Nebraska Cycling News

Omaha, NE - A few weeks from now, he’ll be racing his bicycle more than 3,000 miles across the country. But Sunday, Timothy Hargrave will be moving a little bit slower during the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure ride at the Sarpy County Fairgrounds.

Hargrave is a member of Team Type 1, a first-year professional cycling team that has twice won the eight-person corporate division of the Race Across America (RAAM). All eight riders on Team Type 1’s RAAM squad have Type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes keeps the body from producing insulin, the hormone that is needed to convert sugar, or glucose, and starches into energy. Riders with Type 1 closely monitor their blood sugar through the use of a FreeStyle Navigator, a device that looks like a PDA that gives a near-instant reading of their glucose level. They also use an OmniPod to inject Apidra insulin, which is made by the team’s title sponsor.

Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was six years old, Hargrave took up running at the age of nine to gain better control of his condition. Not long after that, he started swimming and eventually transitioned into cycling at the age of 12. Now 22, he is quickly making a name for himself on the pro circuit, having helped teammate Glen Chadwick win two stages and the overall title at the inaugural Tour of Arkansas.

Hargrave will be joining in on the 50-mile Tour de Cure ride on Sunday, one of three distances participants can ride, in addition to signing autographs afterwards. To register, call 888-DIABETES or visit www.diabetes.org/tour.

He will also be participating in Saturday morning’s weekly Bike Masters Cycling & Fitness ride, beginning at the shop at 129th & Fort at 8:30 a.m.

Photos courtesy of Marco Quezada