After almost three dozen years of aiding Tour of the Gila, Grant County’s Gila Regional Medical Center elevated its already priceless support of the bike race in 2024. Now the sponsor of the race’s green sprinter jersey, Gila Regional Medical Center exemplifies the kind of community partnership and collaboration that sustains America’s most iconic stage race.

The most important contribution this hospital has made in the past and continues to make in 2024 is ensuring Emergency Medical Services. Lending medical staff and ambulances to follow the race—free of charge—on all five days of Tour of the Gila, the hospital also shares staff to man Tour of the Gila first aid stations. Riders with injuries requiring more medical attention are serviced in the emergency room of Gila Regional Medical Center.

Gila Regional Medical Center medical providers are experienced and caring professionals who take cyclists’ unique needs into consideration. Nurses are known to ask before cutting off a high-dollar cycling kit to expose a wound and familiarize themselves with common cycling injuries, including road rash.

In addition to providing essential emergency medical personnel and equipment, the hospital began supplying athletes with a race bag and vital nutrition. And last year, Gila Regional Medical Center also gave about 30 bedding kits to housing hosts who invite riders to stay in their homes. This spring, the hospital is again donating those necessities to the racers and community as needed.

Gila Regional Medical Center EMS Director Eloy Medina coordinates with Grant County Search and Rescue to ensure emergency communications coverage throughout the race, which runs through remote locations with limited cell reception particularly during the three road races.

Finally, Gila Regional Medical Center representatives plan to pass out free water bottles to the those who come to watch this year’s Tour of the Gila downtown criterium on Saturday, April 27, in Silver City’s historic MainStreet district.