Every story has a beginning and at BTD, ours starts with a passion for cycling. Our mission has always been to share that passion with our customers by providing the highest quality product selection and outstanding customer service.
From WorldTour pros turned gravel racers, to ultra-endurance cyclists and an Olympic gold medalist, BTD is fortunate to partner with some incredible athletes and teams who share that same passion for cycling. We're thrilled to introduce you to our team of featured athletes.
Stefano Barberi is a Brazilian/American professional gravel mountain biker. Stefano began competing in mountain biking in 1992 at the age of eight, and jumped to the professional ranks in 2003 before switching to road racing full-time for the next 14 seasons. In 2018 he left the tarmac for the dirt as a privateer.
Continuing our partnership from 2024, Stefano will be once again competing at the most prestigious MTB and Gravel races throughout the United States as he works his way through our selection of tires. We are so excited to join him for the ride.
Follow Stefano on Instagram @stefano_barberi.
Cynthia Carson, aka Watt Wagon, is an Endurance Cyclist whose journey into the world of Ultra Cycling began in 2021 with first place at Rockstar Gravel 250 followed by a fourth place at Unbound XL. Since then, Cynthia has found herself on the top step at some of the biggest ultras in the world including Unbound XL, Badlands, Across Andes, Atlas Mountain Race, GranGuanche Gravel, Transcordilleras, and Memory Bike Adventure.
Highlights from 2024 include another triumphant win at Atlas Mountain Race and 10th spot in the Gravel Earth Series overall standings. She's got quite a calendar for 2025 and we're stoked to watch some dots!
Stay in the know as Cynthia travels the world racing Ultras at WattWagon.cc, subscribe to Watt Wagon on YouTube, and follow along @watt_wagon on Instagram.
Emmett's been a part of the BTD family for 10 years and raced his bike in the Pacific Northwest for even longer. His race calendar for 2025 includes national and international track and road cycling races—with a touch of MTB sprinkled in for funsies.
When he's not making left turns on the velodrome, he's pursuing a degree in Industrial Design and is a collegiate athlete for the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Follow along on his Instagram @emmettculp.
Already a decorated professional road racer, Alex Howes announced his retirement from the pro peloton in 2022 and fully dedicated himself to racing gravel.
From his home in the mountains of Colorado, Alex puts our top rubber to the test as he trains to compete in off-road events across the United States. After a few runs in the Lifetime Grand Prix with an 8th place finish in 2023, Alex is forging a fresh path with new races for 2025. Really, Alex is a huge part of why we even have sponsored athletes—he cold called us a couple years ago and set this all in motion—and we are stoked to have him on board again for 2025.
Keep up with Alex on Instagram @alex_howes.
Since winning gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Gwen Jorgensen has captivated Triathlon fans. After a 7 year hiatus—during which Gwen became a mom of two—she got back in the saddle, on the track, and in the pool with a hunger to reclaim the top step. She's done so, and then some, with multiple wins since returning in 2023, and most recently taking the win at WC Miyazaki in November of 2024.
A notable tire connoisseur, Gwen travels to races with multiple tread options to suit the course and the weather. We're thrilled to have her on the team for 2025!
Emily Newsom has always forged her own path. Entering competitive cycling at the unlikely age of 34, she quickly rose to the top of her field, traveling internationally from 2018 to 2022 to perform in the most competitive races in Europe. In 2022 she was selected for the Tour de France Femmes—she later won the yellow jersey for a stage at the Tour de Pyrenees the same year.
Since fully embracing the gravel scene, Emily has placed 3rd in Unbound, 2nd at Big Sugar Gravel, and more recently placed 3rd in Gravel Worlds Nebraska, 2024. But Emily is more than just a cyclist at the top of her field—she's also a proud wife, mom, and coach. She's heading into 2025 with confidence and joy, and we can't wait to root her on.
Follow Emily on Instagram @emilyjoynewsom.
BikePOCPNW is a community-based cycling group in the Portland Metro area centering the lives and experiences of BIPOC folks.
Since their inception in January of 2021, they've hosted gravel, mountain bike, road, and party pace rides. BikePOCPNW has also put on bikepacking trips, WTFNB-only events, and currently has a once-a-month maintenance night at local non-profit, Bike Farm.
In 2023, BikeTiresDirect and BikePOCPNW teamed up to support cyclists interested in learning and racing cyclocross. We're looking forward to further project collaboration in 2024!
If you're interested in learning more about BikePOCPNW, you can email them at [email protected] or visit their website. Follow along on Instagram @BikePOCPNW.
Team Biciclista US is a Pacific Northwest-based all-inclusive team for riders of all ages, skill levels, and competitiveness that aims to create a positive shared for all team members on and off the bike.
The team can attribute its success to bringing the vibes and uniting people around the stoke for bikes.
Follow them on Instagram @teambiciclistaus.
Bringing in its 32nd year, Team Oregon is the longest-running cycling team in our lovely state of Oregon.
We are proud to support Team Oregon's mission to enhance the sport of cycling in Oregon by organizing an accessible team with resources to help all members reach their goals within the sport. Team Oregon also promotes bicycle races, community events, and coaching.
Meet the team and learn how to join at TeamOregon.net. Follow them on Instagram @teamoregonracing.
Making their debut in 2024, Valkyr Cycling is a women's cycling team based in the Pacific Northwest.
Bringing riders from all skill levels across the northwest together, Valkyr's mission is to provide tangible opportunities for women to race bikes and to develop smart, confident athletes.
Learn about more about Valkyr Cycling, watch our exclusive Introduction to the Team on YouTube, and follow along on Instagram @ValkyrCycling.
Interested in working with BTD? Submit an inquiry form. We'll review submissions at the end of the year and reach out with the next steps if we'd like to continue the conversation. We look forward to hearing from you!