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Tour of the Gila
Silver City, NM
April 30-May 4
Race Report by Kirsten Robbins
photo: John SegestaStage Five (May 4; Gila Monster Road Race): After a huge team effort, Colavita/Sutter Home’s Anthony Colby and Tyler Wren rode to the base of the final climb with a select group of seven riders in contention for the race win. Anthony took third in the “Queen Stage” and Tyler followed in 6th. "Honestly, if Tyler wasn't with me I would have suffered a lot," said Anthony after his 3rd place podium presentation for the stage and the race overall. In the women's race, Colavita/Sutter Home’s Kristin McGrath joined the select group of top North American riders ready as they approached the base of the climb, ready to pounce on the Gila Monster for a stage victory. Thanks to her valiant efforts climbing with the toughest competition throughout the five-stage event, Kristin brought home a 5th place finish in the overall.
Stage Four (May 3; Downtown Silver City Criterium): TheColavita/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light took on the Silver City downtown criterium with the twin goals of maintaining Anthony Colby's top five ranking in the general classification and using the speed and power of Argentine sprinter Alejandro Borrajo to pick up a second stage win. Gila leader's Team Bissell controlled the speed of the peloton throughout much of the race. As the teams jockeyed for position with one lap to go, the eventual race winner Henk Vogels (Toyota-United) caught the field off guard with a jump into the final corner to take the win ahead of Alejandro, who crossed the line in second. In the women's 25-lap criterium, Andrea Dvorak and Kristin McGrath of the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team were able to protect Kristin’s 2nd-place GC ranking, finishing in the bunch sprint in downtown Silver City.
photo: John SegestaStage Two (May 1; Inner Loop Road Race, 77/80 miles): Tyler Wren of the Colavita/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light, capturerd his first stage win of the 2008 season in the Inner Loop Road Race at the Tour of the Gila. Teammates Anthony Colby, Andy Guptill, and Luis Amaran were poised to take sprinter Alejandro Borrajo to the line but circumstances set Wren into motion for the surprise win. As Wren explains, "“I covered an attack going into Fort Bayard Park and thought I was still setting up Alejandro for the sprint but my director told me to keep going because I had a gap. I caught and passed the one rider with 300 meters to go and didn’t even have enough time to take my hands off the bars because the field sprint came in behind me. I was told to keep going and sprinted for the finish. This was tremendously exciting as I usually don’t go for the win in a field sprint.” Anthony Colby remains in 2nd overall going into the Stage Three time trial. Kristin McGrath of the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team holds onto her 2nd place ranking in the women’s GC.
Stage One (April 30; Mogollan Road Race): Anthony Colby, the Colavita/Sutter Home Men’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light’s mountain goat from Durango, CO, made his podium debut in 2nd place after a tactical climb against several well-known Columbian climbers from the Tecos-Trek squad. The squad, which includes teammates Alejandro Borrajo, Andy Guptill, Luis Amaran, and Tyler Wren, raced over a 94-mile route that ended in a steep mountain top finish. Tyler followed in 6th place.
photo: John SegestaIn the women’s race, Kristin McGrath of the Colavita/Sutter Home Women’s Cycling Team presented by Cooking Light rode a gutsy race, initiating a lengthy breakaway early on in the 73-mile stage. When the escaped riders approached the base of the steep finishing climb, Kristin attacked to go for the stage victory. Leah Goldstein (Value Act Capital) caught her at the top and Kristin crossed the line in 2nd. Teammate Andrea Dvorak finished close behind in 5th.
