You spoke up. We heard you. The message received: Many strong female cyclists who compete in category 4 want to race Tour of the Gila in 2025.

Tour of the Gila is opening up the amateur women’s field to category 4 racers this spring. The field had been previously designated for categories 1, 2, and 3. An influx of emails and calls from female racers wanting the opportunity to compete led the Tour of the Gila race organization to reconsider the range of riders in the amateur women’s field.

“Realistically, most cat 1 racers will be trying to get onto a team and compete in the UCI women’s field,” Race Director Jack Brennan says. “So adding cat 4s makes the USA Cycling women’s race essentially a field for category 2, 3, and 4 participants.”

Opening up the race to another category also allows for a larger field, which makes the road races in particular more of a group effort. “Riders can work together to complete the lengthier race courses, pedaling in groups along the remote stretches through the Gila National Forest,” Brennan says.

While a stage race is a challenge for athletes of all experience levels, even riders with less experience can complete the Tour of the Gila. Testifying to that fact is first-time stage racer Itzela Darkenwald, a college runner who straddled a bike and finished the 37th Tour of the Gila feeling relatively fresh. She says she appreciated the welcoming atmosphere of competitive road cycling: “Because of the support of community, this has been possible.”