John Clayton Timbers, an avid cyclist who founded La Vuelta de Bisbee in 1976, was struck and killed early Tuesday in a hit-and-run crash, Tucson police say.
Timbers, 78, was fatally struck just before 5 a.m. in a crash in the 5600 block of East Grant Road, near North Craycroft Road.
The driver fled before officers arrived, Tucson police said Wednesday in a news release.
Timbers was riding his bike west on Grant when he was struck from behind, the release said.
Police say the vehicle that struck Timber is believed to be a “red 2000s Nissan Frontier or Xterra.”
The Arizona Bicycle Racing Association, also known as “AZ Cycling,” remembered their lost member in a tribute on Facebook.
“As a racer, John won everything from the Iron Horse Classic in Durango to the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix Circuit. He was the sole finisher of the Tour of Mexico on the U.S. National team... He was still climbing (Mt.) Lemmon several times a week- where he took many victories in the Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb,” the tribute said.
The AZ Cycling Facebook post said no funeral was planned for Timbers. However, it went on to say a memorial event might be held on John’s birthday next year.
“The prize jewel of Arizona racing has been La Vuelta de Bisbee. Growing from a point to point road race from Tucson to Bisbee, the race has grown to one of the nation’s top stage races,” Alan D. Fischer said on the organization’s website. “John Timbers was instrumental in the development of the race, and many others have worked hard to make it what it is today.”
The investigation into the crash continues.
Anyone with information about the wreck is asked to call 911, or leave an anonymous tip at 88-CRIME.
