The 27th annual Silver City’s Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM concluded with the thrilling Gila Monster Road Race, one of the toughest days of climbing in American racing. Mara Abbott of the Exergy TWENTY16 team and Phil Deignan of UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling were crowned champions of New Mexico Premier road stage race.
Mara Abbott of Exergy TWENTY16 attacked on the final climb winning the Stage 5 Gila Monster Road Race and sealing the overall general classification. Claudia Hauesler of Team TIBCO placed second in the stage and Janel Holcomb of Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies finished in third.
Holcomb’s efforts in the final climb put her on the final general classification podium. Abbott wins the Town of Silver City Red Leader Jersey, one minute and 32 seconds ahead of Alison Powers of NOW and Novartis for MS. Holcomb rounds out the GC podium in third.
Abbott attacked at the base of the final climb with the help of team mate Andrea Dvorak. Haeusler joined Abbott in the initial attack, but Abbott accelerated solo on the steep climb. Haeusler was then joined by Powers and Holcomb. The three worked together to close the gap on Abbott. Abbott was able to stay away to the finish.
Abbott wins the Town of Silver City Red Leaders Jersey and the Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Polka Dot QOM Jersey. Shelley Olds of Team TIBCO successfully defended her Grant County Green Sprinter Jersey and Rushlee Buchanan takes home the Champion System White Best Young Rider jersey.
Francisco Mancebo of the 5-Hour Energy p/b Kenda Pro Cycling team attacked on the final climb to the finish to win the Stage 5 Gila Monster Road Race, crossing the line eight seconds of Matt Cooke of the Champion System p/b Stan’s No Tubes team. Deignan was third, a further ten seconds back.
Deignan and his team mates launched attacks after attacks, stringing out the field from the start in one of the more aggressive Gila Monster Road Race on record. By the second to last climb up Wild Horse Mesa, the selection had been made with only nine riders at the front of the race which included an isolated Janier Acevedo of the Jamis-Hagens Berman squad. Sensing that the red jersey Acevedo was in difficulty, attacks intensified on the final climb until Mancebo and Deignan broke away.
Deignan won the overall general classification with 28 seconds on Gaimon. Mancebo moved up to third place, 37 seconds down.
Deignan wins the Town of Silver City Red Leaders Jersey and the Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Polka Dot KOM Jersey. Arnaud Grand of the BMC Development Team successfully defended his Grant County Green Sprinter Jersey and Gavin Mannion of the Bontrager Cycling Team wins the Champion System White Best Young Rider classification.
Complete results are available on tourofthegila.com/results.
For complete race schedule and more information about 2013 Silver City’s Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM, please visit www.tourofthegila.com.
