Tommy Robles
Tommy Robles
A.K.A.: "Pops"
Although he has the least experience racing among the riders on the Velosport Elite team, Tommy Robles makes up for his lack of years with a breadth of knowledge. Tommy’s history as an Ironman triathlete gives him the fitness to succeed in bicycle racing. However, it takes much more than pure speed to win bike races.
Tommy is the kind of person that never makes the same mistake twice. The citizens of Long Beach, California are thankful for this, as they know their homes and businesses are safe from fire. The riders in the pro peloton of Southern California feel otherwise. If Tommy doesn’t win a race, he will analyze the reasons why. He will fix the problems and make himself a better racer. Just as important, when Tommy wins, he does the same thing. He looks back to the race to find the move that put him in front for good. He determines what he did right and what his competitors did wrong. This cerebral approach to racing combined with his athleticism wreak havoc on those that line up next to him.
Cycling has long been in Tommy's blood. At age 13, Tommy won a BMX world championship and hasn't looked back since. Later in life, he took up the sport of triathlon. However, Tommy’s misfortune became Sho-Air/Sonance’s gain. In 2005, after completing an Ironman distance race, a torn calf muscle put his triathlon career on hold. He was unable to run or swim. But, as luck would have it, he was still able to ride a bike. Cycling went from a way to stay in shape to a way of life for Tommy during this time. Once the calf was sufficiently healed, Tommy’s new love for the bike convinced him to give bike racing a shot. After a couple races and a couple of wins, including the prestigious Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, Tommy was hooked for good. He never looked to find those running legs that so suddenly departed him.
Throughout his time on the Sho-Air/Sonance team, Tommy’s enthusiasm and positive attitude have rubbed off on the rest of the team. He says his biggest strength on the bike is his “can do attitude and heart.” He leads by example, and the rest of the team benefits from it.
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