43rd El Tour de Tucson

ABOUT EL TOUR

The 43rd El Tour de Tucson is now preparing to host one of the premier bicycling events in the country. We hope you participate in this year’s event on November 21, 2026.  You won’t be alone given that annually approximately 11,000 cyclists participate in the renowned and popular event.  Participants range from novice to professional as they ride either the Century (102 Mile), Metric Century 100 KM (62 Mile) or Metric Half Century 50 KM (32 Mile). There is also a Family Fun Ride consisting of 3-mile and 1-mile rides and the 5K Run/Walk.

Did you know that El Tour de Tucson enables nonprofit, charitable agencies to raise funds for their respective organizations?  Learn about their programs and sign up to ride on their teams here.  Since 1983, Perimeter Bicycling events have raised over $138 million for local and international charitable organizations.
 
Perimeter Bicycling and El Tour de Tucson are thrilled to to bring this world class event to downtown Tucson.  El Tour de Tucson was recently recognized by USA TODAY as the country’s Top Road Cycling Event.  All Rides/Routes start and finish at the Tucson Convention Center and the surrounding area.

THE ROUTES

All Rides/Routes start and finish at the Tucson Convention Center and the surrounding area.

• The Century (7:00am start)
  102 Mile
• 5K Run/Walk (7:20 am start)
• The FUN Rides! (8:15 am start)
  3 Mile / 1 Mile
• The Metric Century (9:00 am start)
  62 Mile/100 Kilometer
• The Half Metric Century (10:00 am start)
  32 Mile/50 Kilometer

THE START/FINISH

All rides begin and end at the newly renovated Tucson Convention Center in Downtown Tucson, the location for the day-of-the-event party as well as the two-day packet pickup (Thursday and Friday).  Most of the Expo & Fiesta activities will be held indoors at the newly renovated Tucson Convention Center as well as an outdoor beer garden, main stage and outdoor vending booths. 

Cyclists collect a commemorative finisher’s medallion based on distance and/or finish time. Conclude your ride at the post-ride party with family and friends at the party complete with music, the Dragoon Brewing Co. Beer Garden, numerous food vendors, El Tour merchandise zone and the Award Ceremony.

Thousand of fans, spectators and cycling enthusiasts gather to celebrate the weekend that is El Tour de Tucson.

Violation of any rule may result in disqualification or time penalties

• All Entrants must properly enter the Start lineup, and may not cut in line, climb over barricades, or in any other way improperly enter the Start area. Enter the platinum or gold sections through the appropriate gate at the Start lineup;
• All Entrants must wear CPSC-approved helmet;
• All Entrants must not cross a solid yellow line, whether double, or single on their side of the road (a no-passing zone);
• All Entrants must show and practice good sportsmanship –Un-sportsmanlike conduct of any kind is prohibited;
• All Entrants must obey Police, Bike Patrol or other Event Officials;
• No Entrant may urinate in public (this is a criminal offense);
• No Entrant may ride with, or receive support from, unregistered cyclists (bandits);
• No Entrant may draft, hold onto, or catch a ride in any motorized vehicle;
• All bicycles must be powered solely by human force, except Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are allowed but not eligible for prizes.
• All Entrants must cycle the complete official route, as described on the official route map. Entrants may not short cut the official route, and are responsible for knowing and following the official route;
• All Entrants must stay behind, and not pass, the lead vehicle;
• All Entrants must wear their rider numbers, which must be easily visible;
• Headsets covering or blocking both ears are prohibited, i.e., iPods/MP3 players and other such devices;
• Aero-type and other similar auxiliary handlebars are prohibited;
• All Entrants must start the Event before the last official vehicle (trail vehicle) has left the start line;
• Team tactics that endanger, or impede the progress of, any other cyclists, such as blocking, are prohibited;
• All Entrants must show courteous behavior to Volunteers, Event Officials, and Police, and obey their instructions;
• All Entrants must obey traffic control officers & personnel, and traffic control devices & signs, unless otherwise directed by an Official;
• All Entrants must read and know Arizona State bicycle laws, and must yield to emergency vehicles at all times, even if the road is closed;
• All Entrants must give the right of way to other road users, including bicycles and motor vehicles, when legally required to;
• All Entrants must stay to the right of cones set up at intersections, unless directed otherwise by Police or Event Official(s);
• All Entrants must ride the entire event on the bicycle they start on – changing bicycles is prohibited;
• All Entrants must bicycle single file, when possible, unless the road is closed to motor vehicle traffic (any road closures will be announced on Event day), or a police escort is provided;
• Support crews/non-Official vehicles may meet and provide support to their entrant(s) only at an official Aid Stations, and may not follow entrants on the course route;
• Hand-offs at Aid Stations, or anywhere on the route, are prohibited All Entrants must stop to receive support, and must always pull completely off the road pavement, staying out of the path of bicycle & motor vehicle traffic;
• All Entrants must verbally warn others when they overtake them call out “Passing”, “your left”, or “on your Left” (the simpler, the better);
• All Entrants who drop out of the event must notify an Event Official, by informing an Aid Station Director, or calling the Event Hotline phone number. Be sure to give your rider number;
• Entrants not finishing the course by 2:00 pm will be stopped and transported to the Finish Line;
• All Entrants must follow these steps at the Finish line:
  Finish single file, Stay in the same position after you cross the finish line

Rule Enforcement & Procedures:

Police, Event Officials, and Bike Patrol will identify any Entrant who violates traffic laws or Event rules for possible disqualification.
Those so identified will be reported to the Rules/Results Committee, who will investigate and address each violation on a case-by-case basis, imposing penalties, including disqualification, as indicated.
Any Entrant may report rules violations and present supporting evidence at the Information booth/tent at the Finish Line. All such reports must be in writing, and must be turned in within 15 minutes of the posting of the event results, or by 6:00 pm the day of the event, whichever is later (may also be E-mailed by the same time to Perimeter Bicycling 

Tour de Tucson is finished at 4:30 pm local time and all course support will be closed. Any entrants still on the Route will be required to stop, and will be transported to the Finish line by Event Officials and/or event volunteers.

Tour de Tucson will not be cancelled or postponed due to weather. It will go on through rain, sleet, snow, or heat wave – Be Prepared!

Tour de Tucson postponements due to pandemics will be re-scheduled until a time that would be safer to conduct the event.

E-Bikes are welcome, but not eligible for placement awards.  Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes only.