SRAM Tour of the Gila - NE

USA, April 29-May 3, 2009

Photos

Stage 5 - May 3: Gila Monster Road Race, 105.7/71.8 miles

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Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) earned her Gila victory with another stage win.
Carla Swart (Lip Smacker) a day after her debut NRC stage win.
It's a mini-Armstrong invasion! No, wait, that's Team Trek Livestrong leading the pursuit of the early break.
Taylor Phinney (Trek Livestrong) rides at the front with his whole team. I wonder who Trek-Livestrong were working for on the final day?
The pack had a bit of shade oming up the valley.
Ben Jacques Maynes and Bradley White (OUCH-Maxxis) drive the break.
Bradley White (OUCH-Maxxis) has been active all week at Gila.
Dan Bowman (Kelly Benefit Strategies), Ben Jacques Maynes (Bissell) and Bradley White (OUCH-Maxxis) at the front.
Ben Jacques Maynes (Bissell)
Chad Beyer (Team B) was at the front at the start of the Sapio climb.
Team Mellow Johnny's work to protect their race lead.
Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) rode confidently in the leader's jersey.
The race leaders finish the last climb at the Tour of the Gila.
Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's) leads on the climb to the finish.
Yo Johnny: Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) finish third and fourth on the final stage.
Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) dominated from day one in Gila.
Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia) claimed a solo stage win and third place overall.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo TestTeam) solidified her overall lead with another stage victory.
Men's overall podium (L-R): Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's), Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) and Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia).
Women's overall podium (L-R): Alison Powers (Team Type 1), Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo TestTeam) and Kathryn Mattis (Webcor Builders).
ValueAct Capital won the women's team award.
One more podium happy snap for Levi Leipheimer's (Mellow Johnny's) scrapbook.

Images by Jonathan Devich/

The Trek/Livestrong team gets on the front to try to bring back the break.
The bunch passes by Lake Roberts on the final stage.
Chris Horner (Mellow Johnny's) spent the last part of the race setting the pace on the front.
Phil Zajicek (Fly V Australia) can't believe what he's just done.
Fly V Australia's Phil Zajicek was very happy after his spectacular win.

Stage 4 - May 2: Downtown Silver City Criterium, 40/25 laps

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Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Roman van Uden (Landrover-Orbea) provided the day's first upset when he outpaced a few big name sprinters in the men's race.
Carla Swart (Lip Smackers) takes an upset sprint win over Webcor Builders' Gina Grain.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) rides in the pack.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) smokes the turn.
Alison Powers (Team Type 1) leads the field up the hill.
Australian youngster Tiffany Cromwell (Colavita Sutter Home) rides in the bunch.
Riders pass through the old town during the women's race.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) wears the leader's jersey back in the pack.
Alison Powers (Team Type 1) leads the field.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) leads the pack.
Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's) takes to the front on the climb.
Tim Johnson (OUCH-Maxxis) on the climb.
Roman Van Uden (Land Rover-ORBEA) was the discovery of the day.
Sergio Hernandez (Rock Racing) looks to be feeling the bite.
Taylor Phinney (Trek Livestrong) hits the rise on the rear of the course.
Bradley White (OUCH-Maxxis) takes a deep breath as the peloton speeds up the rise.
Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) leads Tim Johnson (OUCH-Maxxis).
Graham Howard (Bissell) kept his head down.
Cameron Evans (OUCH-Maxxis) speeds around a corner.
Walker Savidge (Felt-Holowesko Partners-Garmin) with Paul Mach (Bissell).
The pack charges up the hill on the rear of the course.
Jeremy Vennell (Bissell) charges ahead of the peloton.
Riders picked up the pace in order to shut down the Bissell attack.
Roman Van Uden (Land Rover-ORBEA) was overjoyed with his win.

Images by Jonathan Devich/

Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's) got on the front right from the start of the day.
Mellow Johnny's Levi Leipheimer rode to stay safe and out of trouble in today's criterium, although he still managed to crash.
The peloton passes by the historical Silver City court house.
A long time cycling fan watches as the race passes by.

Stage 3 - May 1: Dan Potts Memorial Tyrone Individual Time Trials, 16.15 miles

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Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) took another stage win to expand his general classification lead.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) set a new course record.
Mellow Johnny's Lance Armstrong watches as his mechanic makes some seat adjustments during warm-up.
Lance Armstrong and Astana boss Johan Bruyneel have a pow-wow while the mechanic works.
Taylor Phinney (Trek Livestrong)
Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) was having shifting problems as he started the downhill section.
Tom Zirbel (Bissell) took second place.
Philip Zajicek (Fly V Australia) hard at work on his way to fourth.
Rory Sutherland (OUCH-Maxxis) couldn't match the top riders.
Burke Swindlehurst (Bissell)
Peter Stetina (Garmin-Holowesko Partners-Felt) lost time to Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) on general classification.
The Mellow Johnny's riders looked sleek in their Livestrong gear, and had the speed to match.
Alison Powers (Team Type 1) had a strong second place.
Alison Powers (Team Type 1) took second on the stage.
Leah Goldstein (VAC), last year's race winner, took fifth on the stage.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) comes over the top.
Anne Samplonius (Lipsmacker) took fourth place.
Leah Goldstein (VAC) finished fifth.

Images by Jonathan Devich/

Mellow Johnny's Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer go out for a warm up lap on the time trial course..
Tom Zirbel (Bissell Pro Cycling) had a great ride today for a second place finish.
Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) looks to be on track for the upcoming Giro d’Italia after his commanding win today.
Kristen Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) got the win today and set a new course record.

Stage 2 - April 30: Inner Loop Road Race, 80/77.9 miles

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Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Gina Grain (Webcor) took her victory solo in the women's race.
Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home) claimed victory in the final sprint.
Race leader Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's) finishes the Sapio creek downhill section.
Chris Horner (Mellow Johnny's) was all smiles on stage two.
Alex Howes (Felt-Holowesko Partners) in close quarters at the bottom of the dowhill.
Shaun Milne (Team Type 1), Caleb Fairly (Felt-Holowesko Partners), Luis Amaran (Colavita Sutter Home) and Floyd Landis (OUCH-Maxxis).
Floyd Landis (OUCH-Maxxis) made the day's break.
Bradley White (OUCH-Maxxis) was in the chase group.
Bradley White (OUCH-Maxxis), Michael Grabinger (Fly V Australia), and Ben Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) sat between the leaders and the peloton.
Caleb Fairly (Felt-Holowesko Partners), Luis Amaran (Colavita Sutter Home) and Floyd Landis (OUCH-Maxxis).
Caleb Fairly (Felt-Holowesko Partners) worked well in the lead group.
Shaun Milne (Team Type 1), Caleb Fairly (Felt-Holowesko Partners) and Floyd Landis (OUCH-Maxxis) pass the San Luis, mine not far from the finish.
Here's Johnny! No prizes for guess who is in the bus (pst, Mellow Johnny's Lance Armstrong).
The women's field makes its way down the valley.
Nicole Evans (VAC) spent a good part of the day in a solo break.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) and Chole Forsman (VAC).
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) and Chole Forsman (VAC).
Nicole Evans (VAC) stayed away for most of the day.

Images by Jonathan Devich/

Floyd Landis (OUCH) leads an escape group.
Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's) heads the peloton at the Tour of the Gila.
Chris Horner (Mellow Johnny's) in stage two of the Tour of the Gila.

Stage 1 - April 29: Silver City - Mogollon Road Race, 94.1/73.1 miles

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Images by Mitch Clinton/www.clintonphoto.com

Bradley White (OUCH-Maxxis) climbs solo.
The men's field winds it's way through Gila on stage one.
Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's) leads Peter Stetina (Felt-Holowesko Partners) Levi Leipheimer (Mellow Johnny's), Rory Sutherland (OUCH-Maxxis) and Christopher Baldwin (Rock Racing).
Chris Baldwin (Rock Racing) rides in the lead group.
Fabio Calabria (Team Type 1) tries to contemplate the next few miles.
Tim Johnson (OUCH-Maxxis) comes down the climb.
Matt Wilson (Team Type 1) enjoys the roll down to the team cars after the race finish.
The women's field rolls over the opening kilometres of Gila.
The women's field stayed together for a while before the first solo attack.
Amanda Miller (Lip Smackers) puts a small climb between her and the women's field.
Amanda Miller (Lip Smackers) looked comfortable during her long, solo attack.
The field about 40 seconds down on Amanda Miller (Lip Smackers) near Gila.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) sat comfortably in the pack early in the race.
Hilary Billington (Lip Smackers) took some time off the front as well.
Rebecca Much (Webcor) was not too far ahead of Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) with just a few miles remaining.
Kristin Armstrong (Cervelo Test Team) looks back to see her progress.

Images by Jonathan Devich/

The peloton gets strung out through the scenic New Mexico countryside.
Breakaway riders didn't have any time to take in the sites today.
Lance Armstrong (Mellow Johnny's) leads the front group up the climb.
Mellow Johnny's Levi Leipheimer attacks on the climb for the stage win.