Motivation was high after the first team campaign at the Vuelta de Bisbee. With a short transfer from Arizona to New Mexico soon enough it was time to line up against what would be perhaps the strongest field we would face this season. Yes folks, Lance was back again, alongside Dave Zabriskie and Chris Horner there was some serious ProTour firepower that would surely ignite the race.
The first day in a nervous peloton Jon Garcia was able to sneak away in a tidy group of 11 that rolled off the front early and quite easily. Not represent were United Healthcare so sure enough they began the chase after 2hrs on the road. Things began to shatter hard with myslef (Chris) and Gray able to make the split just 20kms out from the final climb up the super tough Mogollon. In similar fashion to last year the break was caught on the flat sections before the climb, and from then on out it was every man for himself until trickling over the line completely spent. Over all it was a good start to the race with Garcia taking 2nd in the sprint competition and leaving us hungry for more.
Stage two we faced just incredible winds. Just crazy gusts all day that just demolished the peloton thanks to an early cross wind section and the efforts of Tom Danielson of DZ Nuts. At one point it was so difficult I remember getting out of the saddle only to have my arms cramp and collapse underneath me. Madness.
Stage three was the tough Tyrone Time Trial. Set over highway rollers once again the wind played a factor, especially in wheel choice and what was going to hold a steady line at 60kph. Not a great day for us overall but we all gave it the best we could with top finisher Ian Gray in 46th place.
The Stage four crit was a bunch of fun. For the climbers on the team it was a chance to rest a little before the final Gila monster day, but for the sprinters in the team it was a chance to shine, and Krughoff rode strong for a 20th place finish behind Mini Phinney who took the W.
The Gila Monster. What can you say! A massive day out on two wheels for sure and the weather sure threw us a curve ball. Making the lead group of only 30 after the second major climb of the day, it was myself and Gray who were soon faced with the onslaught of the of the Gila Monster climb out of the turn around point. This is where every year it blows up hard, and Gray with some super legs was able to hold onto the front group mostly all the way to the top of the brutal ascent. At the end of the day we all trickled in battle weary and bleary eye with myself (28th), Gray (33rd) and Holt (53rd) amongst the top finishers for the Burrito Express train.
Overall GC Results.
Ian Gray – 37th
Chris Winn – 39th
Brad Bingham – 67th
Ian Holt – 77th
