For 102 miles, a small pack of cyclists jockeyed for positioning at Saturday's El Tour de Tucson.
And when they cossed the finish line at Armory Park at around 11 a.m., it was almost too close to call. Gerardo Ulloa won Saturday's El Tour with an unofficial "gun time" of 3 hours 57 minutes 44.8 seconds, edging the second-place finisher by just four-tenths of a second.
The 11:40 a.m. announcement that Ulloa had won came more than a half hour after El Tour tweeted that Tucson resident Josh Rinderknecht, a former college football player and recent winner of the American Cycling Championship Criterium, was the unofficial winner. The Iowan instead settled for second place with a time of 3:57.45.2, with Scottsdale's Johnny Corcoran in third at 3:57.45.4.
A native of Guadalajara, the 25-year-old Ulloa notched one of the largest victories of his young career.
Cycling great Floyd Landis and partner Paul Thomas were the top tandem-bike finishers. Cuba's Marlies Mejias was the top-finishing female rider with a time of 3:59.22.8.
Marlies Mejias, cyclist from Havana, Cuba, smiles while being interviewed during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson.
Saturday marked the return of Southern Arizona's largest participatory sporting event after the 2020 event was postponed, then canceled, due to the coronavirus pandemic. New race director TJ Juskiewicz used the down time to modernize the decades old ride, changing the routes, adjusting ride distances and even updating the event's logo.
In the end, the race provided the same thrilling finish as a pack of skilled racers jockeyed for positioning heading into Armory Park.
Ethan Overson led heading into the final 25 miles, trailed by Rinderknecht, Kyle Trudeau and Jose Arevalo. Past winner David Salomon pushed into third place during the final few miles.
By the final six miles, there was a new leader: Bryce Priest.
Cyclists in the 102-mile El Tour de Tucson Platinum and Elite group ride down E. Aviation Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Photos: 2021 El Tour de Tucson bicycle race
Cyclists ride down E. Escalante Rd. past Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Gerardo Ulloa, cyclist from Jalisco Guadalajara, raises his hands as he crosses the finish line during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021. Ulloa, who rode in El Tour de Tucson for the first time, won first place.
Marlies Mejias, cyclist from Havana, Cuba, smiles while being interviewed during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021. Mejias was the first women to cross the finish line at El Tour de Tucson.
Suzanne Goldstein gives a handful of riders the full cowbell experience as they head up Pistol Hill Rod for the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
A few of the late arrivers make the turn off of Old Spanish Trail onto Pistol Hill Road in the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
The lead peloton clears a rise on Old Spanish Trail shortly after sunrise over the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
El Tour de Tucson rider Manny Romo, left, gets some roadside assistance from Josh Goldstein, who had brought his own tools and air pump along to his chosen observation site at Pistol Hill Road and Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
Bikers pass Brianna Knettle and her bike on Old Spanish Trail in the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021. Knettle was waiting for friend to catch up so the two could take on the climb up Pistol Hill Road together.
The lead rider, well ahead of any competition, makes the turn onto Pistol Hill Road from Old Spanish Trail during the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
Several knots of riders in the leading packs begin the Pistol Hill Road climb on the El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
El Tour de Tucson riders make their way uphill on Old Spanish Trail to the intersection with Pistol Hill Road, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
Jenny Hess cheers on the riders beginning the long climb up Pistol Hill Road near the 26 mile mark of the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021. Hess was among the half dozen or Vail area residents who turned out at the corner of Old Spanish Trail and Pistol Hill Road to give the riders a little boost.
The lead peloton heads east on Old Spanish Trail just before the turn south onto Pistol Hill Road in the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
Along line of bikers push their way up the first leg of Pistol Hill Road just south of Old Spanish Trail, heading into the second highest point on the route of the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
With the Rincon Mountains in the background, riders head into the climb up Pistol Hill Road just south of Old Spanish Trail in the early going of the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
Cyclist in the 102-mile El Tour de Tucson Platinum and Elite group ride down E. Aviation Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
A cyclists, left, tells another cyclists "we are putting in work" while riding down E. Escalante Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
A member of the El Tour de Tucson Bike Patrol helps a cyclist with their bike tire during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
A group of cyclists ride along E. Escalante Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
A cyclist ride past Davis-Monthan Air Force Base along E. Escalante Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Tucson local and first time rider in The El Tour de Tucson, Mark McMahon wears two bananas on his helmet while checking his phone during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
A cyclist wears a face covering while riding down S. Kolb Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Cyclists ride down S. Kolb Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Cyclists ride down S. Kolb Rd. past Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's airplane boneyard during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
A member of the El Tour de Tucson Bike Patrol takes documents cyclists as they ride down E. Escalante Rd. during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Cyclists begin Casino del Sol's 57-mile ride during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Alex Neuwirt, top left, helps out friend and fellow cyclist Todd Key after finishing the 102-mile ride in the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
The reflection of cyclists waiting for their ride to start are shown through a cyclists sunglasses while waiting for the Casino del Sol 57-mile ride to begin during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021.
Cyclists cheering on another group as they pass the 8th aid station at the 60 mile mark for El Tour de Tucson bicycle race at Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Cyclist 1055 riding through Old Nogales Hwy as part of El Tour de Tucson bicycle race at Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Cyclists making a sharp turn on Mission Rd as part of El Tour de Tucson bicycle race at Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Cyclist 1044 riding through Continental Rd as part of El Tour de Tucson bicycle race at Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Cyclists passing through Helmet Peak as part of El Tour de Tucson bicycle race at Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Rider 205 leading group past the turn on Mission Rd heading toward Helmet Peak Rd during El Tour de Tucson bicycle race at Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Cyclists riding along Helmet Peak Rd during El Tour de Tucson bicycle race passing Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Cyclists riding along Mission Rd passing Duval Mine Rd during El Tour de Tucson bicycle race passing Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
Cyclist 2006 riding through Helmet Peak as part of El Tour de Tucson bicycle race at Sahuraita, AZ on Nov. 20, 2021.
