Rick's Ride: 3,500 Kilometers. 23 Days.
The 2008 Tour de France.

PRESS COVERAGE

AggieNetwork.com has posted an article about Jesse.

MySanAntonio.com (San Antonio Express-News and KENS 5)

Another, more recent MySanAntonio.com article from 10 July 08 is not currently available on-line.

MySanAntonio.com has also posted this article on 3 August 2008.

LeParisien.fr has interviewed Czelusta and posted this article which we have a translation of on our site. They also posted a video interview.

Second LaParisien.fr article, of which we have a translation, and second video interview!

Third video interview along with an accompanying third French newspaper article and a rough translation.

UPDATE: Fourth video interview

INTERNET LINKS

Velo Valero, the Valero company cycling team, has a Captain's Blog which mentioned Rick's Ride and the MySanAntonio.com coverage.

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

AMERICAN CYCLIST COMPLETES TOUR DE FRANCE
"Rick's Ride" Honors Friend's Memory and
Supports Challenged Athletes

Shortly before dawn on July 5, 2008, a lone cyclist set off on his bicycle from Brest, France to begin a 23-day journey of over 3,500 kilometers. He rode for a cause, to honor the memory of a dear friend, and to chase a dream--completing the entire route of cycling's most epic event, the Tour de France.  Donations in honor of Czelusta's ride and the memory of his dear friend and fellow cyclist Rick Shelton, who passed away on April 9, 2008, go entirely to the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP), a Berkeley-based charity that supports disabled athletes, or Kinetic Kids, a San Antonio-based charity which helps children with disabilities participate in athletics. Over five thousand dollars have been raised so far.

Jesse Czelusta, a Palo Alto resident and recent PhD graduate of Stanford University who grew up in San Antonio, TX rode every stage of this year's Tour, with the goal of raising a substantial sum for young athletes with physical disabilities. Although Shelton was not himself disabled, he was a sports enthusiast, a healthcare professional, and always supportive of athletes, especially younger ones.

"Rick and I competed together in our first bike race, a time trial back home in Texas" says Czelusta. The timing of the race corresponded with American Greg Lemond's come-from-behind victory in the 1989 Tour de France. "The winner was a 17-year-old Lance Armstrong. I've never come close to Lance's time on that day, but ever since then, I've dreamt of riding the course of the Tour de France."

Shelton was a Texas native and long-time resident of San Antonio. He was well-known in the San Antonio healthcare community as a capable and caring nurse. His passion for cycling and charismatic personality made him a favorite on group rides through the Texas Hill Country where he lived.

Czelusta, 32, rode solo, without a support vehicle, and carrying twenty-five pounds of gear across the Tour's formidable mountain passes. He began most days at five o'clock in the morning, about seven hours before the peloton, in order to finish before the route is closed to bicycles.

"I've been told by a pro cyclist that what I'm attempting is nearly impossible," Czelusta notes. "All the more reason to try. And it will be cheaper than paying rent."

Completing the route was a logistical challenge, as well as a physical feat. "To avoid route closures, I'll have to take a head start for some of the stages, by tacking on extra kilometers the day before. I'll be riding farther than the peloton, since there won't always be trains that connect one day's finish to the next day's start. I'll need to eat beaucoup baguettes. This will be the most daunting challenge I've ever faced. But I plan to ride my bike into Paris on July 27." That he did, able to sip champagne like the professionals as they finished the course the day after he did.

Described as "climber's course," this year's Tour will tackle both the Pyrenees and the Alps. The final mountain stage finishes atop the legendary L'Alpe du Huez, where Czelusta spread his friend's ashes.

"Rick was a cycling nut. He always said that we'd ride a few stages of the Tour together one of these years. When he passed away, I realized--the only moment any of us have is now," says Czelusta. "Even if I don't make it to Paris, I hope I can help some of my fellow athletes."

In order to accomplish the goal of Rick's Ride, Czelusta relied on the support of friends, family, local businesses, even strangers he met along the route--for everything from frequent flyer miles to cycling equipment to energy bars.  Strangers helped him repair his luggage rack, replace his bike's broken tires and stem, and helped him find places to sleep and eat along the route. As Frank Scioscia, an experienced cyclist, coach, and consultant to the Shaklee Professional Cycling Team, puts it, "This is a dream that can only happen if everyone dreams it."

PRESS RELEASE, June 2008

For Immediate Release

AMERICAN CYCLIST TO ATTEMPT TOUR DE FRANCE
"Rick's Ride" To Honor Friend's Memory and Support Challenged Athletes

Shortly before dawn on July 5, 2008, a lone cyclist will set off on his bicycle from Brest, France to begin a 23-day journey of over 3,500 kilometers. He will be riding for a cause, to honor the memory of a dear friend, and  to chase a dream--completing the entire route of cycling's most epic event, the Tour de France.  Donations in honor of Czelusta's ride and the memory of his dear friend and fellow cyclist Rick Shelton, who passed away on April 9, 2008, will go entirely to the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP), a Berkeley-based charity that supports disabled athletes, or Kinetic Kids, a San Antonio-based charity which helps children with disabilities participate in athletics. 

Jesse Czelusta, a Palo Alto resident and recent PhD graduate of Stanford University who grew up in San Antonio, TX will attempt to ride every stage of this year's Tour, with the goal of raising a substantial sum for young athletes with physical disabilities. Although Shelton was not himself disabled, he was a sports enthusiast, a healthcare professional, and always supportive of athletes, especially younger ones.

"Rick and I competed together in our first bike race, a time trial back home in Texas" says Czelusta. The timing of the race corresponded with American Greg Lemond's come-from-behind victory in the 1989 Tour de France. "The winner was a 17-year-old Lance Armstrong. I've never come close to Lance's time on that day, but ever since then, I've dreamt of riding the course of the Tour de France."

Shelton was a Texas native and long-time resident of San Antonio. He was well-known in the San Antonio healthcare community as a capable and caring nurse. His passion for cycling and charismatic personality made him a favorite on group rides through the Texas Hill Country where he lived.

Czelusta, 32, will be riding solo, without a support vehicle, and carrying twenty-five pounds of gear across the Tour's formidable mountain passes. He will begin each day at five o'clock in the morning, about seven hours before the peloton, in order to finish before the route is closed to bicycles.

"I've been told by a pro cyclist that what I'm attempting is nearly impossible," Czelusta notes. "All the more reason to try. And it will be cheaper than paying rent."

Completing the route will be a logistical challenge, as well as a physical feat. "To avoid route closures, I'll have to take a head start for some of the stages, by tacking on extra kilometers the day before. I'll be riding farther than the peloton, since there won't always be trains that connect one day's finish to the next day's start. I'll need to eat beaucoup baguettes. This will be the most daunting challenge I've ever faced. But I plan to ride my bike into Paris on July 27."

Described as "climber's course," this year's Tour will tackle both the Pyrenees and the Alps. The final mountain stage finishes atop the legendary L'Alpe du Huez, where Czelusta plans to spread his friend's ashes.

"Rick was a cycling nut. He always said that we'd ride a few stages of the Tour together one of these years. When he passed away, I realized--the only moment any of us have is now," says Czelusta. "Even if I don't make it to Paris, I hope I can help some of my fellow athletes."

In order to accomplish the goal of Rick's Ride, Czelusta will rely on the support of friends, family, local businesses, even strangers he meets along the route--for everything from frequent flyer miles to cycling equipment to energy bars. As Frank Scioscia, an experienced cyclist, coach, and consultant to the Shaklee Professional Cycling Team, puts it, "This is a dream that can only happen if everyone dreams it."

For more information regarding Rick's Ride, including scheduling interviews or to film/record a portion of the ride, please contact Jesse Czelusta via email at jesse@ricksride.org.