Richard DeBernardis still has nightmares of the rainstorm that all but washed away the 2013 El Tour de Tucson.
As founder and promoter of the Tour, it’s DeBernardis’ job to pitch the warmth that usually hangs over Tucson in late November.
When the weather doesn’t cooperate, riders don’t show up, as DeBernardis learned in 2014, when the race lost over 2,500 riders from the year before.
“All those people from out of state decided not to come,” DeBernardis said Friday at El Tour’s introductory press conference.
El Tour’s registration has picked back up the last few years, and DeBernardis expects 7,000 people to take part on Saturday.
With a forecast of sunny skies and temperatures topping out in the low 80s, riders won’t have to be worry about pedaling through puddles.
“Ride With Nelly”
To boost diversity
Nelson Vails knows that he stands out among the cycling community.
Vails won silver at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to become the first African-American cyclist to take home a medal.
Over 30 years later, Vails still sees a dire lack of minorities represented in professional cycling.
“I’ve traveled the world and this is something that kids from the inner city have not had an opportunity to do yet,” Vails said.
“Our system needs to be rebuilt to be able to find more kids like myself from the city to excel.”
As a Bronx native, Vails understands the limited opportunities in cycling presented to children who want to get into cycling but don’t know where to turn.
In response, Vails created “Ride with Nelly,” a platform in which he can lobby on behalf of underrepresented groups who lack the equipment or publicity to make a name in the sport.
Vails will be actively promoting his mission Saturday as he rides the race’s first 100 miles with a dozen cyclists.
“There’s so many kids, even from here in Arizona including the reservations, that are probably good at mountain racing and track cycling, who haven’t been recognized,” Vails said. “It’s a matter of me helping and speaking on behalf some of these programs and giving them ideas on what they need to do to improve.”
