INNER LOOP ROAD RACE
STAGE 2 – THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024

Begins at Ft. Bayard, 7 miles (11.3km) East of Silver City, ends at Ft. Bayard

The Trail of the Mountain Spirits National Scenic Byway is the path most of the race will follow on Day 2. One change from previous years is that only one of the categories will start in the village of Piños Altos. All races will start on the grounds of historic Ft. Bayard. Racers will head out on Hwy 180 W toward Silver City, then turn North on Hwy 15 through Piños Altos.

Start Time Class Distance
Pinos Altos 8:10 am Women 2,3 61.3 miles(98.7km)
Fort Bayard 9:00 am UCI Men 76.2 miles(122.6km)
Fort Bayard 9:40 am Men 2,3 75.0 miles(120.7km)
Fort Bayard 10:20 am UCI Women 74.1 miles(119.3km)

 

The map variance for each class is where the racers start (Santa Clara or Pinos Altos).

UCI Men start at 9 a.m. MDT and race 76.2 miles loop with 5,781 feet of climbing. Two bonus sprints along the course with time bonus for 1st, 2nd and 3rd; cash award for 1st and sprinter points for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Three Cat 3 KOMS. Finish Line: Time bonuses for 1st, 2nd and 3rd and sprinter points for 1st through 10th.

Course turns right on US 180 toward Silver City upon leaving Fort Bayard. At 5.2 miles (8.4km), another right turn onto the 32nd St. By-Pass., with the first bonus sprint just ahead. Course turns right on to NM 15 at the next intersection. The first Cat 3 KOM is at 11.6 miles (18.7km). After the village of Piños Altos the road narrows with no center line. The second Cat 3 KOM is at 21.1 miles (34km). At 27.8 miles(44.8km), Wild Horse Mesa is the start of a very technical 1,000+ foot (305+ meter) drop. This 3 mile (4.8km) descent has numerous sharp corners, hairpins and two switchbacks. The course then turns right at the next intersection onto NM 35. The second bonus sprint is at 41.5 miles (66.5km) on a narrow two-lane road. Race turns right on NM 152. The third Cat 3 KOM is at 63.9 miles (102.8km). At 68.8 miles (110.7km), the course crosses a rough railroad track at the base of a high-speed descent and turns sharply to the left onto NM 356 to the Town of Bayard until it reaches US 180 at 73.1 miles(117.6km). Right turn onto US 180 and follows this for 2.2 miles (3.5km), then turns right into Ft. Bayard for the 0.9 mile(1.45km) finish. Finish sprint is straight and has a very slight rise.

UCI Women start at 10:20 a.m. MDT and race 74.1 mile loop with 5,854 feet of climbing. Two bonus sprints along the course with time bonus for 1st, 2nd and 3rd; cash award for 1st and sprinter points for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Three Cat 3 QOMS. Finish Line: Time bonuses for 1st, 2nd and 3rd and sprinter points for 1st through 10th.

Course turns right on US 180 toward Silver City upon leaving Fort Bayard. At 6.1 miles (9.8km), right turn on the 32nd St. By-Pass. Just ahead is the first bonus sprint. Turn right on to NM 15 at the next intersection. The first Cat 3 QOM is at 12.5 miles(20.1km). After the village of Pinos Altos the road narrows with no center line. At 28.7 miles(46.2km), Wild Horse Mesa is the start of a very technical 1,000+ foot(305+ meter) drop. This 3 mile (4.8km) descent has numerous sharp corners, hairpins and two switchbacks. The course turns right at the next intersection onto NM 35. The second bonus sprint is at 42.4 miles (68.2km) on a narrow two-lane road. Race turns right on NM 152 at 59.3 miles (95.4km). The second Cat 3 QOM is at 64.8 miles(104.3km). At the intersection with US 180, 73.7 miles(118.6km), course turns right and continues about 500 meters then turns right again into Fort Bayard. It is 0.9 miles (1.45km) to the finish. Finish sprint is straight and has a very slight rise.

A closer look at Stage 2, the Inner Loop Road Race

Details for both:

On the Course: 2 bonus sprints: time bonuses for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, cash award for 1st and sprinter points of 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Three KOMS/QOMS.

Jerseys awarded at the end of the stage are:

General Classification Leader’s Jersey (Red)

Sprinter Jersey (Green) sponsored by Gila Regional Medical Center

KOM/QOM Jersey (Polka Dots) sponsored by Freeport McMoRan

Best Young Rider Jersey (White) sponsored by Brian & Lynn Robinson and Southwest Bone & Joint Institute

Sponsors