Silver City, NM (May 4, 2016) - The Tour of the Gila opened Wednesday with a strong showing from the men's and women's professional fields. Riding for the Amy D. Foundation composite team, Mara Abbott seized the top spot for the first stage. Abbott has claimed the victory for the Silver City to Mogollon Road Race three years running, and has won the Tour of the Gila overall five times in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Abbott surpassed second place finisher Katharine Hall (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling) by a whopping 2:31. Olympic hopeful and Gila 2012 pro women's overall race winner Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16-Ridebiker) came in three seconds after Hall at 3:22:34.

GǣMy team demonstrated to me how much they trust me because of how hard they rode and how much of themselves they put on the line. Being able to be here and be supported by the race year after year... is amazing,Gǥ commented Abbott. Abbott's average speed was 34.3 Km/H (21 miles per hour).

There was an unfortunate accident during the womenG