36th 36th
Primary Beneficiary Easterseals Blake Foundation
El Tour Tour De De Tucson Tucson El EVENT DATE: November 17, 2018
New Route, Renewed Excitement for the 2018 El Tour Welcome to the 36th El Tour de Tucson! We’re so looking forward to it as always and as we see the registrations coming in we know so many of you riders are too. For most of the last few months we’ve been more than 30 percent over last year’s registration, and for a couple of months were
more than 40 percent up. It shows lots of people are looking forward to this year’s rides. Who is to blame them, given the new route and new distances? Lots of individuals have expressed interest because this year we won’t be using the Santa Cruz River Crossing. For the first time in its history, El Tour is headed way east and into Vail. “While some have said they’ll miss the tradition of the lower Santa Cruz crossing, others are happy about it,” said Barbara Franklin, registration director for El Tour. “But the biggest news is the new portion of the route along Mary Ann Cleveland/Colossal Cave and Pistol Hill. The scenery is fantastic, the roads are in good condition and the Pistol Hill climb will be a great challenge. “It’s fun to see the Facebook posts of cyclists who are training on that new portion of the route. With the shorter route we’re looking at a sub-four-hour finish.” If the increased registration holds, El Tour should have more than 8,000 cyclists in the various rides of: 100-miles, 75-miles, 50 miles and 25 miles. That doesn’t include the Fun Ride distances of 10-miles and fewer. We’re thinking the excitement for the ride will continue all the way
through the event. El Tour recently announced former Olympian medalist Nelson Vails is the Dedication Recipient for 2018. He will ride in the 100-mile ride just as he has in past years. He’s been a staple at El Tour for the past six years. He recently went through health issues – high blood pressure and being overweig ht. He has lost 12 pounds and is living a better life these days. He’s now encourag ing people to get their blood pressure checked. “I went on Twitter and did Facebook live,” he told the Arizona Daily Star. “If I can save a life … for so many, this is our secret world that people don’t share. If I have it, you have it. Don’t ignore the symptoms.” Vails’ message fits perfectly with this year’s theme: “Changing Lives One Mile at a Time.” It is our goal to keep everyone healthy and happy and we try to achieve it through cycling. We know those who cycle consistently are healthy throughout the year. They are aware of what they eat and how much exercise they get.
Come Join Dedication Recipient Olympian
Nelson Vails at El Tour 2018 We believe that is true. Those in Tucson are well aware of it, given the popularity of the activity in the city. Tucson is ranked in the top 5 among the best places to cycle. One of the reasons is El Tour de Tucson. Tucson is a cycling-friendly city given the Chuck Huckelberry Loop. In fact, some of our Fun Ride events will be held on the Loop this year. It’ll be fun and safe for everyone – given the growing popularity of the Fun Ride. Come join us on Nov. 17. We expect to possibly have one of the biggest years we’ve ever had on El Tour Ride Day. Ed Tunstall Photo
PULLOUT
2018 El Tour Beneficiaries Primary Beneficiary: Easterseals Blake Foundation ADHD America ALS Association AZ Chapter Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter Arts-Express Athletes vs Epilepsy Arizona’s Children Association Arizona Justice Project AZ Multi Housing Charitable Foundation Beads of Courage BICAS Big Brothers Big Sisters Boys & Girls Clubs Cakes for Causes Cascade Foundation Children’s Clinics El Grupo Free Ever After Friends of Aphasia Friends of Pima Animal Care Center INTO Africa Keeping Teachers Teaching Look Save A Life Mobile Meals of So. AZ Pima County Juvenile Court Rotary District 5500 Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports Southern Arizona Gender Alliance Southern Arizona Mountain Bicyclists Southwest Medical Aid St. Elizabeth’s Health Center Team Semper Fi Cycling Program The Haven Tu Nidito UA Adaptive Athletics Uphill Into The Wind Water for People World Care Other Perimeter Charities AZ1-DMAT Armory Park Senior Meal Program Bike N Box Children’s Museum Tucson Cyclovia Tucson Fire Department Fred G. Acosta Job Corp. Safford K8 Middle School Read Their Stories on Page 10-11
Inside
2018 El Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Perimeter Schedule of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 At A Glance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Pima County/El Tour Loop the Loop. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Marana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Aid Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Road Closures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Dedicate-A-Mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Beneficiaries 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 Coloring Contest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Indoor El Tour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Fall 2018
Special El Tour Pullout
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