Hundreds of cyclists rolled out of Central Park on Saturday morning for the Best Buddies Challenge: New York, a fundraising ride that sent riders as far as 100 miles north to the historic Glenmere Mansion in Chester, all in support of programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Chris Froome and Alberto Contador joined the pack as headline ride leaders, pedaling alongside everyday participants rather than racing ahead of them.
The event offered three fully supported routes of 33, 72, and 100 miles, according to the Best Buddies Challenge, with the signature century ride climbing 8,225 feet through the Ramapo Mountains and Harriman State Park before finishing at the Orange County estate. As reported by ABC7 Eyewitness News, cyclists started from Central Park in Manhattan and the ride was expected to generate roughly $4 million for disability programs. Best Buddies International founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver helped kick off the ride in person, and organizers described the event as blending endurance cycling with advocacy, according to the station's report.
Best Buddies' Mission
Shriver founded Best Buddies. The organization's programs span friendship, employment, leadership development, and inclusive living initiatives for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Saturday's ride built on the momentum of the event's debut a year earlier. The inaugural New York edition in October 2025 raised $6 million for disability inclusion programs under the honorary chairmanship of British cycling legend Mark Cavendish, the station's report notes. This year's event featured Froome and Contador, and Contador's younger brother, who has cerebral palsy, was an inspiration for his involvement in the cause.
Steep Entry Fees Fund a National Employment Gap
Riding alongside the celebrity athletes came at a cost. Individual adult cyclists faced an $1,800 minimum fundraising commitment, while a $2,500 Pro Rate tier included perks like an individual photo session with Froome and Contador, per the same account. The investment feeds into an organization that reported $48.3 million in total revenue and $46.1 million in operational expenses during fiscal year 2024, according to Cause IQ.
Best Buddies has worked to promote employment through its integrated employment program.
Local Sponsors and a Growing NYC Footprint
Jersey Mike's Subs and Wells Fargo served as co-presenting corporate sponsors for this year's ride, while Italian bike brand Pinarello signed on as official bike sponsor. The partnership followed the mid-September opening of Pinarello's flagship U.S. Bottega retail store in Manhattan's SoHo district, a launch Hoodline detailed ahead of the brand co-hosting a community ride with Best Buddies in the city.
Together, the ride and the employment program illustrate Best Buddies' work supporting disability inclusion.
