Thousands of cyclists expected downtown for Tulsa Tough weekend

International cyclists flood Tulsa for the 19th Saint Francis Tulsa Tough weekend—experience thrilling races, community activities, and the iconic Cry Baby Hill race.

Friday, June 6th 2025, 8:52 am

By: Jayden Brannon

TULSA, Okla. -

The Saint Francis Tulsa Tough cycling event is back, promising three days of racing, community fun, and global attention for downtown Tulsa.

Downtown Tulsa gears up for a major cycling weekend

Cyclists from around the world are converging on Tulsa this weekend for one of the biggest biking events in the U.S.—the 19th annual Saint Francis Tulsa Tough. Known for its high-speed races and massive community turnout, the event kicks off Friday afternoon and runs through Sunday, spanning multiple districts downtown.

A weekend full of racing and excitement

The three-day event begins Friday in the Blue Dome District, continues Saturday in the Tulsa Arts District, and wraps up Sunday with the iconic Cry Baby Hill near 15th Street and Riverside Drive. Races take place throughout each day, with the first starting around 4 p.m. Friday evening and final races wrapping up after 5 p.m. Sunday evening.

Thousands expected, big prizes on the line

Organizers expect more than 50,000 spectators across the weekend. Hundreds of cyclists will compete, with some races offering up to $11,000 in prize money. The competition attracts elite talent from across the globe, and this year’s event has drawn more international riders than ever before.

“When we started this event one of the big things about us was Tulsa has this perception of flyover country,” said Executive Director Malcolm McCollam. “Well it looks now like you got 100 foreign athletes, they're not flying over, they're flying here for the destination.”

More than racing: New community additions

New this year is “Project Dudeman,” a men’s mental fitness group designed to mirror the event’s existing women’s group, the “Divas.” The addition reflects Tulsa Tough’s ongoing effort to support wellness and inclusion within the cycling community.

“Let your hair down a little bit, forget about the cares,” McCollam said. “You know Monday is going to come soon enough. Let's just take this weekend and be present and enjoy who we are and appreciate what we have as a community here in Tulsa.”

Courses and Road Closures

As cyclists race through downtown, many streets are subject to close before and during the races. Here is a list of what streets the courses will go through each day:

Friday races run through Elgin Avenue between Third and First Streets, First Street between Elgin and Detroit Avenues, Detroit Avenue between First and Second Streets, Second Street between Detroit and Greenwood Avenue, Greenwood Avenue between Second and Third Streets, Third Street between Elgin and Greenwood Avenues.
Saturday races run through Cincinnati Avenue between Reconciliation Way and Cameron Street, Cameron Streets between Cincinnati Avenue and Main Street, Main Street between Cameron and Easton Streets, Easton Street between Main Street and Boulder Avenue, Boulder Avenue between Easton and Reconciliation Way, Reconciliation Way between Boulder and Cincinnati Avenues.
Sunday races run through Riverside Drive between Galveston and Lawton Avenues, Lawton Avenue between Riverside Drive and 13th Street, 13th Street between Lawton and Galveston Avenue, Galveston Avenue between 13th Street and Riverside Drive.
More information about routes and road closures can be found here.