Sean Christian and Anna Hicks were the men’s and women’s winners of the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson, held Saturday morning in Tucson, Sahuarita and other communities.
Christian, a Tucsonan, finished the 102-mile route with a “gun time” of 3 hours, 49 minutes, 5.9 seconds. Gilbert’s Damiano Cunego was 0.2 seconds behind Christian, and Ireland’s Cormac McGeough was third at 3:53:08.1.
Anna Hicks, a native of San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast, won the women’s division of the 102-mile race.
Christian averaged 26.5 mph on his bike. He finished ninth last year, the first time he raced in El Tour.
This year, his strategy was different.
“We attacked from about Mile 1,” he said. “So we were out there for about 101 miles alone, which is definitely a lot harder than it was last year.”
He loved the new route, which went south, giving him a view of some of his favorite parts of Tucson. It was tight right up until the end. Christian didn’t even realize he was in the final stretch until he looked up.
“That was actually it was a bit shocking ... I was like, ‘OK, we got a little bit longer.’ Then I look and I see the finish and I’m like, ‘Oh, I have to go now,’” he said. “So that was a bit scary, but still managed to pull it off in the end.”
Hicks, a native of San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast, was the top-finishing woman with a “gun time” of 3:54:14.8. She narrowly beat out Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Jacqueline Larouche (3:54:15.6) and Bozeman, Montana’s Cecily Decker (3:54:17.6).
A large pack of riders heads down Nogales Highway through the FICO orchards during Saturday’s El Tour de Tucson.
Saturday marked Hicks’ first El Tour, and her first big race since she started racing last year. Previously, she ran cross country and track at Cal Poly. She’s only done small, local races with 10 to 20 racers to this point.
“I was just out there just to learn and figure out how to race in a big group and just do what I could with a mass start race like this,” Hicks said. “It’s hard to know what’s going to happen. So staying present in the moment and just reacting to things as they go.”
A rider and a group of area neighbors exchange salutes at the bottom of Pistol Hill Road.
All three of the top women’s finishers are with Team USA. With 25 miles left, Hicks realized they could go 1-2-3.
Cyclists stock up on fruit and fluids at Aid Station No. 7 on Mission Road thanks to La Posada in Green Valley.
“I had no idea how it was gonna shake out. We just came around that last corner and we all went for it,” Hicks said. “I was just in the moment.”
The El Tour win caps a successful year for Christian, 20. He finished 28th in the United States national championship of road racing; he was fourth among cyclists age 23 and under.
Hicks finished third at the Bariani Road Race in March.
Between 7,500 and 8,000 riders, including at least one from every state, took part part in El Tour.
Riders competed in three distances and three “fun rides.” The 102-mile ride — organizers call it “The Century” — is the most popular of the routes. Nearly 40% of all riders signed up for the longest distance. Nearly as many — 34% — signed up for the 63-mile “Metric Century” ride, and 19% signed up for the 32-mile “Metric Half-Century” ride. About 7% of the signups were for the “Fun Ride,” one of the unique events during El Tour day. Many fun-riders are kids; they can choose between distances of 10 miles, 5 miles or 1 mile.
Photos: 2022 El Tour de Tucson bicycle race in Tucson
Riders pass by Aid Station #3 on Pistol Hill Road on the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Sean Christian, of Tucson, raises his arms as he crosses the finish line and wins the men's division of the 102-mile race in the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Anna Hicks, a native of San Luis Obispo on California's central coast, won the women's divisoin of the 102-mile race in the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Race winner Sean Christian of Tucson, second from left, and lead riders in a tight formation on Nogales Highway near Continental Road during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
A large pack of riders heads down Nogales Highway through the FICO orchards during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
A rider and a group of area neighbors exchange salutes as the main body makes the first few yards of the long climb up Pistol Hill Road from Old Spanish Trail during El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists wait for the start of the 63-mile race along Cushing Street during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A cyclists adorned in holiday cheer makes the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Laura Close, left, and Margaret Falkowski cheer for cyclists and Laura's daughter and friend, who has Type 1 diabetes, riding with a group representing Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Andy Clark of Austin, celebrating his 52nd birthday on race day, grabs some Gatorade at Aid Station #7 on Mission Road while chatting with volunteer Joanie Rogucki during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Cyclists work there way up Mission Road at Twin Buttes Road in Green Valley during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Volunteer Mary Harris rings the cow bell for cyclists along Mission Road west of Green Valley during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Cyclists on Mission Road west of the mines during Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Volunteer Mary Harris holds bicycles from racers stopping to snag food and water at Aid Station #7 on Mission Road during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Lt. Steven Gardner, helping the U.S. Army man Aid Station #3 aids a rider needing air as the rest of the pack top Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The lead pack of riders heads up Old Spanish Trail just before the turn onto Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
A small group of riders make the climb up Pistol Hill Road on the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
A large group of riders start winding up Pistol Hill Road as the riders pass through the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A young rider and other cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists make the turn onto Aviation Parkway at the start of the 102-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Cyclists start to leave downtown at the start of their 63-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Two fans show their support for riders at the finish line during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A young rider joins other cyclists at the start of the 32-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A cyclist rides with a stuffed penguin on his helmut at the start of the 32-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Participants make their way down Cushing Street at the start of the 32-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
Jesus Villa, right, holds up a sign to cheer on his Nana as she rides her first 32-mile race during the 39th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on November 19, 2022.
A police officer directs cyclists onto Continental Road from Nogales Highway during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
A pack of leaders escorted a Tucson Police officer on Mission Road during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
Cyclists manage the ups and downs of Mission Road near Twin Buttes Road in Green Valley during the Banner-University Medicine 39th El Tour de Tucson amateur bicycle race on Nov. 19, 2022.
The Rincon Mountains rise behind the riders making the long climb up Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
A handful of riders top a rise on Old Spanish Trail, headed for the turn onto Pistol Hill Road on the eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The lead pack makes the high speed turn onto Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The main pack of riders fight their way up the long rise of Pistol Hill Road for El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The bikers competing in El Tour de Tucson, cycling is a team sport at South Nogales Highway and Lumber Street 6th Avenue from Irvington to Ajo, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
The bikers competing in El Tour de Tucson, cycling is a team sport at South Nogales Highway and Lumber Street 6th Avenue from Irvington to Ajo, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
Just after dawn Josh Goldstein sweeps gravel and peoples off the hard right turn from Old Spanish Trail onto Pistol Hill Road for the far east leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022. Goldstein showed up with others from the neighborhood to cheer on the riders, and brought the broom along to make the intersection a little safer.
