Reflections on the Gila... and the final push to RAW

This weekend I competed in my fifth Tour of the Gila--and completed my third.   The Gila is a most special race, one of the last remaining amateur five day stage races in the country.  Simply put, it is iconic. No other race holds the same emotional attachment to me than Gila. For older masters athletes, the race is especially tough, as we race in a combined 40+ field.  The stage distances are more typical of Cat 2 racing.   To put Gila into perspective, compare it to the two major Arizona stage races, Valley of the Sun (VoS), and the Tucson Bicycle Classic (TBC).   The criterium at Gila has more climbing than all three stages of VoS.  Any one of the three road stages at Gila are nearly as long, or longer than all the stages of VoS or TBC combined.   Don't forget the altitude, the Gila low point is about 5700', and the climbs twice to over 7400'.  The Stage 1 summit finish at Mogollon is at the top of final 1700' climb from Whitewater Mesa.  Gila has it all, epic climbs, exhilarating descents. beautiful scenery, open roads, and fantastic support.  Gila is selective, like bike racing ought to be.  Most of all, Gila has a sense of community surrounding it, from the locals you chat with at the coffee shops, the race director mingling through the peloton at the start and shaking your hand, and catching up with fellow racers from all over the region that come to this unique venue.  It's not hype to say that the Tour of the Gila is a national treasure of amateur bike racing.

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