More than a ride: Cyclists brave wind, turmoil in 42nd El Tour de Tucson

The wind wasn’t the only obstacle El Tour De Tucson winner Stephen Schaefer was struggling with during Saturday’s big race.

The 34-year-old Tucson rider had a lot more than placing first on his mind.

“I’m riding with a lot of emotion,” the athlete said, bombarded by media immediately following his win. He shared that his father — his idol — is currently in a coma, suffering from colon cancer, and may have even passed away during Schaefer’s 102-mile Century ride.

“I really wanna do this for him,” he said. “I hope he’s proud of me.”

In spite of the grief — and the 35-mph average wind speed — Schaefer coasted through the finish line at 3 hours, 39 minutes and 32 seconds, teammate and friend Nikos Casto crossing just one second behind. It was Casto’s first El Tour de Tucson race, made better only by the fact that the two did it together.

“Let’s gooooo!” Schaefer and Casto shouted, tossing their arms across each other’s shoulders as their bikes soared, then slowed to the sound of cowbells clanking and fans cheering with excitement.

It was the dream of each athlete to share this moment together, an achievement worthy of celebration, Schaefer said with a smile.

His evening plans? A few adult beverages, tamales and empanadas to round out his big win.

“It was the best time,” he said. “Coming along that last street with my teammate was absolute magic. I knew we did it. I knew we pulled it off.”

This year’s Century race ended with both male and female winners proudly claiming Tucson as home.

Tucson’s Marge Rinaldo took the women’s first-place title Saturday with a time of 3 hours, 53 minutes and 2 seconds. Rinaldo took second place last year with a time of 3 hours, 45 minutes and 53 seconds.

While the rain stayed at bay, the wind had plans of its own, blowing signs out of people’s hands, whipping hair in front of faces, and sending chills down spines.

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“It was pretty brutal,” Rinaldo said. It’s races like this that make her excited to leave the sport of road racing “eventually” and explore new avenues of riding. This includes Tucson’s new Velodrome, the first aluminum 250-meter, 42-degree banked velodrome.

“I’m excited to get on that track and see what I can do,” she said.

Second across the finish line in the women’s race, with a time of 3 hours, 53 minutes and 54 seconds was Holly Beck, who called the day chaotic, but fun. Beck came in third place in 2024 with a time of 3 hours, 52 minutes and 46 seconds.

“Marge got the best of me today,” she lamented, but once the race is over, the congratulations begin as they gather at the ESPN media tent for interviews.

Barely out of breath, and right on cue with their remarks, it’s clear these athletes are in the kind of shape that few could dream to be.

They push through burning legs, blindingly bright sunlight, personal turmoil, injuries, and, in this case, a constant battering of 35 mph winds chapping their lips and slowing their speeds.

That said, for Schafer and Casto, it was a “ride of destiny,” and the look on their faces was enough to believe this was true.

Coming in third place in the Century race was Jack Diemar, at 3 hours, 43 minutes and 34 seconds.

The women’s third-place finisher was Emily Gilbert with a time of 4 hours and 28 seconds.

More than 10,000 cyclists took to the streets, traveling from downtown through Tucson-area communities including Vail, Corona de Tucson, Green Valley and Sahuarita. 

In its 42nd year, the largest bike race in the U.S. and the longest-running bike event in Arizona remains focused on giving back, raising more than $130 million for charity over four decades. In 2023, the organization raised $6 million and last year’s ride brought in $8 million for 85 nonprofits.