Silver City, NM (October 22, 2016) - USA Cycling announced the dates for the 2017 Pro Road Tour Calendar Thursday, confirming Tour of the Gila's new date for April 19-23. Race Director Jack Brennan is hoping the changes made will help improve cycling in the USA for both men and women.
The alterations came about to improve travel flow for USA continental teams in order to cut costs and reduce distance traveling back and forth between races.
GǣWe all agreed that for 2017, we would go this route to see how it will work,Gǥ Brennan said. GǣI think it's a great opportunity for stage race directors and teams to work together as a platform to really improve and advance our sport.Gǥ
The Tour of the Gila will now sit in between the other two stages races in the spring, Joe Martin kicking off the PRT on March 30, and Redlands Bicycle Classic beginning May 3rd before the AMGEN Tour of California.
GǣWe had better representation of continental teams at the Tour of the Gila than any race on the PRT calendar last year,Gǥ Brennan added. GǣI think we do a good job covering our bases about what we are and how we do things. Teams know what our race is, that we take care of them, and that we're going to do a really good social media program giving the teams and their sponsors recognition.Gǥ
2017 Pro Road Tour Calendar
March 30-April 2: Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley (AK) - UCI 2.2 M/W
April 8-9: Sunny King/Anniston Road Race/TT Omnium (AL) - M/W
April 19-23: Tour of the Gila (NM) - UCI 2.2 M/W
April 30: Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling (CA) - M/W
May 3-7: Redlands Bicycle Classic (CA) - M/W
May 28: Winston-Salem Classic Criterium (NC) - UCI 1.1 M/W
June 4: Philadelphia International Cycling Classic (PA) - UCI 1.1 Men
June 9-11: Saint Francis Tulsa Tough (OK) - M/W
June 14-18: North Star Grand Prix (MN) - M/W
July 14: GP Kristin Armstrong Time Trial (ID) - UCI 1.2 M/W
July 15: Andersen Banducci Twilight Criterium (ID) - M/W
July 19-23: Cascade Bicycle Classic (OR) - UCI 2.2 M/W
July 31- August 6: Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah (UT) - UCI 2.HC Men
August 10-13: Tour of Colorado (CO) - UCI 2.HC Men
August 19: Rochester Criterium (NY) - M/W
August 24-27: Tour of the Commonwealth (VA) - UCI 2.1 Men
September 1-4: Gateway Cup (MO) - M/W
September 9: Reading 120 (PA) - UCI 1.2 Men
September 10: Doylestown Criterium (PA) - M/W
September 16: TD Bank Mayor's Cup (MA) - M/W
About The Tour of the Gila
Celebrating its 31st Edition in 2017, Tour of the Gila takes place in and around Silver City, New Mexico and consists of three road race stages, an individual time trial, and a criterium. Stage 1 is a point-to-point road race ending on a 6.7-mile climb that peaks at a 19-percent grade en route to the ghost town of Mogollon. The criterium is held in downtown Silver City with high speeds, 90-degree turns and a brutal climb to weed out the weak. The iconic GǣGila MonsterGǥ road race final stage consists of over 9,000 feet of climbing for the men and over 5,500 feet for the women, ending in the tiny enclave of Pinos Altos, nestled in the Gila National Forest. www.tourofthegila.com