# Tour of the Gila

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tour_of_the_Gila
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tour_of_the_Gila.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_the_Gila
> Source revision: 1288443431
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American cycling stage race

Tour of the Gila Race details Date April – May Region New Mexico, United States. (North America) Competition UCI America Tour Type Stage race Organiser Tour of the Gila Inc. Web site www.tourofthegila.com History (men) First edition 1987 (1987) Editions 37 (as of 2025) First winner Andy Bishop (USA) Most wins Drew Miller (USA) Burke Swindlehurst (USA) (3 wins) Most recent Kieran Haug (USA) Women's history First edition 1987 (1987) Editions 36 (as of 2025) First winner Nancy Shipp (USA) Most wins Mara Abbott (USA) (6 wins) Most recent Lauren Stephens (USA)

The **Tour of the Gila** is a [cycling](/source/Cycle_sport) [stage race](/source/Stage_race) for both men and women located in [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico), United States. It is sponsored by the component maker [SRAM](/source/SRAM_Corporation).[1] The "Gila" began in 1987. Beginning in 2012, the men's Gila has been added to the [UCI America Tour](/source/UCI_America_Tour) as a UCI classification 2.2 stage race, which permits [UCI ProTeams](/source/UCI_Pro_Tour) to enter if they so choose; beginning in 2015, the women's Gila has also been added to the [women's UCI international tour](/source/2015_in_women's_road_cycling#Stage_races_(2.1_and_2.2)) as a UCI classification 2.2 stage race.[2]

Beginning in [Silver City, New Mexico](/source/Silver_City%2C_New_Mexico), the men's course covers around 540 kilometres (340 miles) over five days, while the women's course covers about 100 kilometres (62 miles) less. It consists of three [road races](/source/Road_bicycle_racing) (stages 1, 2 and 5, nicknamed the "Gila Monster"), an [Individual Time Trial](/source/Individual_Time_Trial) (stage 3) and a [Criterium](/source/Criterium) (stage 4). Through 2011, the Tour of the Gila was classified as a national race, which prohibits both [UCI ProTour](/source/UCI_ProTour) and UCI ProContinental teams from competing in it. In 2009 and 2010, through a special agreement with the [UCI](/source/Union_Cycliste_Internationale), individuals from those teams could compete as part of teams that were limited to three competitors, which led to a resurgence of interest among male cyclists in the Tour of the Gila.

Beginning in 2011, though, individuals from UCI ProTeams were completely prohibited from competing in such races. The Gila planned to upgrade to a UCI Americas Tour race in 2011 as a result, but it was not able to secure sufficient funding and had to revert to a U.S. national race. However, it upgraded to UCI America Tour status for 2012 and has remained on the UCI Americas Tour ever since, despite the collapse in American cycling sponsorship in 2013.[3]

The women's race remained a U.S. national race through 2014, but was also added to the UCI Americas calendar in 2015, which was accompanied by a funding crisis that threatened the cancellation of both races.[4] In the end, however, sufficient additional funding was found to continue both races as UCI events.

During the 2017 edition, Chad Young, a 21-year-old rider on [Axeon–Hagens Berman](/source/Hagens_Berman_Jayco), died from injuries sustained in a crash on a downhill section of the queen stage.[5]

## Recent editions

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2017)

### 2009

Before the 2009 running, the race almost folded before SRAM was brought in as principal sponsor.[6] Shortly thereafter, the race entered the spotlight when three riders from [Astana](/source/Astana_(cycling_team)) (which was also sponsored by SRAM) -- [Lance Armstrong](/source/Lance_Armstrong) and his [Astana](/source/XDS_Astana_Team) teammates [Levi Leipheimer](/source/Levi_Leipheimer) and [Chris Horner](/source/Chris_Horner)—announced they would attend the race in preparation for the [Giro d'Italia](/source/Giro_d'Italia). In addition, it was Armstrong's first race after he underwent surgery to repair a broken collarbone sustained in the [Vuelta a Castilla y León](/source/2009_Vuelta_a_Castilla_y_Le%C3%B3n). The three entered the race under the team name "[Mellow Johnny's](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mellow_Johnny%27s&action=edit&redlink=1)", in reference to Armstrong's nickname and the name of his Austin bicycle shop.[7] Leipheimer went on to win the event overall, while Armstrong took second.[8] On the women's side, Olympic gold medalist [Kristin Armstrong](/source/Kristin_Armstrong) won for the second time, during her planned final season (though she un-retired in 2011).

### 2010

Once again, Leipheimer and Armstrong competed as part of Armstrong's "Mellow Johnny's" team, along with [Team RadioShack](/source/Team_RadioShack) teammate [Jason McCartney](/source/Jason_McCartney_(cyclist)). Armstrong also entered a "Livestrong" team of under-23 riders, including [Jesse Sergent](/source/Jesse_Sergent), who won the stage 3 time trial, and [Taylor Phinney](/source/Taylor_Phinney), who won stage 4, which, when combined with Leipheimer's stage 1 victory, gave Armstrong's teams victories in three of the five stages. Fellow American professionals [Tom Danielson](/source/Tom_Danielson) and [David Zabriskie](/source/David_Zabriskie), who ride for [Garmin–Slipstream](/source/Garmin%E2%80%93Slipstream), also entered, as part of Zabriskie's "DZ Nuts" team. Ultimately, Leipheimer defeated Danielson by 59 seconds for his second consecutive Gila title. On the women's side, Mara Abbott, the 2007 winner, won again.

### 2011

After the success of the previous two editions of the Tour of the Gila, the event's organizers applied for the race to be added to the [2010–11 UCI America Tour](/source/2010%E2%80%9311_UCI_America_Tour) calendar.[9] However, the organizers were unable to attract sufficient funding and had to request in January 2011 that the race be moved back to the U.S. national calendar.[10] As a result, no [UCI Pro Tour](/source/UCI_Pro_Tour) riders entered, unlike the previous two years. The men's race was won by [Francisco Mancebo](/source/Francisco_Mancebo) of Realcyclist.com, who won two road stages, with 18-year-old Australian Dale Parker of Armstrong's Trek-Livestrong U23 team winning the time trial and finishing second.[11][12] In the women's race, 1996 Olympic medalist [Clara Hughes](/source/Clara_Hughes) of Pactimo Cycling won the time trial and criterium stages and defeated defending champion Mara Abbott of the Italian team Diadora Pasta Zara by about three minutes.[11]

### 2012

The 2012 edition was scheduled for May 2 to 6, 2012, with the same stages as during the previous three editions. Because of the Tour of the Gila's upgrade to UCI America Tour status, Tour organizers are required to invite the top three teams in the UCI America Tour rankings from the prior year.[13] Ultimately, three UCI Pro Continental teams chose to enter: [UnitedHealthcare](/source/UnitedHealthcare_Pro_Cycling_(men's_team)) and [Team Type 1–Sanofi](/source/Team_Novo_Nordisk) from the US and [Champion System](/source/Champion_System) from China.[14] National teams from Mexico and Colombia also competed.[14] The women's race, with its higher prize money, attracted a field led by two-time champion (and defending Olympic gold medalist) [Kristin Armstrong](/source/Kristin_Armstrong) of Team Exergy TWENTY12.[15] In the race, American [Rory Sutherland](/source/Rory_Sutherland_(cyclist)) of [UnitedHealthcare](/source/UnitedHealthcare_Pro_Cycling_(men's_team)) won the first stage and stayed close in the others to win the men's title by 15 seconds over [Chad Beyer](/source/Chad_Beyer) of [Competitive Cyclist Racing Team](/source/Competitive_Cyclist_Racing_Team), while Armstrong won four of the five stages to win the women's title for the third time by a decisive 6:41 over Carmen Small.[16] Surprisingly, the [Bontrager-LiveStrong](/source/Team_RadioShack) under-23 youth team, a remnant of the now-defunct [Team RadioShack](/source/Team_RadioShack), took the top two places in the "Gila Monster" final stage with Lawson Craddock and Ian Boswell and won the men's team competition.[17]

### Classification jerseys

- – leader of the General classification

- – leader of the Points classification

- – leader of the Mountains classification

- – leader of the Young rider classification

## Winners

### Men

[Alex Hoehn](/source/Alex_Hoehn) won the 2023 edition

Year Country Rider Team 1987 United States Andy Bishop 1988 United States Gavin O'Grady Cannondale Racing Team 1989 United States John Lieswyn 1990 United States Drew Miller 1991 Sweden Björn Bäckmann 1992 United States Kevin Livingston 1993 Colombia José Robles 1994 United States Drew Miller 1995 United States Jonathan Vaughters 1996 United States Burke Swindlehurst 1997 United States Bart Bowen Saturn 1998 United States Burke Swindlehurst Nutra Fig 1999 United States Chris Wherry Saturn Cycling Team 2000 Canada Eric Wohlberg Shaklee 2001 United States Scott Moninger Mercury–Viatel 2002 United States Chris Wherry Mercury Cycling Team 2003 United States Drew Miller Trek–Volkswagen 2004 United States Scott Moninger Health Net–Maxxis 2005 United States Burke Swindlehurst Team Seasilver 2006 United States Chris Baldwin Toyota–United 2007 Australia Nathan O'Neill Health Net–Maxxis 2008 Colombia Gregorio Ladino Tecos de la Universidad de Guadalajara 2009 United States Levi Leipheimer Mellow Johnny's 2010 United States Levi Leipheimer Mellow Johnny's 2011 Spain Francisco Mancebo Realcyclist.com Cycling Team 2012 Australia Rory Sutherland UnitedHealthcare 2013 Ireland Philip Deignan UnitedHealthcare 2014 United States Carter Jones Optum–Kelly Benefit Strategies 2015 Canada Rob Britton Team SmartStop 2016 Australia Lachlan Morton Jelly Belly–Maxxis 2017 United States Evan Huffman Rally Cycling 2018 Canada Rob Britton Rally Cycling 2019 Canada James Piccoli Elevate–KHS Pro Cycling 2020– 2021 No race due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 United States Sean Gardner CS Velo Racing 2023 United States Alex Hoehn Above and Beyond Cancer Cycling Team 2024 United States Tyler Stites Project Echelon Racing 2025 United States Kieran Haug Project Echelon Racing

### Women

Year Country Rider Team 1987 United States Nancy Shipp 1988 United States Jane Marshall 1989 United States Carolyn Donnelly 1990 United States Carolyn Donnelly 1991 United States Laura Peycke 1992 United States Jane Gagne 1993 United States Martha Wavrin 1994 United States Carolyn Donnelly 1995 United States Carolyn Donnelly 1996 United States Desiree Margagliano 1997 No race 1998 France Jeannie Longo 1999 United States Kimberly Bruckner 2000 United States Mari Holden Timex 2001 Canada Geneviève Jeanson Rona 2002 Canada Geneviève Jeanson Rona 2003 Canada Geneviève Jeanson Rona Esker 2004 United States Amber Neben T-Mobile 2005 United States Kimberly Baldwin T-Mobile 2006 United States Kristin Armstrong Team Lipton 2007 United States Mara Abbott Webcor Builders 2008 Israel Leah Goldstein ValueAct Capital 2009 United States Kristin Armstrong Cervélo TestTeam 2010 United States Mara Abbott Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12 2011 Canada Clara Hughes Pactimo Cycling 2012 United States Kristin Armstrong Exergy Twenty12 2013 United States Mara Abbott Exergy Twenty16 2014 United States Mara Abbott UnitedHealthcare 2015 United States Mara Abbott Amy D Foundation 2016 United States Mara Abbott Amy D Foundation 2017 United States Tayler Wiles UnitedHealthcare 2018 United States Katie Hall UnitedHealthcare 2019 Australia Brodie Chapman Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank 2020– 2021 No race due to the COVID-19 pandemic 2022 United States Lauren De Crescenzo Cinch Rise 2023 United States Austin Killips[18] Amy D Foundation 2024 United States Lauren Stephens Cynisca Cycling 2025 United States Lauren Stephens Aegis Cycling

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Tour of the Gila"](https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=239). *FirstCycling.com*. 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Tour of the Gila (Usa) - Cat.2.2"](http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/etapes/eta_td_gila.php). *Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu* (in French). Retrieved December 31, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Cyclingnews (December 14, 2011). ["SRAM Tour of the Gila added to UCI America Tour for 2012"](http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/sram-tour-of-the-gila-added-to-uci-america-tour-for-2012). *CyclingNews.com*. Retrieved February 11, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Pat Malach (March 11, 2015). ["Gila seeking funds for women's UCI race"](http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gila-seeking-funds-for-womens-uci-race/). *CyclingNews.com*. Retrieved August 11, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NBC_5-0)** ["American cyclist Chad Young dies from injuries sustained in crash"](http://sports.nbcsports.com/tag/chad-young/). *NBC Sports*. April 29, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Press release (March 14, 2009). ["SRAM takes over Tour of the Gila title sponsorship (US)"](http://www.sram.com/news/sram-takes-over-tour-gila-title-sponsorship-us). [SRAM](/source/SRAM_Corporation). Retrieved May 12, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Astana trio's Gila bid back on"](http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2009/apr09/apr28news3).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["2009 Tour of the Gila Results:Final Stage"](http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/apr09/gila09/gila095).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Kirsten Frattini (August 10, 2010). ["Gila jumps to the UCI ranks in 2011"](http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/gila-jumps-to-the-uci-ranks-in-2011). Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved May 15, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Press release (January 12, 2011). ["Tour of the Gila 2011 NRC status adjusted"](http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=5820). USA Cycling. Retrieved May 15, 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gila2011_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gila2011_11-1) Press release (May 2, 2011). ["Mancebo, Hughes top NRC standings after Tour of the Gila and Dana Point Grand Prix"](http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=6276). USA Cycling. Retrieved May 15, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Steve Frothingham (April 29, 2011). ["Trek-Livestrong repeats at Gila time trial; Hughes takes over women's lead"](https://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/trek-livestrong-repeats-at-gila-time-trial-hughes-takes-over-womens-lead_170509). VeloNews.com. Retrieved May 15, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["UCI releases Continental team rankings for 2012"](http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-releases-continental-team-rankings-for-2012). *CyclingNews.com*. January 27, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-teams_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-teams_14-1) ["Asian cyclists to make U.S. debut at SRAM Tour of the Gila"](http://www.usacycling.org/asian-cyclists-to-make-us-debut-at-sram-tour-of-the-gila.htm). USA Cycling. April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Olympic medalist Armstrong to race Women's SRAM Tour of the Gila"](http://www.usacycling.org/olympic-medalist-armstrong-to-race-womens-sram-tour-of-the-gila.htm). USA Cycling. April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Armstrong, Sutherland go wire-to-wire at Gila; Craddock wins on Gila Monster"](https://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/race-report/armstrong-sutherland-go-wire-to-wire-at-gila-craddock-wins-on-gila-monster_216888). VeloNews. May 6, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Danny Udero (May 6, 2012). ["Tour of the Gila: Bontrager-Livestrong tame Monster"](http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_20564275/tour-gila-bontrager-livestrong-tame-monster). Silver City Sun-News. Retrieved May 8, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["2023 Tour of the Gila Concludes-UCI Women Press Release – Stage 5"](https://tourofthegila.com/2023-tour-of-the-gila-concludes-uci-women-press-release-stage-5/). May 1, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.tourofthegila.com)

- [Results and Articles](http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2009/apr09/gila09/default) *Cyclingnews.com*

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tour of the Gila](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_the_Gila) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_of_the_Gila?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.