Cyclists Tough Out Rainy Tulsa Weather For 10th Annual Race

The overnight and early morning rain didn't stop the tenth annual Tulsa Tough from starting on time Saturday.

Saturday, June 13th 2015, 2:07 pm

By: News On 6

Cyclists Tough Out Rainy Tulsa Weather For 10th Annual Race

It's the 10th anniversary of the Tulsa Tough and the races continued even with the threat of rain and storms.

The final races slated for 7:55 p.m. were postponed about an hour on Saturday because of heavy rain downtown, but otherwise, the day whizzed along perfectly.

More than 4,000 cyclists are in Tulsa this weekend participating in the world-class event.

Groups of cyclists whipped around the corners of the Brady Arts District with cloudy skies looming, but organizers said they prepare for wet weather every year.

"We always have the capacity to stand down, let the weather get through and then readjust the schedule then resume the racing part of the action,” Malcolm said.

The athletes are also escorted by officials in each race to make sure things go smoothly and to monitor the conditions on the course.

The event draws thousands of spectators each year, along with 4,000 athletes taking part this year.

“We're on our way to 5,000 -- that's our ultimate goal."

And that's a lot of growth to look forward to.

The race started 10 years ago with just 400 riders.

But rain or shine, the Tulsa Tough lives up to its name.

"You know we've got a contingency plan for everything,” Malcolm said. “Ten years into it, we've probably seen every kind of weather -- hail to hot to wind and everything."

The event continues on Sunday, including the athletes' rigorous climb up the popular "Cry Baby Hill.”

The event wraps up Sunday with the Grand Fondo race starting off at 7:30 a.m. and criterium races going on from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. near 15th Street and Riverside Drive.

If you'd like to enjoy some of the races but can't make it out to watch, Tulsa Tough is providing a live stream on its website.

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