It takes over 500 volunteers to put on the Tour of the Gila, one of the top bicycle stage races in the U.S. Without you, this community event would not be possible. Come on out, enjoy spring weather, meet a great network of people, and make a positive impact!

By volunteering, you will be part of five days of excitement as southwest New Mexico welcomes hundreds of racers, their families, and support crews. You can be part of the action by playing a role in ensuring the athletes a safe and fun experience. The race takes place April 24 – April 28, 2024.

All volunteers receive a Tshirt and are invited to join an appreciation party following the race on Sunday, April 28, at Little Walnut Picnic Grounds. There are many different volunteer opportunities. Check out the positions and descriptions available below and sign up to help us make the 37th Tour of the Gila a resounding success! We thank you in advance for giving your time.

Course Marshals:

A course marshal’s duties generally focus on helping manage the flow around the racecourse by keeping traffic and pedestrians off the roads at specific points, directing riders and race vehicles at intersections, funneling spectators through or across the roads at appropriate times, and helping residents gain access.

Although marshals are necessary for each stage, the greatest need for course marshals is during the Downtown Criterium on Saturday. Racers do loops around a closed course in the historic district of Silver City! Spectate from your post proves exciting, as racers do multiple laps of the short course. You are welcome to have a friend or family member join you and share the responsibility.

Drivers:

Drivers are needed for all categories for the road races on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. No experience is necessary. A training session will be held prior to the event. There are various positions: A lead vehicle stays out in front of each category; support vehicles typically carry spare wheels to hand to racers; comm cars carry race officials; and the easy-going SAG wagon follows (and may pick up) the lagging rider(s). Driving in the race caravan is an exciting way to be involved. Tour of the Gila, Inc. covers the gas costs. 

Medical Personnel:

For each stage, medical professionals are needed to staff finish line first aid tents to treat injured and exhausted riders. The race needs many types of medical professionals: physicians, mid-level providers, nurses, medical assistants, athletic trainers, paramedics, EMTs, and therapists. Lending your expertise in this way is a great opportunity to gain experience and get a sense for the challenge of the race!

Host Housing:

Providing racers and team personnel with a place to stay during the race gives local hosts an opportunity to get to know the cyclists who travel here from across the U.S. and the world. Teams may arrive a couple of days before the race begins, and usually leave town right after the final stage. They need a place to sleep, access to a bathroom and to a kitchen, and a safe place to store bicycles. Hosts are not responsible for cleaning up after or feeding racers, who prepare their own meals or dine out. Hosts specify whether they can accommodate women or men (or either/both). Race organizers appreciate offers of anything from a sofabed, or an RV in the yard, to several spare bedrooms (and there are air mattresses available for hosts with plenty of space, but few beds). Having local residents host the teams is a huge help to Tour of the Gila, which is obligated to provide some team housing.

Team Support:

Professional teams are often in need of assistance with neutral feed and other team/event support activities. Let us know what skills you have or how much time you can give, and we will match you with a volunteer job.