_ The 2019 Banner - University Medicine 37th El Tour de Tucson:

Welcome to the Banner - University Medicine 37th El Tour de Tucson 

The Ride

Held annually the Saturday before Thanksgiving, El Tour is a fund raising adventure ride attracting over 6,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and worldwide. Participants are beginners, intermediate, advanced, and professional cyclists riding 100% human powered bicycles.

The Participants

El Tour riders share a desire to ride, meet great people, raise contributions for charities and have fun. Participants enjoy the ride and its festivities out of a passion for cycling, as a benchmark for a wellness program , as a symbol of surviving a major illness or other life challenge or to honor another person.

Non-Profit Partners

Through the years over $90 million has been raised through El Tour for over 100 different local & national nonprofit organizations. Check out the current list of charities which is always growing!

To ride in the 100, 50, or 25-mile El Tours,  you  pay one entry fee to Perimeter Bicycling Association of America Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Diamond Children’s Medical Center, our primary charitable beneficiary, receives a $20 contribution from your paid-in-full entry (tax deductible as allowed by the IRS).  The entry fee will vary, according to the schedule below.  You can pay in full now by cash/check/money order or credit/debit card.

The Route

Cyclists pedal main event distances of 100, 50, or 25 miles or choose the Fun Ride  of 10, 4, or 1 miles .  The main event routes feature beautiful vistas of Tucson’s four surrounding mountain ranges against the backdrop of majestic Saguaro cactus. Course profiles range from flat to rolling or moderately hilly. The 25-mile route is mostly flat and is great for families and perfect for a first-time cyclist. An often dry but sandy creek crossing will greet 100-milers in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.  All routes offer aid stations with water and snacks about 7-12 miles apart, 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-part of The Loop, Pima County’s famous multi-use path.

The Finish

The 100-mile start line is at Armory Park in Downtown Tucson which also hosts the finish line celebration for all distances. Cyclists collect a special finisher’s medallion based on distance and/or finish time. Party with family and friends at the Fiesta complete with non-stop music, the Beer Garden, food vendors, El Tour Perimeter Store merchandise, kids activities, the Grand Cycling Awards Ceremony!