In its inaugural 2009 Ride Weekend, Pelotonia welcomed professional cyclist Lance Armstrong as honorary chairman and featured guest. He spoke at Opening Ceremony on August 28, then led the signature 100-mile “century ride” from Columbus to Athens alongside over 2,200 Riders — and even joined the full 180-mile course the following day — raising awareness and momentum for cancer research at the first event.

Pelotonia welcomed Michelle Branch to the very first Opening Ceremony stage as the headliner musical act in 2009. Michelle Branch is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist best known for early‑2000s pop‑rock hits like “Everywhere” and “All You Wanted,” and for her Grammy-winning collaboration with Santana on “The Game of Love.”

Counting Crows headlined Opening Ceremony in 2010. Counting Crows is an American rock band formed in 1991. They gained fame with their debut album August and Everything After, and the hit single “Mr. Jones,” became a defining anthem of 90s alternative rock.

In 2012, 20-year old and five-time cancer Survivor, Woody Roseland, delivered a powerful keynote at Opening Ceremony. He shared his raw and heartfelt journey of resilience, stirring the entire audience to tears and action. His appearance was described as “worth every second,” and his speech became one of the most memorable moments of that Ride Weekend.

In 2017, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden spoke on stage at Opening Ceremony. Then the Vice President, Joe Biden delivered an impassioned speech to a crowd of over 8,000 Riders and supporters. He shared personal reflections on the loss of their son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer in 2015, emphasizing the importance of continued research and bipartisan support in the fight against cancer.

Ethan Zohn, winner of Survivor: Africa and a two-time cancer Survivor, has been a dedicated participant and advocate for Pelotonia. In 2017, he delivered an inspiring keynote at Opening Ceremony, sharing his personal battle with a rare form of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and emphasizing the importance of community support for research that saves lives.

In 2019, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent and practicing neurosurgeon, delivered the keynote address at Opening Ceremony. Dr. Gupta shared his personal connection to cancer, highlighting his role as a son of a cancer Survivor, and expressed his admiration for the Pelotonia community’s dedication to accelerating innovative cancer research.

Olympic athlete in triathlon and Cancer Survivor, Kevin McDowell, spoke on stage at Opening Ceremony, where he shared his personal experience in overcoming Hodgkin’s lymphoma and his path to Olympic success, which includes a silver medal from the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.

In 2021, Kyle Stepp, an internationally-ranked para triathlete and cancer Survivor, shared his story with the Opening Ceremony crowd, highlighting the importance of research innovation in saving lives. Kyle emphasized that if he had been born five years earlier, he might not have survived, underscoring the critical role of advancements in cancer research.

In 2023, Grammy-nominated artist Andy Grammer headlined Opening Ceremony stage. Known for hits like “Honey, I’m Good” and “Keep Your Head Up,” Grammer brought his signature upbeat energy to the stage, rallying the community in support of cancer research. His performance was especially poignant, as he has a personal connection to the cause following the loss of his mother to breast cancer.

The rain couldn’t stop the Opening Ceremony 2024 performance from Ohio-born band, Clubhouse, who energizing the crowd with their indie-pop music. The band has a personal connection to the Pelotonia mission as lead singer, Max Reichert, battled cancer over several years and was receiving treatment at The James. The audience could feel the joy as they performed, which was Max’s last time on stage before he passed away on November 1, 2024, after a six-year fight with osteosarcoma.