Tour of the Gila Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Tour of the Gila
Race details
Tour of the Gila-logo 2021.png
Date	April – May
Region	New Mexico, United States. (North America)
Competition	UCI America Tour
Type	Stage race
Organiser	Tour of the Gila Inc.
History
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)

The Tour of the Gila is an exciting cycling stage race held every year in New Mexico, United States. It's a special kind of race because it has both men's and women's competitions. The race is sponsored by SRAM, a company that makes parts for bicycles. The "Gila" race started a long time ago, in 1987.

Since 2012, the men's race has been part of the UCI America Tour. This means it's a big international race where professional teams can compete. In 2015, the women's race also joined the UCI international tour, making it a major event for women cyclists too.

About the Race Course
- Race Stages
Past Races and Famous Cyclists
Race Winners
- Men's Winners
- Women's Winners
See also

About the Race Course

The Tour of the Gila starts in Silver City, New Mexico. The men's race covers about 540 kilometers (around 335 miles) over five days. The women's race is a bit shorter, covering about 100 kilometers (around 62 miles) less.

Race Stages

The race is divided into different parts called "stages." There are five stages in total:

Road Races: Stages 1, 2, and 5 are road races. Stage 5 is often called the "Gila Monster" because it's very challenging.
Individual Time Trial: Stage 3 is a time trial. In this stage, cyclists race one by one against the clock to see who can finish the course fastest.
Criterium: Stage 4 is a criterium. This is a shorter race with many laps around a closed course, usually in a town.

For many years, the Tour of the Gila was a national race, meaning only U.S. teams could compete. But it became an international race in 2012, which allowed more top teams from around the world to join. The women's race also became an international event in 2015.

Past Races and Famous Cyclists

The Tour of the Gila has seen many exciting moments and famous cyclists over the years.

2009 Race Highlights

In 2009, the race almost didn't happen, but SRAM stepped in to help sponsor it. This race became very popular when famous cyclists like Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, and Chris Horner decided to compete. They raced as a special team called "Mellow Johnny's." Levi Leipheimer won the race that year, with Lance Armstrong coming in second. In the women's race, Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong won for the second time.

2010 Race Highlights

In 2010, Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong returned to compete again. They were joined by other well-known cyclists like Tom Danielson and David Zabriskie. Leipheimer won the men's race for the second year in a row. For the women, Mara Abbott, who had won in 2007, took home the victory again.

2011 Race Highlights

The organizers wanted the 2011 race to be part of the international UCI America Tour, but they couldn't get enough money. So, it stayed a U.S. national race that year. The men's race was won by Francisco Mancebo. In the women's race, Clara Hughes, an Olympic medalist, won. She beat the defending champion, Mara Abbott.

2012 Race Highlights

In 2012, the Tour of the Gila officially became a UCI America Tour race. This meant top professional teams from the U.S., China, Mexico, and Colombia came to compete. In the men's race, Rory Sutherland won the overall title. For the women, Kristin Armstrong won for the third time, winning four out of the five stages!

Classification Jerseys

During the race, cyclists wear different colored jerseys to show who is leading in certain categories:

– This red jersey is worn by the overall leader of the race, the one with the fastest total time.
– This green jersey is for the leader in the Points classification, which means they've earned the most points in sprints and stage finishes.
– This polka-dot jersey is for the leader in the Mountains classification, given to the best climber.
– This white jersey is for the leader of the Young rider classification, usually for the best young cyclist in the race.

Race Winners

Men's Winners

Alex Hoehn won the 2023 edition

		Rider
1987		Bishop, AndyAndy Bishop
1988		O'Grady, GavinGavin O'Grady	Cannondale Racing Team
1989		Lieswyn, JohnJohn Lieswyn
1990		Miller, DrewDrew Miller
1991		Backmann, BjornBjörn Bäckmann
1992		Livingston, KevinKevin Livingston
1993		Robles, JoséJosé Robles
1994		Miller, DrewDrew Miller
1995		Vaughters, JonathanJonathan Vaughters
1996		Swindlehurst, BurkeBurke Swindlehurst
1997		Bowen, BartBart Bowen	Saturn
1998		Swindlehurst, BurkeBurke Swindlehurst	Nutra Fig
1999		Wherry, ChrisChris Wherry	Saturn Cycling Team
2000		Wohlberg, EricEric Wohlberg	Shaklee
2001		Moninger, ScottScott Moninger	Mercury–Viatel
2002		Wherry, ChrisChris Wherry	Mercury Cycling Team
2003		Miller, DrewDrew Miller	Trek–Volkswagen
2004		Moninger, ScottScott Moninger	Health Net–Maxxis
2005		Swindlehurst, BurkeBurke Swindlehurst	Team Seasilver
2006		Baldwin, ChrisChris Baldwin	Toyota–United
2007		O'Neill, NathanNathan O'Neill	Health Net–Maxxis
2008		Ladino, GregorioGregorio Ladino	Tecos de la Universidad de Guadalajara
2009		Leipheimer, LeviLevi Leipheimer	Mellow Johnny's
2010		Leipheimer, LeviLevi Leipheimer	Mellow Johnny's
2011		Mancebo, FranciscoFrancisco Mancebo	Realcyclist.com Cycling Team
2012		Sutherland, RoryRory Sutherland	UnitedHealthcare
2013		Deignan, PhilipPhilip Deignan	UnitedHealthcare
2014		Jones, CarterCarter Jones	Optum–Kelly Benefit Strategies
2015		Britton, RobRob Britton	Team SmartStop
2016		Morton, LachlanLachlan Morton	Jelly Belly–Maxxis
2017		Huffman, EvanEvan Huffman	Rally Cycling
2018		Britton, RobRob Britton	Rally Cycling
2019		Piccoli, JamesJames Piccoli	Elevate–KHS Pro Cycling
2020– 2021	No race due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022		Gardner, SeanSean Gardner	CS Velo Racing
2023		Hoehn, AlexAlex Hoehn	Above and Beyond Cancer Cycling Team
2024		Stites, TylerTyler Stites	Project Echelon Racing
2025		Haug, KieranKieran Haug	{{{team name-2025}}}

Women's Winners

		Rider
1987		Shipp, NancyNancy Shipp
1988		Marshall, JaneJane Marshall
1989		Donnelly, CarolynCarolyn Donnelly
1990		Donnelly, CarolynCarolyn Donnelly
1991		Peycke, LauraLaura Peycke
1992		Gagne, JaneJane Gagne
1993		Wavrin, MarthaMartha Wavrin
1994		Donnelly, CarolynCarolyn Donnelly
1995		Donnelly, CarolynCarolyn Donnelly
1996		Margagliano, DesireeDesiree Margagliano
1997	No race
1998		Longo, JeannieJeannie Longo
1999		Bruckner, KimberlyKimberly Bruckner
2000		Holden, MariMari Holden	Timex
2001		Jeanson, GenevièveGeneviève Jeanson	Rona
2002		Jeanson, GenevièveGeneviève Jeanson	Rona
2003		Jeanson, GenevièveGeneviève Jeanson	Rona Esker
2004		Neben, AmberAmber Neben	T-Mobile
2005		Baldwin, KimberlyKimberly Baldwin	T-Mobile
2006		Armstrong, KristinKristin Armstrong	Team Lipton
2007		Abbott, MaraMara Abbott	Webcor Builders
2008		Goldstein, LeahLeah Goldstein	ValueAct Capital
2009		Armstrong, KristinKristin Armstrong	Cervélo TestTeam
2010		Abbott, MaraMara Abbott	Peanut Butter & Co. Twenty12
2011		Hughes, ClaraClara Hughes	Pactimo Cycling
2012		Armstrong, KristinKristin Armstrong	Exergy Twenty12
2013		Abbott, MaraMara Abbott	Exergy Twenty16
2014		Abbott, MaraMara Abbott	UnitedHealthcare
2015		Abbott, MaraMara Abbott	Amy D Foundation
2016		Abbott, MaraMara Abbott	Amy D Foundation
2017		Wiles, TaylerTayler Wiles	UnitedHealthcare
2018		Hall, KatieKatie Hall	UnitedHealthcare
2019		Chapman, BrodieBrodie Chapman	Tibco–Silicon Valley Bank
2020– 2021	No race due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022		De Crescenzo, LaurenLauren De Crescenzo	Cinch Rise
2023		Killips, AustinAustin Killips	Amy D Foundation
2024		Stephens, LaurenLauren Stephens	Cynisca Cycling
2025		Stephens, LaurenLauren Stephens	Aegis Cycling

Tour of the Gila facts for kids

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