El Tour de Tucson

Coming November 17, 2018. Arizona’s largest and longest-running bicycle race. It’s El Tour de Tucson, held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving! Attracting over 9,000 cyclists to the Tucson area, this fund raising adventure ride helped to put Tucson on the map for bicycle-loving adventurers. This year marks the 36th annual event, with cyclists choosing from 100-, 75-, 50-, or 25-mile routes and a Fun Ride of 10-, 4-, 1- and 1/4-mile distances. Along with the instantly recognizable, iconic Saguaro cactus, the main event routes weave through downtown Tucson and the surrounding area, offering scenic views of Tucson’s four mountain ranges, three of which rise over 9,000 feet. Check out the routes carefully, because they range from the mostly flat 25-mile route to the moderately hilly 75-mile and 100-mile routes with total ascents of 2,505.1 feet and 3,517.85 feet, respectively. Expect fruit, snacks and water at aid stations every 7-12 miles. Head to the Grand Canyon State next weekend for El Tour de Tucson to help bank some extra burned calories in anticipation of Thanksgiving!