Mari Holden: 'Tour de Scottsdale is going to be awesome'
We’re excited to have Mari Holden as part of Tour de Scottsdale.
The former USA Olympian cyclist will be with a few other well-renowned cyclists – George Hincapie and Bobby Julich - for the Prix (on Friday) and the ride (on Saturday), April 12-13.
It's all happening at WestWorld.
“Tour de Scottsdale is going to be awesome,” Holden said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Holden is representing Pinarello, one of the many great sponsors for Tour de Scottsdale.
“Pinarello is excited to be able to support USA Cycling and a world class athlete such as Mari Holden in continuing to develop the next generation of great American cyclists,” Pinarello said.
Holden, through USA Cycling, is helping “create an environment for others to achieve their goals.”
She’s currently working with the USC Cycling’s Development Foundation.
“I’m an ambassador for them, doing events and attempting to get more women on bikes,” said Holden, a silver medalist in the 2000 Olympic Games and representative of USA Cycling. “I’m out there talking with people and showing off my beautiful bikes.”
She’s long been a Pinarello representative when she raced in Italy.
I’ve always loved the brand,” she said. “Even before I started as an ambassador here in the states, I’ve always been on a Pinarello. It was a natural fit (to be a representative).”
Now, she and Hincapie and Julich will be part of a star-studded group with Friday’s Prix Ride where cyclists who have signed up are able to ride with the pros to get ready for Saturday’s 62-miler or 32-miler.
“We’re really excited that they are bringing back the Tour de Scottsdale,” she said. “It’s going to be larger than any year before so that’s great.”
The future looks bright in cycling, locally and abroad. It’s why Pinarello is involved in Tour de Scottsdale and beyond. Much of the success is because of Holden and others.
“It’s going great,” she said. “When I look at the results of rides we are having, it’s incredible. We haven’t had this kind of success in a long time. Development for programs has been very good because it takes years for the success and to win a world tour type of event.”
USA Cycling is doing what it can to make sure it happens, “and now we’re starting to see results,” she said. “It’s been an amazing thing, seeing all the hard work come through. The Olympics are in Paris this year and then looking down the road in 2028 (in Los Angeles) it’s going to be nice because we are on a great trajectory to do well. Having been a kid watching the 1984 Olympics, I know what kind of impact the Olympics it had on me and had on our country. It’s going to be awesome for people to see our athletes in our own Olympics.”
Again, Pinarello has helped her with support with the foundation and now with Tour de Scottsdale.
“They’ve been supportive of helping with everything and have been a great partner, and with things that I care about,” she said.
Scottsdale is one of them. She’ll be riding in Saturday’s event as will Hincapie and Julich. They’ll be riding in the 62-miler.
“I’ve heard that the course is beautiful,” she said. “It’s the perfect length because you get a great ride and you’re not so tired that it feels like you’ve been out there all day on a bike. You can be (at the post-ride event) with your friends and enjoy the festivities. It’s going to be awesome.”
