Ketchum's Reid Pletcher, 19, is one of the country's most promising U-23 (under 23) cross-country skiers, having earned his stripes on snowy trails through the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation's Nordic ski team program.
But did you know that Pletcher now has something in common with strawberries and the great state of Pennsylvania? That he does. Pletcher will be leaving Sunday, June 22 to compete in the inaugural American Eagle Tour of Pennsylvania Bike Race.
The 2007 Wood River High School graduate is one of six riders on the California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized team. It is one of 20 teams of elite international cyclists under age 25 that will ride 450 miles in six days across Pennsylvania.
Next week's big event begins in Philadelphia Tuesday, June 24 and ends in Pittsburgh Sunday, June 29. Segments of the trek are due to be televised on Versus network local cable channel 40. Check out tourofpa.com for more details.
Backed by one of the world's largest shippers of fresh strawberries, the Watsonville, Ca.-based Berry Farms team offers a solid roster of homegrown American talent—none more talented than Pletcher.
Brian Funsten, a Ketchum-based investor from San Francisco, is race director for California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized. He cycles frequently on local roads with a group that consists of Pletcher, Scott Krankkala, Brandon Lynch and Blair Clark.
Funsten said, "Reid is an all-around cyclist, a good sprinter and climber we're hoping will do well in the prologue. He has a tremendous kick. As a former University of Colorado downhill racer, I'm proud of him, for one reason because Reid plans on going to Colorado as a cross-country ski racer."
Berry Farms team leadership will fall to Max Jenkins, winner of the under-23 road race at last year's U.S. national championships. Berkeley engineering student Jenkins is fresh off a stint with the U.S. national team where he spent two-and-a-half weeks racing in Europe recently.
Also be on the watch for Tyler Dibble, a member of the U.C.-Davis squad that won the team time trial at this year's American collegiate cycling national championships.
Joining Idahoan Pletcher on the squad are three other California riders, Nick Agate, Julian Martinez and Chance Noble from Ventura, one of the best junior cyclocross riders.
Here are the six stages of the Highmark Healthy High 5 event, a signature sporting event for Pittsburgh 250. That's a commission established to celebrate Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary in 2008.
The $150,000 Tour of Pennsylvania calls itself the world's richest cycling race for international cyclists under 25. It begins Tuesday, June 24 with the 2.5-mile Philadelphia Memorial Hall prologue time trial. That evening, there will be a 30-mile criterium, also from Memorial Hall.
After that, a series of four road races covering 91, 104, 60 and 82 miles through Carlisle, Bedford and Latrobe to Pittsburgh will be held Wednesday, June 25 through Saturday, June 28. The 50-mile Pittsburgh downtown circuit race is June 29 to wrap up the racing week.
Reid Pletcher Photo by Mountain Express
