El Tour – The Journey Is The Reward

Held annually the Saturday before Thanksgiving, El Tour is a fun ride attracting over 9,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and beyond, including novice, intermediate, advanced, and professional riders. Southwest Airlines’ in-flight magazine, Spirit (June 2001) named El Tour de Tucson “one of the premier organized rides in United States,” and Bicycling Magazine (October 2002) ranked El Tour as “one of the top three fundraising rides” in the country.

Participants enjoy El Tour and its festivities simply due to their passion for cycling, while others choose the event as part of a healthy lifestyle change or as part of their wellness program as a survivor from cancer or other life-threatening illness. Many are attracted to El Tour’s fundraising programs for many charitable agencies, for which the event raised over $1.8 million dollars in 2009. What all riders of El Tour share is a desire to get on their bikes, meet great people and have a fun time doing it! 

Participants may cycle 109, 80, 66 or 35 miles, plus an 8, 4 & 1/4- mile Fun Ride, open to all abilities. Main routes take participants around scenic areas of Tucson, with beautiful vistas of its local mountain ranges - three rising over 9,000 feet- complete with the backdrop of the mighty saguaro cactus, icon of the Southwest’s Sonoran Desert. Course profiles can be rolling to moderately hilly, though the 35-mile route is basically flat and great as a family affair or for beginners!  And all routes offer aid stations, full police support and plenty of morale-boosting spectators.

Changes for 2009 include a new venue for the 109-mile startline (and finish line for all events), now located at W Church St & E Pennington St at Jacome Plaza, just .03 miles from previous year’s venue.  The Fun Ride now offers an exciting addition of a new 8-mile route, highlighting the many special cultural aspects of downtown Tucson. And now all cyclists riding the 35, 66, 80 and 109-mile courses will be routed along the freeway Frontage Rd, beginning at Ina Rd, and continuing all the way to Congress Ave.  Stay tuned for any new developments!

Those not able to ride event routes may choose instead to participate in Indoor El Tour, and pedal stationary bicycles either at the main venue or in the comfort of their own home or gym, anywhere in the world!

Upon crossing the finishline at the end of their ride, cyclists collect a special finisher’s medallion to remember their accomplishment and then onto enjoy El Tour’s Downtown Fiesta, a festive atmosphere held at Jacome Plaza, complete with food vendors, Michelob Ultra Beer Garden, El Tour Perimeter Store merchandise booth, a climbing wall and non-stop music and celebration throughout the day!

                                      El Tour – The Journey is the Reward!

Ed Tunstall Photo