Galen Bolard claimed a narrow victory in stage 4 of the 2025 Tour of the Gila, winning the Downtown Silver City criterium in a photo finish over race leader Lauren Stephens. The fast-paced circuit through the streets of Silver City was always likely to favour a reduced bunch sprint, and Bolard timed her final kick perfectly to deny Stephens a fourth straight stage win.
Stephens had kept herself well-positioned throughout the 40-minute criterium and launched her sprint early, but Bolard came past her on the line to take her first win of the week. Minori Minagawa of Fount Cycling continued her consistent form with another podium in third.
With the result, Stephens retains a healthy lead in the overall standings, holding 1:48 over 17-year-old Sidney Swierenga of TaG Cycling. Emma Langley remains in third at 2:25, with the final stage still to come.
The final day will see riders tackle the Gila Monster Road Race, traditionally the hardest stage of the week. Due to worsening weather conditions across southwest New Mexico, organisers have revised the route, and both the UCI women and men will now race the same 110.9km course. Despite the shortened route, the profile still features enough climbing to provoke significant gaps and GC movement if the legs are willing.
Stephens will enter the final day with a comfortable buffer, but the Gila Monster has upset expectations before. Swierenga, Langley, and Minagawa remain within striking distance should anything go wrong.
2025 Tour of the Gila Stage 4 result
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Main photo credit: Tour of the Gila
