Thousands of cyclists to roll out for this weekend's El Tour de Tucson

When Tucson’s biggest bike event returns this weekend, over 10,000 cyclists will ride through local streets.

El Tour de Tucson, the largest bike race in the U.S. and the longest-running bike event in Arizona, is back for its 42nd year.

The 102-mile century ride kicks off at 7 a.m. on Saturday at the Tucson Convention Center, followed by the 62-mile metric century ride at 9 a.m. and the 32-mile half-metric century ride at 10 a.m.

El Tour de Tucson also hosts a 5K run/walk, which starts at 7:15 a.m., along with a 3-mile and mile bike ride for those wanting to participate in the annual event without going the full distance, beginning at 8:15 a.m.

Riders participating in the 102-mile century ride will travel through various Tucson-area communities, including Vail, Corona de Tucson, Green Valley and Sahuarita. Plus, they’ll get to experience the best of Tucson’s desert scenery on the outer rim of the city.

This year’s 102-mile and 62-mile routes slightly differ from previous years due to an ongoing construction project on Valencia Road, east of Tucson International Airport.

The construction impacts roughly 2 to 3 miles along Valencia Road, according to TJ Juskiewicz, the executive director of El Tour de Tucson. The Valencia Road project will alter next year’s route, too.

Aside from the construction along Valencia Road, there will be numerous road closures throughout Tucson for the event. Check out eltourdetucson.org for a full list of expected road closures.

Following the route’s closure at 4:30 p.m., Tucson roads will begin to reopen, as many cyclists will have already crossed the start/finish line at the Tucson Convention Center.

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This year’s El Tour de Tucson is special for a couple of reasons.

First, the event is honoring Tucson’s 250th birthday with an exclusive poster and merchandise designed by local muralist Joe Pagac. Merchandise can be purchased on site at the El Tour de Tucson Expo and Fiesta or online at eltourstore.com. (Note that online purchases will not be shipped out until after Thanksgiving.)

And second, this could be El Tour de Tucson’s biggest event yet.

Juskiewicz estimates this year’s race has an additional 1,400 riders compared to last year, pushing the total well over 11,000.

More riders mean more money raised for nonprofits — a focus that has remained at the core of El Tour de Tucson’s mission since its inception over 40 years ago.

Over the last four decades, El Tour de Tucson has raised more than $130 million for charity. In 2023, the organization raised $6 million and last year’s ride brought in $8 million for 85 nonprofits. 

Dubbed the “Best Road Cycling Event” by USA Today, there’s no slowing down in sight for El Tour de Tucson’s riders and mission.

“We’re just so much larger than the next race of any style like El Tour,” Juskiewicz told the Arizona Daily Star last year. “So, we want to continue that thing. I think we want to be known as one of the top events in the world.”