It's called “tough” for a reason. The annual Saint Francis Tulsa Tough features some of the most challenging criterium courses in the country, and the Aevolo team is ready to take them on.

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Starting Friday, the five-rider squad of Tyler Sites, Nick McKey, Michael Hernandez, Jason Saltzman and Lance Haidet will begin the three-day weekend with McNellie’s Group Blue Dome night time criterium.
 
"This is one of my favorite race weekends of the year,” said Hernandez, who recently finished fourth at Oklahoma City Pro Am Criterium. “My girlfriend is a Tulsa resident so this is a home away from home for me. As a team, I think this race will give us a chance to work on being the aggressors with little stress on our shoulders. Personally, I am really looking forward to Friday and Saturday night. Racing under the lights on fast courses that I have done well on in the past gives me a lot of motivation to push myself."
 
Friday’s criterium starts at 8:50pm central time and will even feature a fireworks display scheduled to start at five laps to go in the race.
 
“I’m looking forward to getting back into racing with my Aevolo teammates this weekend,” Saltzman said. “Having never done Tulsa Tough, I am excited to finally experience all the hype of two nighttime crits and the infamous Cry Baby Hill. The weekend should serve both as a chance to get some really good racing in (with Hernandez for the sprints and the rest of us rolling the dice in breaks) and as good prep for pro nationals coming up at the end of the month.”
 
On Saturday, the team will start the Tulsa Arts District Criterium at 7:55 p.m. under the streetlights of Tulsa’s historic downtown area. Then on Sunday, the legendary Cry Baby Hill greets the riders as part of the River Parks Criterium – the culmination of three days at Tulsa Tough.  
 
“I think the team goals for the weekend are to be very active, sending guys up the road, and being represented in all the major moves,” Haidet said. “If it comes down to a bunch sprint, I think we have a pretty good shot with Hernandez, so we will also be looking to protect him and set him up for solid finish. Similarly, my personal goals for the weekend are to be really active and look for opportunities to get in breaks, as that is probably my best chance for a good finish. Another goal is simply to get some good speed in the legs before Pro Nationals in two weeks. I am super stoked to be racing Cry Baby Hill on Sunday. I have heard so much about the course, and the overall energy and vibe of the crowd. I’m pumped to finally be able to experience it.”
 
All three races will be available to watch online.