Amazing race coverage produced by skinnyfast in cooperation with The Rock. Follow car driving performed by The Rock. Racing completed by Skinnyfast Jr. Possibly more to follow with the details if everyone is interested if not i will put them up here anyway and you can just not read them. For the full scoop and more news about the real pro team, visit www.khsnm.com.

LIVE COVERAGE of the Cat4 Gila Monster; Junior Bill Cowan Looks To Take the Overallby: SkinnyFast, 2006-05-07
We want to welcome all our readers to the final day of the Tour of the Gila. Cyclingnews.com refused to cover the Cat 4 race live so we here at KHSnm.comnews.com decided to send our intrepid reporters down south. Our hero Junior Bill Cowan sits in 11th overall as we head into the last day. He has promised to attack early and often on the Sapillo climb in an attempt to gain the Pink Jersey of race leader. We caught up to him before the race as he was lining up the logos on his wheels and ask what the plan was. “I’ll sit in until the base of the final climb and then attack hard. I have to drop the race leader and get some time back so this is my last chance. I don’t want to go home in 11th.” According to his advisor/coach young Bill has what it takes. “We come down here in the winter specifically to ride these courses so he knows them well. He’s ready to go. We tried to get some time back yesterday in the crit but that didn’t quite pan out. He knows he has to attack so it should be explosive.”
8:45 AM – And its Game On here at the Tour of the Gila. The final day. The Gila Monster. First we would like to send our thoughts out to Bill McLain’s family. Bill is one of those guys that everybody will miss. Also out to Ryan Blickem (TargetTraining) for a quick and full recovery. We hope to see you up and about soon.
Well, our junior racer Bill Cowan sits in a position to win today if things go his way and it’s time to race!
8:55 – Bill sits on the front looking confident for the roll out thru town. He’ll be speeding down the road on a stock KHS Flite Team edition Frame and fork outfitted with Oval components and Shimano drivetrain. If you are following the Live Action from the Albuquerque area you can head over to the Bike Coop and talk to Greg about what KHS Bicycles can do for you. Keeping Bill upright and in flight will be some sweet rolling Kenda Criteriums mounted on a set of Spinergy SS Tiliums (spinergy.com).
9:05- The race is on and there are a couple NMVS riders going to the front. They now have a slight gap. This is tailwind so it probably doesn’t hurt that much to be up there out of traffic.
What does hurt is a bug in your eyeball so Bill will rely on a stylish set of Rudy Project Wizaards to keep his retinas intact. Don’t think you have to be scorching the competition at the hardest stage race in America to where the Rudys though. Barbeques in the back yard, sailing on the ocean, crashing surf at Tingley Beach are all great places to sport a set of Rudy Projects.
9:15 – Some teams seem intent to blow this race up and it is working. Dropped riders are coming at us fast and furious. If you want compliments to come at you fast and furious think about some Specialized Pro Carbon shoes . . . wait, they don’t sponsor us.
9:25 – The rollers continue to take their toll. Speaking of tolls, have you ever taken the NY State Thruway? Local rider/celebrity Bryson Sewell (5280) is in the Cat 2 race this year and appears to be on the Thruway to Hurtsville. Remember Bryson, It’s not whether you go to Hurtsville; it’s whether or not you catch the train out in the morning to Badassville. Hang tough young fella.
9:32 – Now the action is heating up. Several sorties off the front have strung out the field. We saw the Pro,1 race roll out and no joke when the neutral flag went down a TIAA-CREF rider just took off. 108 miles of that does not appeal to me.
9:34- This just over race radio: It’s hot out. Thanks.
9:36 the descent of the RR climb and the pace is brisk. There’s been an attack. No he’s brought back. Evidently sitting on the front wasn’t such a good idea; NMVS rider drooooooooooopped.
Something you never want to drop is your head on the pavement so Bill is sporting his team issue Rudy Project helmet (Rudyprojectusa.com). Comfortable, breezy, and it probably comes in a color that matches your uniform.
9:38 Rollers are taking their toll. One whole team off the back. HBBS? Local rider Dave Worth on the front setting a tough pace for his teammates. Bill is tucked in tight about 8th wheel. This is no joke today as probably 15 riders are packing it in already. You know what else isn’t a joke? Looking good. That’s why Bill is dressed out in Voler jersey and bibs today. The best uniform ever deserves the best materials.
9:42 Two riders off the front. One of them in about 20th on the GC. The way he’s rocking. It will be tough to hold out the day. The gap is about 30 seconds. #37 has flatted! He sits tied with Bill on GC. Teammates waiting from Ariel-Zia Velo. Chasing hard thru the caravan. . . . not yet . . . uphill . . . they are back on. Team work pays.
9:46 Pace tough on a hot day. Bill sits on the Race Leaders wheel. Good move since the dude is HUGE. This pace is hurting people but there’s a descent coming.
9:48 Lining out on the descent! There’s a gap. Riders in trouble at the back. Ariel-Zia moving up. It’s a freewheel. Everyone looks relieved. Nope, It’s an attack! 3 Riders with the gap! Field splitting. They are movin’ it.
9:51 Two up the road. Field starting to fragment on the next climb. It’s a cross wind here. The pace has backed off as the two race leaders come into view. #34 and 41 are starting to look a little knackered on their own.
9:54 My bad, solo rider of the front with two chasing, then the pack. Leader on the Feed Zone descent all tucked in about 45mph. #500 is our current leader then 34, 41 and then the pack.
9:58 Bill is safely down the descent in ninth wheel looking good. Race leader has about three minutes on the field. Goodluck with that. Well, we’re off to the feed zone. Speaking of feedzones if you get a chance try out Jasmines on Central down by Route 66 Diner. It’s choice.
10:56 – Bill has just come thru the feedzone. #500 is still of the front! By a couple minutes. He looked pretty worked but hanging on. There was a small loose group containing some contenders dangling 5 seconds up the road on the now greatly diminished group but not going anywhere. Race Leader was still there. OOOOOOOWWEEEEEE I can feel the excitement in the air! There is going to be a throwdown on the Sapillo! A throwdown I say!
11:06 – Craig and I are hauling ass back thru the valley. I’m kinda scared. We’ll be parking up at Pinos Altos for the finish and walking down the mountain as far as possible to see the action. 24 miles to go! 25 of it uphill.
We are now on the Sapillo run in. Everyone jockeying for position. It’s important to know where you are when you blow up.
And on to the lower slopes and they are MOVING! The first 17% switchback . . . and the race is blown up 30 seconds in! Crazy Cat rider to the front and off! It’s countered by Bill! Two more riders bridge then blow. Bill setting pace! He promised a showdown and he’s delivering.
A small surge and Bill backs off. Riding tempo
Crazy Cat up the road Bill riding second, NMVS rider bridged up. They come together. Where’s is the rest of the field?
The gap is opening. GC leader dragging a small group in chase. Bill looks solid. Another switchback. Ouch! The crazy cat goes again Bill can’t match it!
Crazy Cat up the road Bill surges to close. NMVS just went backwards on 10%. Wow that was insane!
Small group of climbers now forming. This has been incredible! The punch counter punch stops for a while. The GC leader is struggling to close. Can’t do it. Crazy Cat rider is away again. Bill looks around but gets no help so he ups the tempo to keep tabs on the move.
Bill is solo in chase . . . no, he has a rider with him. Bill drops him trying to chase up to the leader.
Coming to the short descent. This has been knockdown dragout. Bill attacks! The group behind with the GC leader can’t answer on a difficult section. Bill gasses it.
They’re dragging him back on the long downhill. Too much power in the GC leaders group.
Bill has been brought back. There is still the Crazy Cat rider up the road but his gap has flattened out at one minute.
Group of six chasing. The gap is down to 45 seconds.
Rolling hard thru the mountains. Bill takes a pull. Gap down to 38 seconds. Now 35. The race leader is pulling hard! Gap is at 30 sec
1K to go! Bill is third in line. He looks whooped but is fighting.
500 meters 18%grade and the riders are out of the saddle! This finish is brutal! 400 . . .300 . . . 200 . . . Bill goes for it! He attacks the group! They can’t go with it but one guy jumps the wheel . . . 100 . . .
It’s a bike throw on the line for the bonus seconds! Verhuel calls Bill as the winner of the group sprint, third overall on the day. 5 bonus seconds for Bill.
That race was everything it promised to be. Wow! Bill should be comfortably into 4th overall on the GC moving up from eleventh. What a ride! That was unbelievable! This kid is the real deal. He promised to attack and did.
That’s all from our live coverage. Thanks for joining us.