Downtown Street Preps Underway For Tulsa Tough Bicycle Race

For the tenth year, more than 5,000 cyclists will descend this weekend on several of downtown Tulsa's business and residential districts for Tulsa Tough.

Down in the Blue Dome District, construction crews have just finished repaving part of the course.

At 2nd and Elgin is where professional and amateur cyclists will take to the streets Friday night and city officials said it's just coincidence the road was finished in time for the race.

Cyclists from all over the world are coming back to Tulsa for the tenth year of the weekend-long bike race Tulsa Tough.

Race Director Malcolm McCollam is counting down the days until the first race starts in the Blue Dome District.

"We've been in a finish sprint for six, seven, eight weeks right now and for us to finally get to this point where you know it's here, we're getting ready to get to the starting line, we're going to get this, go time, it feels good," he said.

Parts of the Friday night race course are getting upgrades. Construction crews just finished paving the stretch of road where the start and finish lines are.

Tulsa City Councilor Phil Lakin said the roads were already on the list to be improved.

"A lot of it's due to timing, there's sales taxes from 2008 and this new Improve Our Tulsa plan just phase in these overlays and, so yeah, and there's a lot more work yet to be done," Lakin said.

In honor of the decade-long cycling race, Mayor Dewey Bartlett issued a proclamation, making June 9th "Tulsa Tough Day."

Lakin believes the city works well with the organizers of the three-day cycling event.

"It's necessary for this event to take place that we are an active partner in this and I think we've been a good partner over the last ten years," he said.

McCollam believes the new pavement is a bonus for the event.

"Now the roads are beautiful, so the image that we're going to be projecting out to the rest of the world for downtown Tulsa is even going to be better," he said.

Even though several barriers are still up, McCollam said the race will begin without delay.

"I have no doubt come event Friday that everything downtown is going to be fantastic," he said.

The first criterium race will be held in the Blue Dome District Friday night, then move to the Brady Arts District on Saturday and Cry Baby Hill on Sunday.

For more information about Tulsa Tough visit its website.