SILVER CITY, NM (April 30, 2014) – Just as in previous editions, this year's Tour of the Gila powered by SRAM has attracted a top-level list of racers from not only the states, but across the world.
UnitedHeathcare Pro Cycling's (UHC) Mara Abbott is returning to Silver City defend her multiple titles (2007, 2010 and 2013). Abbott's impressive palmares includes wins at the national road race (2007, 2010) along with wins at the prestigious and arguably the most challenging race of the women's UCI calendar, the Giro Rosa (2010, 2013).
But Abbott isn't the only rider to watch on UHC. The stacked team, who are currently leading on the National Racing Calendar, includes last year's best young rider Rushlee Buchanan, former TT National Champion and past stage winner Alison Powers and former British National Champion Sharon Laws.
Current National Time Trial Champion, Carmen Small, who is guesting on DNA Cycling p/b K4, will be looking to better her second place overall in 2012. The Specialized-lululemon rider had one of the best years of her career in 2013 winning the time trial at nationals, followed by an impressive third place at the World Championships TT.
Amber Neben (FCS|Zngine p/b Mr. Restore), 2008 World Time Trial Champion and seasoned professional, is back from a debilitating crash at last year's Tour of California Time Trial, and will also be in the mix.
Strong teams like TIBCO and Twenty16 Professional Cycling team won't be willing to let individually strong riders gain any kind of advantage up New Mexico mountains. Look for Lex Albrecht and Alison Tetrick from Twenty16 to shake things up, along with Joanne Kiesanowski, Jasmin Glaesser and Andrea Dvorak.
Over the course of five days, the pro women will tackle a cumulative 18,000 feet of European style climbing, totaling 260 miles.
Women's Pro 1,2 Roster:
Unitedhealthcare Pro Cycling
301- Mara Abbott
302-Rushlee Buchanan
303-Katie Hall
304-Sharon Lewis
305-Alison Powers
306-Alexis Ryan
Team TIBCO To the Top
311-Krista Doebel-Hickok
312-Andrea Dvorak
313-Jasmin Glaesser
314-Joanne Kiesanowski
315-Amanda Miller
316-Patricia Schwager
317-Lauren Stephens
318-Scotti Wilborne-Lechuga
DNA Cycling p/b K4 Racing
321-Sarah Barber
322-Lauren De Crescenzo
323-Heather Fischer
324-Mikayla Lyman
325-Breanne Nalder
326-Anne Perry
327-Carmen Small
328-Amy Thornquist
Twenty16 Pro Cycling
331-Sofia Arreola Navarro
332-Lex Albrecht
333-Kaitie Antonneau
334-Kathryn Donovan
335-Amber Gafney
336-Mary Maroon
337-Abby Mickey
338-Alison Tetrick
Cloud Racing p/b Ride to Recovery
341-Jennifer App
342-Kimberley Johnson
343-Sarah Lough
344-Jacqueline Parker
345-Sarah Sturm
FCS|Zngine p/b Mr. Restore
351-Jessica Cerra
352-Anna Grace Christiansen
353-Jessica Cutler
354-Amber Neben
355-Flavia Oliveira
356-Anna Sanders
Sisterhood of Cycling
361-Ahtena Countouriotis
362-Anne Donley
363-Annie Toth
Pinnacle Training Systems
365-Felicia Gomez
366-Cristina Hughes
367-Misha Scovill
Colavita-Fine Cooking
371-Laura Brown
372-Olivia Dillon
Strive Racing
373-Hanna Swan
374-Rachel Swan
National Columbian Team
391-Jannie Milena
392-Lorena Vargas Vilamil
Others
375-Katherine Reinhard – Gregg's Trek
376-Lucy Conklin – GS Boulder
377-Daniela Garcia – ICE SPORTSWEAR
378-Lindsay Fox-Jobing.com
381-Sheila Cousins-Morgan Stanley Specialized
382-Kimberly Gialdini-Pact-Dish Network
383-Julie Emmerman – Rally Sport
384-Beth Ann Orton – River City Bicycles
385-Kat Salthouse – Sabino Cycles Racing
386-Vanessa Johnson-SCCA/Starbucks
387-Genevieve Krahn – Team Manitoba
388-Amy Charity-Vanderkitten
393-Kim Jennings – Bicycles Outback/LifeVantage
394-Maria Santiago – CRC Cycling