Tour of the Gila Stage 1: Crash takes out Canadian riders
On Wednesday, 23-year-old Daniel Jaramillo (Jamis Hagens Berman) won the first stage of the pro mens Tour of the Gila atop of the Mogollon. Jarmillo finished ahead of teammates Matt Cooke and Gregory Brenes in second and third respectively. Canadian Rob Britton (Team Smartstop) had an impressive ride up the steep slopes of the Mogollon to finish in fourth, 12 seconds behind the day’s winner.
The impressive racing from Jamis Hagens Berman was somewhat overshadowed by a horrific mass pile up late in the stage. Of the 150 starters, roughly 30 made it through unaffected. The crash happened with 20 km remaining on a downhill stretch when the group was travelling at 80 km/h. According to race officials, the crash happened near the front of the bunch, sending 10 ridiers to the hospital. Two riders from Canadian squad Silber Pro Cycling, Derrik St. John and Nicolas Masbourian were air lifted to the Tucson Medical Centre. Their team director, Gord Fraser, said that the 80 rider pileup was among the worst he has ever seen.
In the pro women’s field, Mara Abbot (UnitedHealthcare) stormed to a dominating win atop the Mogollon. It is the fifth time the defending overall Gila winner has won the Mogollon stage. She won by over a minute after attacking early on the slopes of the day’s final climb. In second was Flavia Olivera (FCS-Zngine). Jasmin Glaesser (Tibco/To the Top) was the top Canadian in the women’s field finishing in 14th. Lex Albrecht of Twenty16 Pro Cycling finished two places behind in 16th.
Full results can be found at the Tour of the Gila.
@TeamSmartStop Everyone are ok, @NMasbourian and @D_StJohnz are in good hands at Tuscon Medical Center. Conscient and coherent 🙂 #GoodNews
— SilberProCycling (@SilberProTeam) April 30, 2014
Best wishes to the #SilberProCycling guys @TouroftheGila (& anyone else who went down in the nasty crash) @lachance87 es tu ok?
— Lex Albrecht (@Lex_Albrecht) April 30, 2014
“Thank you for all the support here in Silver City from my professional colleagues and friends here on FB and at… http://t.co/TQdOTo3U3M
— SilberProCycling (@SilberProTeam) May 1, 2014
Podium sweep @TouroftheGila. 1-2-3: @danielmanelo, @matthewlcooke, @B1Grego. #Vamos
— Jamis Hagens Berman (@TeamJamisHB) April 30, 2014
