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Silver City’s Tour of the Gila Returns May April 30-May 4

Regarded as one of the tougher stage races in North America, the annual Tour of the Gila, April 30-May 4, 2008, has been renamed the Ben D. Altamirano Memorial in memory of the late New Mexico Senator for his many years of service to Grant County and all of southwest New Mexico.

Presented by Scott Nichols Toyota, the Ben D. Altamirano Memorial Tour of the Gila is the biggest and most prestigious cycling event in New Mexico, annually attracting 450 to 550 participants to Silver City from all over North America and the world.

“We are dedicated to the continued expansion of the Ben D. Altamirano Memorial Tour of the Gila, an important step in the process of proving the economic viability of New Mexico in the sporting world,” Tourism Department Secretary Michael Cerletti said. “Small-town events are the backbone of New Mexico’s annual $5 billion tourism industry. The folks in Silver City are to be commended for their efforts in creating what has become one of New Mexico’s more popular competitive athletic events and one that continues to have a huge economic impact in Grant County. We are happy to provide both financial support and the help of department marketing staff to help insure the event’s continued success.”

The Tour of the Gila began in 1987 and is part of USACyling’s National Racing Calendar. It is a five-day stage race, consisting of three Road Races, an Individual Time Trial and a Criterium (two road races, an Individual Time Trial and a Criterium for Senior Men 4, 5 and Women 3, 4). The overall winner is decided on basis of lowest overall time for all races.
Changes for 2008 include:

The five-day stage race format will be Stage 1: Silver City to Mogollon Road Race; Stage 2: the Inner Loop Road Race; Stage 3: Tyrone Individual Time Trials; Stage 4: Downtown Silver City Criterium; and Stage 5: Gila Monster Road Race.
The Senior Men 4, 5 race and the Women 3, 4 race are now four-day stage races. The new format will be Stage 1: The Inner Loop Road Race; Stage 2: Tyrone Individual Time Trials; Stage 3: Downtown Silver City Criterium; and Stage 4: Gila Monster Road Race.

For more information, contact Tour of the Gila race director Jack Brennan, 505-388-3222, 590-1688 or 505-538-5793, or brennan@gilanet.com. Race information is available at www.tourofthegila.com.