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Tour of the Gila Stage 4: Criterium shakes up the GC

May 4, 2014
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2014JerseysOn Saturday, Ben Day (UnitedHealthCare) started the downtown Silver City Criterium 13th on GC. After joining a break-away with three others, Luis Amaran (Jamis Hegens Bermen), Bjorn Selander (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) and Canadian, Zach Bell (Team Smartstop), they managed to lap the field. Day who was just under two minutes behind race leader Carter Jones (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) gained the two minutes he needed to take the red leader’s jersey. This was undoubtedly a surprise, a situation that United Health Care were able to take full advantage of. Amaran won the stage after finishing fifth in the bunch gallop to the line, Selander was second and Day rounded out the podium.

With two laps to go, there was a major crash in the men’s criterium. Zach Bell who was in a prime position to possibly take the stage win was taken out by a crash right in front of him. The number of major accidents at the Tour of the Gila seems unprecedented this year. It has sparked some heated debate through various social media outlets. Many are citing the format of the domestic racing scene in the U.S. where criteriums are not as prevalent or mandatory as they once were. It’s possible that many younger riders lack the technical ability needed to ride at speed in the bunch as they are focused on training for the various NRC stage races. Hopefully the trend doesn’t continue.

Rob Britton (Team Smartstop) remains in a good position on GC heading into the final day of racing on Sunday. Albeit he was bumped from third to fourth after Day catapulted himself into the lead, Britton sits a mere 38 seconds away from the overall.

In the women’s race, U.S. criterium champion Alison Powers (UnitedHealthCare) jumped away from the day’s break-away to win solo ahead of Carmen Small (DNA Cycling p/b K4) and Joanne Kiesanowski (Team Tibco to the Top). Race leader Mara Abbot (UnitedHealthCare) retained her overall race lead finishing safely in the bunch. Lex Albrecht (Twenty16) was the top placed Canadian in 21.

Tomorrow’s final stage will be the toughest for both the men’s and women’s field. Not only is it the longest, it also features the most climbing. The race can be followed at the Tour of the Gila’s twitter feed and full results can be found at the Tour of the Gila.