SILVER CITY, N.M. (AP) — Lance Armstrong says there are plenty of good reasons to return to the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico.
Big climbs, a time trial, a competitive field.
The seven-time Tour de France champion finished 22nd in the Tour of the Gila’s opening stage, a 95-mile road race to Mogollon that was capped by a grueling climb over the final 5 miles.
Armstrong returned to the five-day race for the second straight year and said the New Mexico event compares favorably to the narrow, twisting climbs of European racing. The Gila race has more than 25,000 feet of climbing and 339 miles of road racing — a good early-season test.
But the biggest advantage? Traveling to New Mexico doesn’t require a time zone change from Armstrong’s Colorado training base.
