fatigue.  Even though it was a TT, this course didn’t lack in hills.  Here’s a shot from the turnaround.

Stage 4: Downtown Criterium

My favorite stage of the race.  I wanted to be top 10 and knew I could even be top 5.  I stayed relaxed throughout the race and in good position.  There was a crash on the hill about 5 laps in which I had to get around and catch back on, but it wasn’t any big worry. Just left a little apprehension in the midst of riding so close to others. With 9 laps to go I focused more and set myself to stay in the top 20.  3 laps to go was hard and fast with everyone moving and working for position.  At 1 to go I was set up perfect, 7th or so wheel and holding strong.  But when the turn came going into the hill a couple girls came up on the corner and “pinched” me off my wheel. Meaning they got in a position and so close that I had to ease off or risk a crash.  Up the hill I worked as hard as I could knowing it was the crucial moment.  Into the downhill in about 20th, then passed some girls before the final turn.  In the finishing stretch I gave it my all and crossed in 16th.  I know I could have done better, but after this hard week I held strong.  This is a picture from the race, my dad came to watch and cheer me on.

Stage 5: Gila Monster Road Race

Last day, I was so ready to be done, but as a Pro and loving to race I sucked it up and got out to fight hard.  This course was basically the same as the 2nd day course but backwards, and finishing on top of the climb (the gila monster).  The first set of hills were tough and my legs felt like bricks, but I stayed calm and hung onto the pack.  Into the valley it was a huge fight as the wind split up the group and made it hard just to stay in.  Through the rollers and slight uphill the wind did ease however and I was able to settle in the pack for some “rest”.  The race went by so fast that by the time I looked at my garmin we had already done 50km, in just over an hour.  The pack got to the bottom of the climb, the Gila Monster, which is basically 16km up, and the group shattered. I stayed relaxed and started at a good pace.  By about 3km in I had passed quite a few people and found myself with a couple other riders going at the same speed.  I stayed with them and then just as the hill turned into rollers and some downhill 3 of them dropped back and our group became 5.  We rode steady all the way to the finish and I was really happy with my performance and how I felt on this last grueling day.

Tour of the Gila was an amazing experience.  I did not finish very high in the GC, but I also entered this race not expecting to do well.  The objective was more for fitness, experience and to keep racing.  Each day I had ups and downs, but I am happy with how I pushed myself each day and came out with solid results.

Awesome mural in Silver City done for the 30th anniversary of the Tour of the Gila

Now I am back in Santa Fe and ready for some big time REST! Going through over a month of travel, racing, and packing I am stronger but also tired.  Redlands, Joe Martin, and Gila have given me another gear and I am excited to keep racing…. soon.

I will be here for 2 weeks, and then travel to Winston-Salem, NC for USA Pro Nationals and the Winston-Salem Classic UCI race.