It's in the name, Tulsa Tough is Tough!

We made the drive Tuesday and held a community ride with the Tulsa Divas Wednesday night followed by a great Q&A at the Hunt Club thanks to Fat Tire Brewing. The Divas are the largest women’s cycling club in the USA and it was incredible to get to ride with the J.Lo and Madonna groups and get to hang out with everyone. We definitely heard their cheers throughout the weekend as well 

Thursday night we celebrated Holly’s birthday with some surprise fish tacos and carrot cake(s) all thanks to our wonderful hosts who we have stayed with for the past nine years!!! The Tulsa community is certainly something else.

Friday was the start of racing – while the temperatures were cooler the racing was extra spicy! Night one at Blue Dome was the third stop in the American Crit calendar and teams were rearing to go. We debuted our new Cannondale SuperSix EVO race bikes fully loaded with Hunt wheels and the brand-new Vittoria Corsa Pro tires – the perfect combination for an eight-corner crit! This was Holly’s first Tulsa and she held on for a strong top 20 finish.

Day two took us to the Tulsa Art District. With an earlier race time and rising temperatures, we were thankful to have the Cannondale bus to cool off in (you’re the best Tom!), along with multiple ice stockings down our jerseys. A crash had the race briefly neutralized, but another sprint finish with Holly sticking in the top 20.

Last, but certainly not least is the infamous Cry Baby Hill day of Tulsa. A party like none other and a grueling race that even the toughest sometimes cannot conquer. Off the gun, it was hard racing as the omnium was neck and neck. The team rode amazing with Kaya accomplishing her goal of getting up Cry Baby first in the early laps, Ashley helping Emily get to the front following a stop in the pit, and Monica collecting dollar bills with each lap. Emily made it through and finished 16th and the satisfaction of finally conquering Cry Baby – the third time's the charm.

The team joined the crowds on the hill to watch the men’s race and then later at Club Majestic to dance the night away.

The team now heads to TOAD for the first four days – come say hi – and then everyone heads home for their respective Nationals.