Western CO guy

I have decided to ride the Tour of the Gila in 2011. I am 62 and can usually do reasonably well in 55-65 climbing road races. Entering the Gila is kind of a "bucket list" thing for me.

The first question is easy: Does anyone know when they open registration for this race?

The second question needs more explanation.

My choices for entry are: 40+ and Cat 4/5. The 40+ is significantly faster and you have to finish each stage within X percent of the stage winner or you are out for other stages. Also the 40+ group has 2 days of climbing stages, a TT, a crit, and another climbing stage. Cat 4/5 has only on stage before the TT.

It seems like a no-brainer to enter Cat 4/5, but two experienced racers I know say the risk of crashing is much higher in 4/5 because there is lots of testostrone mixed with with lots of inexperience. My question---how dangerous is the Cat 4/5 group?

Grumpy McTrumpy

Racer Ex would be the one to answer.

Grumpy McTrumpy

if you want to know whether they enforced the time cut, have a look at the bottom of the various days' results and then go to the next day. My short perusal of the 2010 results indicated that they may not have enforced it at all.

this was important to me at Killington stage 1 this year when I had to chase the time cut for over 40 miles. As it turned out, I made the cut (but would have been eliminated the next day in the time trial when over 15 of us were outside the limit). They enforced it on day one, but not for the TT.

pjcampbell

id probably go with 40+ and train hard vs risk it with the 4/5's.

40+ is usually sort of like cat3+ or cat3- depending on who is racing.

brianappleby

My stepfather did the same thing last year. He ended up doing the masters race, but got dropped in the first 10 minutes.
For what it's worth, the 4/5 don't really crash at big stage races like they do in local crits.

Hermes

Age 61... Over the last two years, I have done 3 stage races (not the Gila) and about 25 racers per year. I was a Cat 5 and due to scheduling issues (my wife races also), I raced with the Cat 5 versus the Masters 55+ in the stage races. I had a great time with the Cat 5 men and thought they raced very well. I ride with younger racers all the time. I do not buy the testosterone comment. By definition, racers in the Cat 5 groups are less experienced and skilled than the higher categories. Many of my peers race in the 55+ group and that is also a great group to ride with although a little tougher than the Cat 5 due to Cat 1/2s but certainly no less testosterone about winning just more skilled. There have been crashes in all the categories this year in our district and I do not have the actual numbers but by it seems the 4s had the most. A lot had to do with the size of the fields. At least that is one theory. However, the P/1/2 men had some bad crashes as well. That is racing.

Now that I am a Cat 4, I could ride with 45+ 1/2/3/4. However, that is a very tough group with a lot of 1/2s and large fields. So deciding on which group with which to race is always interesting. If you think you will get cut, then the Masters 40 and 45+ are very fast groups.

I do not know a lot about the Gila other than I quickly read the flyer. I would check the size of the fields. Sometimes different category groups have smaller fields than others. In general but not always, smaller fields are less prone to crashes but that is a big depends. Faster races with the field strung out are generally safer than large pelotons maneuvering around a technical circuit.

If you are a Cat 5, I would ride with the 4/5s and not worry about crashing but work on your pack skills and be prepared for the sections of the races where crashes are likely to occur.

Racer Ex 

Gila- Entry opens around Feb/March. They didn't enforce the time cut in the Masters last year, if they did a lot of the field would have been gone. The 40+ is very fast at the front, but it's likely you'll have someone to ride with if you can keep a strong century pace. You won't be competitive, most of the front guys are ex pros or national or world champ age groupers.

Last year the wind (gusts up to 70 MPH) and bigger field factored in to a fair number of crashes. Quite a few guys dropped out. Year prior had no crashes and less riders pulling out.

That said you'll get the full 5 days of racing.

Don't know much about the 4/5.

Happy to answer questions.

rruff

The only problem with the masters is that you will probably be OTB on the first climb each day. I doubt you will be last, though. Franco Panveno seems to get a lock on that placing every year.

BTW, I asked the race director to consider a 40+ Cat 3,4,5 race next year, because the 4,5s usually fills up. If you are interested, you should do the same.

Gila is supposed to get a status upgrade next year and I'm curious about how that will effect things. Most high class races do not have lower categories at all.

rruff

More like Cat 2 at Gila.

Racer Ex 

Can you ask him when I'll get my 50+ check?

It's more the principle of the thing...

2005trek1200

hey Ex,

what kind of gearing was everyone running at the Gila? im racing next year in the 4/5, but would be curious what gearing you had for the 40+. Given the pure climbing nature of it all i fear i may have to swap my crank and cogs, but i am hesitant to do so because i want something tall for the TT ( i know its not a flat TT but more so than the road course). currently have a sram 53/39 with an 11/28. thanks.

spinwax

I agree with rruff. 40+ will be more like Cat IIs.

rkwaki

Racer I agree with you on this one.

I am still owed prize money and prime money from two races last year. It isn't much but WTF??? I spoke to the one organizer and he said I will get the prize money when they finalize results - this race was in August He told me that he handed out all the prime money the day of the race, I asked him who he gave it to because it was all mine (4 of 5 primes to be exact) and he said he would check into it - that was in October.
Frickin' promoters...

El Diablo Rojo

I need to move to NJ.


When Ex did raced two years ago the 40+ field had one ex tour rider and several ex National Champions...cat 2's were the least of his worries.

Grumpy McTrumpy

that happens here too. You might race against Mark McCormack, Roger Aspholm, Jonny Bold and Dmitry Buben in the same race.

Racer Ex 

I ran a 52/36 and 11/26. I spin pretty high on the climbs.

Racer Ex 

And a 2x Olympian.

Kinda cool watching the real talent ride off.

rruff

What I meant was that the Cat 2 field at Gila (which is a very tough field) was close to the 40+ field as far as climbing and TT speed is concerned.

rruff

There are some very steep pitches on Mogollon (which I guess the 4s don't do), and the Monster stage on the last day. Generally short enough that you can stand if you aren't dead. I used a 50/36 and 11-23 but wished for lower...

brianappleby

Is it really that hard to stick around for 10 minutes after you finish? They hand out the checks shortly after Lance crosses the line....

rkwaki

I did then I did a second race that day - they kept putting me off and putting me off and I raced again - when I got back after the second crit I approached them about it again and they put me off as they were having some issues so I waited as long as I could before I had to head home. They assured me that my checks would be mailed to me that week - still hasn't happened

brianappleby

I get it... You're owed money, but not from the Gila.... fair enough. Promoters shouldn't offer primes if they aren't going to give them to you.

rkwaki

Primes and prize money - didn't get either

merlinextraligh

I take it the OP is Cat 5. Can you even do the Gila in Masters as a 5? Lots of races the Masters category is not open to Cat 5's.

That said having raced both Masters and Cat 5, your chance of being competitive is always going to be higher in a 4/5 race than Masters 40.

asgelle

Often primes are offered by someone or groups other than the promoters.