Historic 79th Tour of Somerville Attracts International Talent

May 21, 2024

Somerville, NJ. (May 21)/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ –On Monday, May 27th, Somerville will see the streets of downtown filled with over 600 athletes including world class riders from around the world looking to add their names to the winner’s circle at the 79th Tour of Somerville p/b Unity Bank.

Among the standout women competitors set to grace the Tour of Somerville are:

Coryn Labecki (Lancaster, PA). The 74-time national champion in road, cyclocross, and track is looking for a showdown against L39ion, Miami Blazers, DNA Pro Cycling, and LA Sweat. She has won The Tour of Flanders and the 2023 Elite Pro Criterium Championship. She would love to join the history books at one of America’s monuments on Memorial Day.

Rylee McMullen (NZL): DNA PRO Cycling Rylee McMullen has established herself as a formidable competitor on both the road and track. Her impressive record includes a gold medal at the 2023 Oceania Championships Elimination Race, several victories in criteriums, and an omnium win at the 2023 Tour of America’s Dairyland.

Sam Schnieder: (West Allis, WI) Miami Blazers Multi-time national champion has won almost every big criterium race in the country except Tour of Somerville. Expect Schnieder and her Miami Blazers teammates to back her in the sprint as she is incredibly savvy at being at the right place at the right time to contest for the win.

Harriet Owen (GBR) – DNA Pro Cycling: With an extensive list of criterium victories across the U.S. in the past five years, Owen is a force to be reckoned with on the road. Owen has a background with TEAM GB on the track, making her a tactically astute rider from a young age.

Kendall Ryan (Ventura, CA) L39ion of Los Angeles: As a sprint specialist, Kendall’s explosive power and tactical prowess make her a formidable force in the peloton. Whether navigating through chaotic bunch sprints or launching decisive attacks, she possesses an innate ability to read races and seize opportunities with precision timing. Ryan has nearly every major criterium win under her belt except the Tour of Somerville.

On the men’s side, notable contenders include:

Juan Arango (COL) – Unattached – This Olympian is on some of the best form of his life right now, earning himself a spot to represent Colombia at the upcoming Paris Olympics. While Arango might not have a team around him, he has the pedigree to find a safe place in the peloton, allowing him to pounce on attacks or even place his own attacks.

Noah Granigan (Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey) – Miami Blazers– The local hero of Somerville returns two years in a row for another shot at claiming a victory. The 2017 Pro Men’s race winner is also the winner of the 15-18 Junior Boys race in 2014, but becoming a 2x Champion of America’s Longest Running Bike Race is Granigan’s ultimate goal. His family carries deep ties to Somerville through his grandparents, Joe and Dottie Saling, who are integral to the success of this race to this day. The difference between Granigan now and 2017 is substantial, and now that he can win from both a breakaway or a field sprint means he’s absolutely one to watch for making history on May 27th.

Cesar Marte – (Bronx, NY) WHBH Although Marte will be flying solo this year, the savvy sprinter has proved time and again that he can be where he needs to be when the team trains start to turn it up. Last year Marte managed to hit the podium in third. With even more sprinters in the mix this year he will have his work cut out for him and will have to rely heavily on being on the right wheel when the sprint opens up.

Danny Estevez (Worcester, MA): A former U.S. national champion and Tour of Somerville winner, Estevez returns to Easton with the formidable L39ion of Los Angeles squad. With his sprinting prowess and team support, Estevez aims to reclaim the top spot on the podium.

Thomas Gibbons (Cape May Courthouse, NJ): Automatic With a stellar track record in European and New Zealand races, Gibbons enters Easton with newfound confidence following his recent triumph at the Athens Orthopedic Clinic Twilight Criterium. Backed by his Automatic-Abus teammates, Gibbons is primed for success.

Unity Bank, the presenting sponsor through 2025, invites the general public to come out, enjoy the action, and be part of this dynamic experience. Thanks to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an improved sound system will be placed on Main Street and High Street. TriState Restaurant Group and POP’s Bike Shop are hosting a Community Zone in Turn 1 with food trucks, a kid’s bike course, and bounce houses. Don’t miss the eating contests throughout the afternoon! Whether you’re a cycling enthusiast, a casual observer, or a family looking for an exciting weekend outing, the Tour of Somerville promises an unforgettable experience for all.

Live Stream and Results: For those who can’t attend the event, we are excited to offer a live stream of the Women’s and Men’s Pro Races starting at 3:00pm. Tune in to Bicycling Magazine’s Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@BicyclingMag to catch all the action live as it happens.

Stay updated with real-time results and standings throughout the race on our official results page at https://my.raceresult.com/288634/

Long Tail Productions and the Tour of Somerville would like to thank, in addition to presenting sponsor Unity Bank, supportive partners Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, Somerset County, Somerset County Business Partnership, Visit Somerset County, Land Rover Princeton, Clinton Honda, TriState Restaurant Group, the Somerset Patriots, Downtown Somerville Alliance, Extensis HR, POP’s Bike Shop, Elk’s Club, Vie13 Kustom Apparel and Tito’s. As well as special thanks go to the Borough of Somerville, Somerville Police Department, Somerville Public Works, Somerville and Somerset OEM, and Somerville Rescue Squad for their unwavering support.

For more information, race categories, and event details, please visit https://tourofsomerville.com/ or contact info@longtailproductions.com

About Long Tail Productions: With a commitment to safety, innovation, and community building, Long Tail Productions continues to evolve and redefine the event production landscape in Pennsylvania and beyond. Their blend of expertise, passion, and creative vision has positioned them as industry leaders, leaving an enduring legacy of unforgettable experiences for athletes and enthusiasts alike.