El Tour de Tucson returns with new route

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TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) – After COVID-19 enforced a year-long hiatus, El Tour de Tucson returns on Saturday with some changes.

The 102-mile route will start and end again in Armory Park in downtown Tucson, but riders will take a different route this year.

“This time we’re going south,” said Executive Director TJ Juskiewicz. “We haven’t been to this area yet. Like Sahuarita, Green Valley, around the Pima Mines. Along these pecan trees. So it will be a different driving style. “

Mari Holden, world cycling champion and silver medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games, knows El Tour well. She will take part in the 102-mile ride on Saturday.

“This is my first time with the new course so I’m really excited to see how it is,” she said.

Holden says she has been training in Tucson for about 30 years and has close friends who live in the area.

This year, she is giving back and, along with USA Cycling, is giving away 50 bikes and helmets to children as part of a safety and skill course to introduce more people to the sport.

“If we can get more kids on bikes, A. We’ll have a healthier population, but we will also hopefully find the next Olympians out there, which will be great too,” said Holden.

According to Juskiewicz, around 6,500 drivers are expected on all different routes this year, an increase of around 1,500 over 2019.

Many of these drivers are newbies, such as Cody Frölander and James Edwards from the Phoenix area. Cycling became their first choice to get in shape when lockdowns began last year.

The brothers-in-law jump into the 45-mile drive that begins in Marana and ends in Armory Park. Your goal is to overcome the 57- and 102-mile treks over the next two years.

“We decided to round off the year with a Tour de Tucson,” said Frölander. “I heard a lot about the tour, so we wanted to come out and do it.”

“So we brought the family to cheer us on at the finish line and encourage us to get the job done,” added Edwards.

Juskiewicz says the teams drive for about 50 charities and are expected to raise at least $ 5 million this year.

He also says the organizers have been working on re-branding this year and ways to improve the experience of both drivers and non-drivers.

“There is a beer garden at the finish line. So when you’re not driving and just want to come down and cheer people on, there are food trucks here, great music that plays all day long, ”said Juskiewicz. “Just have fun. Even if you don’t ride a bike and drive 102 miles, you can experience El Tour de Tucson. “

You can find more information on routes, road closures and more here.

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