Cooler temperatures and wind gusts greeted the racers today for the Dan Potts Memorial Tyrone Time Trial, stage 3 of the 27th annual Silver City’s Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM. Tom Zirbel and Alison Powers put in the fastest time on the 16-mile course, renowned for being one of the toughest time trials in the United States. With two stages to go in the Tour of the Gila, the battle for the overall win went up another level today for both the NRC Women’s and UCI Men’s leader who saw their lead decrease before the Queen Stage, the Gila Monster on Sunday. Mara Abbott of Exergy TWENTY16 and Janier Acevedo of Jamis-Hagens Berman retain their respective red Town of Silver City’s Leader’s jersey.
Averaging a speed of 27.8 mph, Tom Zirbel, of the Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies team clocked a time of 24 minutes and 45 seconds, claiming his second win at the Gila time trial, his first was in 2008. Australian Ben Day, of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team, was second only four seconds down, while Sylvan Diller of the BMC Development Team was third, at nine seconds down.
Finishing ninth on the stage, Acevedo saw his lead decrease to only four seconds to Chris Baldwin, of the BISSELL Pro Cycling team. Philip Deignan, of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, moved up to third place in the general classification, 21 seconds down from Acevedo.
Acevedo retained the Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold King of the Mountain jersey and Arnaud Grand of the BMC Development Team remains in the green Grant Country sprint jersey. On the strength of his fourth-place finish on the stage, Lawson Craddock of the Bontrager Cycling Team takes over the white Champion System Best Young Rider jersey.
Alison Powers of the NOW and Novartis for MS team battled the crosswinds and rode into first place on Stage 3 Dan Potts Memorial Tyrone Time Trial. Almost as important as her win today, Powers was able to take back significant time in the general classification. She started the stage two minutes and five seconds behind current race leader Mara Abbott. She starts tomorrow’s stage one minute and nine seconds behind Abbott, taking back 56 seconds.
Yesterday’s stage winner Janel Holcomb of the OPTUM p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies finished in second and Kristin McGrath of the Exergy TWENTY16 squad came in third. The stage brought no changes to the classification jerseys. Abbott retained the Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Polka Dot Queen of the Mountain Jersey, Holcomb stays in the green Grant County sprint jersey and Rushlee Buchanan retained the white Champion System Best Young Rider jersey.
Spectators will congregate in Silver City on Saturday May 4 for a day of fast and furious Downtown Silver City Criterium. All day festivities will include live music, a beer garden, vendors, children’s bicycle rodeo, citizen races, a kids’ zone, food vendors. That evening, the feature length documentary “Rising from Ashes” will make its New Mexico premiere in Silver City, NM as part of Silver City’s Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM.
For complete race schedule and more information about 2013 Silver City’s Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM, please visit tourofthegila.com.
