Time Trialin’ at Gila with Rory

A final drink of water, temps were in the 80′s in Tyrone, NM. Nine minutes to start.

The SRAM Tour of the Gila’s third stage was the traditional Tyrone Time Trial, 16.15 miles of uphill, downhill, and crosswinds. There is no hiding, no faking, its open and exposed. Rory Sutherland (United Healthcare) would start and end the day in the SRAM Leader’s jersey, posting a second place time of 34:26 – bested only by Cal Giant’s upstart Evan Hoffmann and followed by Bontrager-Livestrong’s Joe Dombrowski – a SRAM sweep of the podium.

We were lucky to spend part of the TT day following the lanky Australian (6′ 2″ 170 lbs), who is shooting for the win here in Gila and a top finish at this years upcoming Amgen Tour of California (7th in 2010). According to United Healthcare Manager Mike Tamayo, “on top of the great racing, a win here at Gila would be the perfect confidence builder for the season.”

Rory rode his team TT bike with SRAM RED-2012, one of the first in the US to ride the all new gruppo. Sutherland rode the entire race in the big ring, only crossing it up into his 26 once at the top of the climb into the headwind. He caught his minuteman just before the turnaround, and took the downhill at speeds well over 50 mph.

2012 SRAM Tour for The Gila Overall standings after stage 3 – Men:
1st – Rory Sutherland (Aus) UnitedHealthcare (SRAM RED-2012) 7:24:34
2nd – Joe Dombrowski (USA) Bontrager-Livestrong Team (SRAM RED-2012, Quarq power meters) 0:00:26
3rd – Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Competitive Cyclist Racing Team (SRAM RED Black Edition) 0:01:28

Rory’s SRAM Aero Set-up:
Shifters: SRAM R2C
Cranks: SRAM RED-2012 (56/39)
FD: SRAM RED-2012
RD: SRAM RED-2012
Brake calipers: SRAM RED-2012
Brake levers: SRAM 900 aero carbon
Cassette: SRAM XG 1090 (11-26)
Chain: SRAM PC-1091R