El Tour de Tucson

The Ride
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, consisting of novice, intermediate, advanced, and professional riders.

Tucson #1 – Outside’s “Top 10 Best Bike Towns” – May 2012
Tucson #1 – Atlantic, overall city with the “Most Bikeable Neighborhoods” – May 2013
Tucson #6 – Travel Channel “Top 10 Best Bike Cities” – May 2013
Tucson #8 – Bikescore” Most Bikeable Large U.S. Cities” – May 2013
“The Best in Cycling in November. Ride with 9,000 friends, El Tour de Tucson” Bicycling Magazine, November 2010
“Tucson best road-biking city in the country”Outside Magazine, August 2010
“America’s Best Cities for Bikers” – Tucson #5 Forbes.com, April 2010

The Participants
Cyclists enjoy El Tour and its festivities out of a passion for cycling, while others choose the event to benchmark their fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle change or as a wellness program goal as a survivor of cancer or other life-threatening illness. Many are attracted to El Tour’s fundraising programs and its many charitable agencies for which the event raised more than $16 Million in 2015. All El Tour riders share a desire to ride, meet great people, raise contributions and have a fun time doing it!

The Routes
Participants cycle main event distances of 106, 76, 54, 37 or 28 miles, or choose a Fun Ride 11 or 5 miles or a fun 1/4 mile activity course too! Main event routes show off Tucson’s beautiful vistas of its local mountain ranges – three rising over 9,000 feet- complete with the backdrop of the majestic Saguaro cactus, icon of the Sonoran Desert. Course profiles range from flat to rolling or moderately hilly. The ALL NEW 25-mile route is basically flat and will be a great family affair or a perfect first event for beginners! Two often dry but sandy river crossings will greet 106-mile riders, while 79-milers experience just one. No crossings for 54, 37or 28-mile participants. All routes offer aid stations with water and snacks spaced about 7-10 miles apart, full police support at intersections and plenty of morale-boosting volunteers and spectators. The Fun Ride offers easy and scenic routes along the Santa Cruz River multi-use path.

The Finish
The 106-mile start line (and finish line for all events) is located at Armory Park across the street from Children’s Museum Tucson on South 6th Avenue at 13th Street. Crossing the finish line ushers the riders into the next event - El Tour Downtown Fiesta! First order of business for cyclists after meeting friends & family is to collect a special finisher’s medallion based on their finish time. Next, celebrate at the Fiesta complete with non-stop music, the Michelob Ultra Garden, food vendors, El Tour Perimeter Store merchandise booth, kids activities, the Grand Cycling Awards Ceremony, and more!

The Alternative
If you can’t be in Tucson on Ride Day, or simply prefer to stay off the streets, Indoor El Tour is the answer! It is a stationary cycling event – no traffic, no safety hazards, no headwinds, but still loads of fun. Ride for minutes instead of miles while supporting Perimeter Bicycling charities and receive a special medallion. Indoor El Tour begins one week prior to the main event and may be ridden anywhere on the planet on any stationary bike or on Ride Day at the Finish Line.