Tulsa Tough ‘24

Where: Tulsa, OK
When: June 7-9th
Who: Alex Hedrick

Tulsa Tough, aka the super of bowl of crit racing in the US takes place over three days on the downtown streets of Tulsa Oklahoma. Thousands of competitors and spectators come out for three full days of racing. The energy throughout the weekend was reminiscent of a block party, everyone was tailgating, having the time of their lives.

Frankie and I had planned this trip for the first weekend of June all the way back in February and it was marked on our calendars since last year. There was serious anticipation for this weekend.

We’d signed up for the category 1/2 field with hopes to compete for podium spots. Friday night’s blue dome criterium was a perfect course for me, super-fast and flowy with lots of advantages for riding efficiently. Frankie timed an attack after a prime lap and got some airtime for 1.5 laps. Sadly, no one bridged, and his breakaway was short-lived. We settled in for the last half of the race, biding our time in order to save energy for the flurry of efforts to come in the closing laps.

Alex staying out of the wind on Friday night.

Unfortunately, with 4 laps to go Frankie got caught up in a crash leaving me to navigate to the front on my own. As I patiently waited for the speed to come down before making a move, the lap counter continued to tick down, 3,2,1…there was no time left and it was now or never. I surged on the homestretch coming into the last lap and sling-shotted up the outside from 20 wheels back into the top 10. Perfect, now I just had to hold my position as lead-out riders dropped off and I could hopefully come away with a result. The last lap happens almost in slow-motion as your senses heighten and your heart races. I kept position as best I could but ultimately failed to follow the eventual winner but was good enough for 8th place on the night. Not bad for a field of 130 riders.

The heat was definitely a factor on day 2.

The next two days were unbelievably hot with the arts district on Saturday…I tried the same thing as Friday night and crashed on the last lap, Frankie suffered in the heat. Sunday was crybaby hill, a Tulsa classic. Frankie raced heroically, nearly clawing back the breakaway. But without any help, the group of 3 stayed away. On exhausted legs he was still able to attack the last lap and hold on for a 12th place finish. An excruciating sprint for the line as his chasers caught him in the final moments. As for me, it was all I could do to finish and take in the atmosphere.

Frankie and Alex gunning it up cry baby hill on the last day of Tulsa Tough.

All in all, an eventful weekend for Frankie and I and one we won’t forget. Hopefully we can bring more guys next year to share the experience.