It’s hard to put into words what Tulsa Tough means to us, but if I had to try, I’d say it’s a checkpoint. A mirror. A reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we’re willing to go.
The women’s team at LABA isn’t just about racing; it’s about rewriting the script of what’s possible... When I first arrived in the U.S. four years ago from Colombia, I had only love for the bike, fire in my chest, and zero clue how to navigate this new cycling world. I saw a crit for the first time and immediately thought, "I want to race that." LABA was the first to take me seriously, but also the first to say, "You're crazy! You need proper shoes, a license, and a few things first." But they didn’t just tell me that. They guided me, they picked me up and welcomed me onto their team.
Back then, I was the only woman on the team and LABA was becoming my support system and second family. They opened the door to a whole new world: American racing and everything that came with it. I jumped with "all in" while balancing real life (job, education, and the high cost of living in California) which, for most of us, is no easy task. But with the right support, it becomes possible. And support like the one we’ve received from HUNT, who believed in our mission early on and has backed us for years, truly helped shape who we’ve become as a team. I was also used to heavier, entry-level bikes, so feeling the responsiveness of carbon and the smoothness of ceramic bearings for the first time was an entirely new experience. It changed how I rode, how I moved, and what I believed I could do. HUNT has been with us for years now, and having access to their top-of-the-line wheels, including new releases, has been like touching the sky! With that, we began to climb through the ranks, podiums in Cat 5 and Cat 4, then an upgrade to Cat 3.
As women, we’ve had countless conversations about the invisible walls in cycling: how hard it is to even enter, and once inside, the chasm between Cat 3 and Pro 1/2. The gap isn’t just about numbers on a power meter. It’s time, resources, direction, emotional support and representation. That’s why this team matters to me, because its mission isn’t just about racing; it’s about exposure, mentorship, and community.