The organizers of the 2011 SRAM Tour of the Gila, set for April 27 – May 1 in Silver City, N.M., requested that the event be removed from the UCI America Tour calendar due to financial reasons. Fortunately, the race will still be contested and will now be ranked as a 2.2 level event on the 2011 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar (NRC).

“We are disappointed for Jack Brennan and the Tour of the Gila for not being able to secure the necessary financial support to conduct a UCI calendar race in 2011,” said Sean Petty, USA Cycling Chief Operating Officer. “We understand the challenge and applaud Jack and SRAM for being able to continue this great event as one of the most difficult races on the NRC calendar.”

Comprising 30 of the nation’s top pro-am road cycling races for both men and women, the 2011 NRC will feature 14 criteriums, 13 stage/omnium races and three one day road race events and is set to kick-off March 30 with the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

2011 USA Cycling National Racing Calendar
Mar. 30-Apr. 3: Redlands Bicycle Classic 2.2 Stage Race – M/W – Redlands, CA
Apr. 9: Sunny King Criterium 1.3 Crit – M/W – Anniston, AL
Apr. 16: Tour of the Battenkill 1.HC M/1.4 W Road Race – M/W – Cambridge, NY
Apr. 27-May 1: SRAM Tour of the Gila 2.2 Stage Race – M/W – Silver City, NM
Apr. 30-May 8: USA CRITS Speedweek 2.5.2 Omnium – M/W – GA, SC
May. 1: Dana Point Grand Prix 1.3 Crit – M – Dana Point, CA
May 5-8: Joe Martin Stage Race p/b Nature Valley 2.3 Stage Race – M/W – Fayetteville, AR
May. 14: Tour de Grove 1.3 Crit – M/W – St. Louis, MO
May. 21-22: Wilmington Grand Prix 2.5.2 Omnium – M/W – Wilmington, DE
May. 30: Tour of Somerville 1.2 Crit – M – Somerville, NJ
Jun. 2: Base Camp Intl. p/b Verizon Wireless 1.3 Crit – M – Basking Ridge, NJ
Jun. 5: Liberty Classic 1.HC – W – Philadelphia, PA
Jun. 10-12: Tulsa Tough 2.5.1 Omnium – M – Tulsa, OK
Jun. 11-12: Air Force Cycling Classic 2.5.1 Omnium – M/W – Arlington, VA
Jun. 15-19: Nature Valley Grand Prix 2.1 Stage Race – M/W – Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Jun. 25: Glencoe Grand Prix p/b AT&T 1.4 Crit – M – Glencoe, IL
Jun. 26: Manhattan Beach Grand Prix 1.2 Crit – M – Manhattan Beach, CA
Jul. 3: Fitchburg-Longsjo Classic 1.3 Crit – M/W – Fitchburg, MA
Jul. 5-10: Tour de Toona 2.4 Stage Race – M/W – Altoona, PA
Jul. 16: Boise Twilight 1.2 Crit – M – Boise, ID
Jul. 19-24: Cascade Classic Stage Race 2.2 Stage Race – M/W – Bend, OR
July 27-31: Tour de Nez 2.4 Stage Race – M/W – Reno, NV
Aug. 5-7: Tour of Elk Grove 2.1 Stage Race – M – Elk Grove, IL
Aug. 6: Presbyterian Hospital Invitational 1.1 Crit – M/W – Charlotte, NC
Aug. 20: Grand Cycling Classic 1.2 Crit – W – Grand Rapids, MI
Aug. 21: Evanston Grand Prix 1.4 Crit – M/W – Evanston, IL
Aug. 27-28: Chris Thater Memorial 1.2 Crit – M/W – Binghamton, NY
Sept. 2-5: Labor Day Omnium 2.5.2 Omnium – M/W – GA/SC
Sept. 17: Univest Grand Prix 1.HC Road Race – M – Souderton, PA
Oct. 2: CapCrit p/b WCSA 1.4 Crit – M/W – Washington, DC