Written by: Lindsay Blount
2025 Tour of the Gila, based in Silver City, New Mexico, Combined 40+,50+, and 60 + combined for overall, but also scored separately for extra dinero and a race leader’s jersey.
April 25-27 RR/Crit/RR, largest of the non-pro fields with 40 riders.
I decided to enter this race 2 weeks prior to the start…sorry Nick G. The reasonable option for a 68-year-old guy like me was advertised as Cat. 3-5. There was a 40+ option within the 5 day Cat 1, 2 race, riding with the ‘kids”. The promoter told me 60+ was actually open, but I decided to downgrade to 3 at USCF to avoid any drama. Plus, it seems like being a Cat 2 at my age becomes irrelevant.
Stage 1: Inner Loop RR: 61.3 miles, 4600 ft, super technical descent after the initial climbing, long middle valley with rollers and wind, then climbing again near the end, flat finish into historic Fort Bayard.
Goals were to survive the descent, hopefully be in one of the front groups in the valley and try to stay with the young climber guys near the end. The race went to plan, although one of the 40+ riders, Bryce Nesbitt out of Tucson, escaped off the front early and finished solo…very impressive! I managed to come in with the first chase group of 4 and got outsprinted ending up 5th overall. ( I need to practice with Chris H.) There was another 60+ guy, Gerry Clapper, from Scottsdale who got 2nd. So far so good for the old guys!
Stage 2: Downtown Silver City Crit: One mile 4 corner rectangle, 80ft of climbing on back stretch, high speed downhill approach to turn four prior to the approach of the finish line. Poor road surface in stretches, but it’s all relative now compared to Copperopolis RR.
Goals were to not crash, not get pulled for getting gapped by the field, finish with the next large group for a same time if there was a breakaway. (My last Crit was about 2007 in Bend Oregon at the Cascade classic). For the most part, the race went to plan. I was able to move towards the front on the back stretch rise. A big guy bumped hard into me once on the fast downhill part of the back stretch, and I managed to keep my scrawny climber frame relaxed and not fly off the course. About a 3rd of the field had been pulled by the end for “safety reasons” getting extrapolated times. It seemed like a very fast 20 laps to me. The last lap I thought “mission accomplished” going into my final turn 4 ready to be draft my way to a much-coveted same time. None of the attempted breakaways had survived so it was a field sprint for the podium places. Unfortunately, coming out of turn 4 I managed to drop my chain. I had some difficulty getting it back on which caused me to finish 11 seconds behind the pack. Frustrating, but it turned out to not be a big deal in the end.
Stage 3: Gila Monster RR (Great name!) 69 miles, 5600ft, Cat 2 climb from mile 50-60 with some steep sections at beginning, then ends with a Cat 3 climb to the finish. Another long middle valley section with rollers and wind with a few climbs prior to the valley section to split the field. My goals were to be in the front group across the valley and conserve energy for the climbing at the end and hopefully hold on to my position in the combined GC and maybe get some time back in Jerry in the 60+. There was a ton of surging off the front through the valley section with guys trying to get in a break, and get a head start on the upcoming climbs. I positioned myself near the front when the steep climbing started at the 50 mile mark. Jerry and 40+ overall leader Bryse set a torrid pace and I felt like I would have to go in the red to stay with them. I ended up on my own 3rd on the road for much of the last 19 miles. I had a partner for a while, 43 yr old Jesus “Chuy” Cornejo from Chihuahua, Mexico who added an international flavor to the venue. 40+ rider Rob Dawson from Denver managed to bridge up to me at the base of the climb to the finish. He crashed on the aforementioned stage 1 descent but was able to still finish the stage. He was also a phenomenal wheel for me to follow through the valley on stage 3, smoothing out the surges. He ended up 5th overall despite the crash on stage 1. Awesome job! I was able to finish 3rd overall on stage 3 behind Jerry and Bryce and climbed up to 3rd overall on the GC., still 2nd to Jerry in the 60+. Who is Gerry Clapper? 63 year old super modest and nice guy who thankfully is an age group below me for nationals. His palmares include some interesting battles with San Diego legend Doug Pomeranz, like 2022 Mater’s National’s RR off the front with Doug in 2-man break lost to Doug by 5 seconds. At the 2024 Boulevard RR Gerry beat both Doug and his teammate Peter Tholl for 1st. Also, 1st place in the2025 Valley of the Sun 60+ RR. It was an honor to stand next to him on the podium…sorry Erin but Stage 3 was point to point with no room in my jersey for my podium hat.
This race was super well organized with beautiful mountain scenery around Silver City. Along with teammates Nick and Carl who both have raced it previously, I would recommend it highly. It would be even more fun racing with teammates.
Going fast & having fun 
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