In its 38th year, the New Mexico stage race commemorates region’s history and heritage
Honoring History Through Design
The 38th Tour of the Gila reveals its four leader jerseys, which were thoughtfully designed with the southwest region’s history and cultures in mind. The Tour of the Gila 2025 jerseys display appreciation for the Mimbres Mogollon people, who thrived in southwestern New Mexico between A.D. 1000 and 1130. The designs also compliment the bike race’s longstanding tradition of awarding artisanal trophy bowls fashioned in the style of and using similar processes to the Mimbres, who are famous for black-on-white pottery.
Inspiration from Museum Artifacts
The patterns and textures featured in this year’s jersey designs are inspired by pots in the NAN Ranch collection of Silver City’s Western New Mexico University Museum. In consultation with the museum director, Tour of the Gila identified ollas and bowls that represent these prehistoric people who inhabited the landscapes the five racecourses pass through.
Art and Legacy Intertwined
The designs raise awareness of the region’s history while celebrating the Mimbres people and the ongoing legacy that is Tour of the Gila. Graphic artist and bicyclist Mitch Ikemoto pulled these concepts together in the four designs on JAKROO Alpha jerseys.
New Mexico True Leader Jersey
The red New Mexico True leader jersey is awarded to the individual in each category who is leading the overall time standings. Crossing the body of the New Mexico True leader jersey are thin horizontal lines like the fine brush strokes making the complex and meaningful designs of Mimbres pottery. The pattern on the left sleeve is based on the horizontal stripes adorning a miniature olla on display in the WNMU Museum’s main level.
Freeport McMoRan Climber Jersey
The polka dotted Freeport McMoRan climber jersey is awarded to the racer winning the mountains points classification. While the circles that dot the Freeport McMoRan climber jersey appear to be made of solid lines at first glance, a closer look reveals detail inspired by the designs commonly painted on Mimbres pottery. Peaked shapes come together to form concentric rings that also contain diamond and triangular shapes.
Gila Regional Medical Center Sprinter Jersey
The green Gila Regional Medical Center sprinter jersey goes to the cyclist leading the points classification determined by intermediate sprints and finishing place in certain stages.
Southwest Bone and Joint/Brian and Lynn Robinson Best Young Rider Jersey
The white Southwest Bone and Joint/Brian and Lynn Robinson Best Young Rider jersey signifies the leading rider under age 23 on the general classification. The bold geometric design encircling both the green and white jerseys was modeled after a Mimbres Style-III Middle olla. A hand-drawn border at the bottom of each sleeve finishes each look, and every left sleeve bears the logo of the Leaders of Enchantment podcast, Tour of the Gila 2025 media partner.
Registration Now Open
Registration for the 38th Tour of the Gila is open at bikereg.com/tour-of-the-gila.
