Train with Legends

Let’s introduce you to the Pros that will be riding, hiking, and coaching at the event.

Alberto Contador holding a trophy
Alberto Contador

Renowned as one of the most accomplished stage racers in history, the 41-year-old Contador is celebrated for his dynamic climbing skills and has clinched victories in all three Grand Tours, marking his presence in the cycling world with nearly every significant stage race on the UCI World Tour.

Nicknamed El Pistolero, he dominated the sport for more than a decade before retiring in 2017.  He has served as a commentator for Eurosport television since 2018 and recently launched Team Polti-Kometa.

A native of the Pinto district in Madrid, Contador’s journey from an amateur to a professional cyclist saw him turning professional in 2003 and claiming victories in some of the most grueling climbing stages across the globe. His breakthrough came in 2007 with a win at the Tour de France, followed by victories at both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España in 2008, accumulating seven Grand Tour wins over his career.

Contador’s connection to Best Buddies mission of inclusion for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities is personal, inspired by his younger brother, Raul, who lives with cerebral palsy.

Leanda Cave
Leanda Cave

Leanda Cave is a four-time world champion triathlete and the first woman in history to win both the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in the same year (2012). With an 18-year professional career representing Great Britain, she competed at the highest levels across Olympic, Half, and Full Ironman distances—earning global recognition by CNN as one of the fittest women in the world.

Since retiring at the end of 2017, Leanda has shifted her focus to coaching, founding her own performance coaching business and represents Pinarello as an ambassador. Today, Cave works with athletes of all levels, helping them achieve their goals in triathlon, swimming, cycling, and running, while occasionally competing for fun or participating in events for charitable causes. Backed by decades of experience, she offers expert guidance in training, nutrition, and mindset—empowering others to unlock their full potential.  

Cam Wurf

Cam Wurf was labeled the “world’s most versatile elite endurance athlete” by podcaster and wellness guru Rich Roll. A native of Tasmania and longtime ambassador for Best Buddies, Wurf has achieved world-class status in three sports. Having competed in rowing at the 2004 Olympics, Wurf switched to cycling with immediate success. He earned a spot in the UCI World Tour in Europe and completed the Vuelta a España and Giro d’Italia. He then became one of the top triathletes in the world, setting the fastest bike time in two successive editions of Kona. Popular with fans and other riders, Wurf is referred to as the “Chief Motivation Officer” of every team he joins. For that, the INEOS Grenadiers recruited the Australian for both cycling and triathlon. Now 40, Wurf shocked not only pundits but also his fellow riders when he delivered a solid team ride in Paris-Roubaix, finished the grueling “Queen of the Classics”, and then laced up running shoes and ran a half marathon for training.

Meet your Staff Ride Leaders

Our rides are led by our expert on-staff cyclists.

Luis Zayas

Luis Zayas

Director, Best Buddies Challenge: Miami

Gunter Hermanni

Gunter Hermanni

Director, Best Buddies Challenges

Patrick Sansbury

Patrick Sansbury

Director of Camps

Smiling man wearing a gray T-shirt and a mesh-back cap with sunglasses on top, seen in profile at an outdoor event.

Richard Fries

Director, Cycling Experience

Smiling young man with curly hair, mustache, and glasses wearing a gray Best Buddies T-shirt, standing in front of green foliage.

Brennan Tickell

Regional Ride Director

Young man with a mustache and light brown hair wearing a light T-shirt, smiling outdoors with hills and open landscape in the background.

Michael Weidenbruch

Manager, Communications and Development