El Tour de Tucson is a BIG deal here in Tucson, AZ. Held annually the Saturday before Thanksgiving, El Tour is a fun adventure ride attracting over 9,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and worldwide, consisting of novice, intermediate, advanced, and professional riders. Participants cycle main event distances of 111, 85, 60 or 42 miles, or choose the Fun Ride 10 or 5 miles or a fun 1/4 mile activity course too!Main event routes show off Tucson's beautiful vistas of its local mountain ranges - three rising over 9,000 feet- complete with the backdrop of the majestic Saguaro cactus, icon of the Sonoran Desert. Course profiles range from flat to rolling or moderately hilly. The 42-mile route is basically flat and has become a great family affair or a perfect first event for beginners! Even with the rain there were still more than 8000 cyclists participating in El Tour de Tucson! A cold and wet morning in Tucson. We love it though. We hardly ever get to enjoy cold and wet. lol Two often dry but sandy river crossings will greet 111-mile riders, while 85-milers experience just one. No crossings for 60 or 42-mile participants. All routes offer aid stations with water and snacks spaced about 7-10 miles apart, full police support at intersections and plenty of morale-boosting volunteers and spectators. The Fun Ride offers easy and scenic routes along the Santa Cruz River mulit-use path.This is one the often dry but sandy river crossings ! We have had a lot of rain these last 2 days now. This river crossing is now closed but there were some cycling die hards who crossed it before that route got shut down. My daughter rode in the Tour a few years back with a group from her high school. She was going for the 85 miles but pooped out at 66. She called us to come pick her and the bike up somewhere along the route. lol I was very proud of her because she was not a cyclist. She just wanted to participate with the group.
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