News

Saint Francis Tulsa Tough Announces Ride with the Pros

Saint Francis Tulsa Tough, being held June 8-10, 2012, announced today a unique opportunity for cyclists called Ride with the Pros.  Twenty-six professional cyclists, who are traveling to Tulsa to compete in the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough races, have now committed to also ride with the public in the GranFondo rides.

Elite Pro team riders will roll out in GranFondos on both Saturday and Sunday.  The 26 confirmed pros can choose whichever distance and pace they like. The GranFondos offer distances ranging from 24 to 127 miles.

“We created Ride with the Pros to offer a unique experience for both our professional racers and our amateur riders,” said Malcolm McCollam, Saint Francis Tulsa Tough executive director. “Not many sports allow amateur athletes to participate with their professional counterparts. It’s not like you can take batting practice with the New York Yankees. But you can line up and go for a ride with some of this country’s top bike racing professionals.”

Brad Huff, back-to-back overall winner of Tulsa Tough in 2009 and 2010 and a top professional cyclist for the Jelly Belly p/b Kenda team, is excited to ride with Tulsa’s GranFondo riders.

“The Ride with the Pros program at Tulsa Tough’s GranFondos helps show aspiring cyclists that riding a bike is the same for everyone – pedaling and more pedaling,” Huff said.  “Ride with the Pros helps other cyclists realize that just because a rider is a ‘pro,’ it doesn’t mean that he or she isn’t human.  I can’t wait to ride with the GranFondo riders during Ride with the Pros at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough.”

Robin Farina, NOW and Novartis for MS, 2011 U.S. National Road Champion, is also committed to the Ride with the Pros experience.

“I am extremely happy about having the opportunity to participate in the Ride with the Pros and represent NOW and Novartis for MS at Saint Francis Tulsa Tough this year,” Farina said. “My team and I love coming to this race because the fans and the atmosphere around the race in Tulsa are some of the most exciting in the country. We look forward to participating in the rides and meeting all the riders.”

The pros are not expected to compete for time, segment contests or distance.  These athletes will simply be warming up their legs and enjoying the Tulsa scenery, with amateur riders alongside them.

Confirmed pros and teams include:

Female Team                                                          Female Pros

FCS/Rouse p/b Mr. Restore                             Rachel Byus, Anna Sanders
NOW and Novartis for MS                                 The Entire Squad!
Primal/MapMyRide                                             Emily Kachorek, Jen Weinbrecht
Team KENDA p/b Gear Grinder                      Elizabeth Lauer, Shailie Sanbrooks
Vanderkitten – FOCUS                                      Jennifer Reither, Starla Teddergreen

Male Team                                                                 Male Pros
Jamis/Sutter Home                                                  Fernando Antogna, and Peter Van Dijk
Jelly Belly p/b KENDA                                              Brad Huff, Sean Mazich
Team Exergy                                                              Kai Applequist, Sam Johnson
Team Mountain Khakis p/b SmartStop                Chris Monteleone, Jerome Townsend
Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefits Strategies         Ken Hanson, Tom Soladay
Wonderful Pistachios                                               Victor Riquelme, Taylor Bertrand Barrett

To join the Pros at the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough GranFondo register here!