Saint Francis Tulsa Tough Announces Ride With The Pros

GranFondo riders will have the unique opportunity to ride with elite athletes
 
TULSA, Okla. (April 19, 2012) – 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
 
 
 
 
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Saint Francis Tulsa Tough
 
In its seventh year, Saint Francis Tulsa Tough is a three-day cycling festival for professional racers, amateur riders and novice cyclists. The event attracts the top racers and offers one of the nation’s largest purses. Scheduled for June 8-10, 2012, and held annually the second weekend after Memorial Day. The event features GranFondo rides, ranging in distance from 24 to 127 miles, through scenic areas around the Tulsa metropolitan area and professional level races. It is has been listed on the National Criterium Calendar for both male and female professional racers offering one of the top purses in the country for both male and female racers.  The goal of the event, which began in 2003, is to attract cyclists of all abilities to promote healthy lifestyles, showcase the Tulsa region and create economic impact for the city of Tulsa. For more information, visit tulsatough.com.
 
USA Cycling National Criterium Calendar (NCC)
Created in 2012 to showcase the country’s top criterium-only events, the National Criterium Calendar (NCC) recognizes the best crit racers on American soil by employing a season-long rankings system that identifies overall men’s and women’s series leaders. For more information on the NCC, visit www.usacycling.org/ncc. Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX, and cyclo-cross.