Sports
El Tour de Tucson: riding or cheering on Tucson's big bike day
Nearly 11,000 cyclists ride El Tour de Tucson on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, raising money for local charities. What to know whether you're riding or cheering.
By Eric & David · October 31, 2026 · 1 min read
- When
- Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Where
- Downtown, with the Expo & Fiesta at the Tucson Convention Center
- Routes
- 102, 62 and 32 miles, plus 1- and 3-mile fun rides and a 5K
- Cost
- Free to watch; registration to ride
El Tour de Tucson started in 1983 with fewer than 200 riders. Now nearly 11,000 cyclists take part every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and 2026 is the 43rd ride. Charities recruit rider teams to raise money, and El Tour America events have raised more than $138 million since 1983. This year, pro cyclists Brandon McNulty and Quinn Simmons are slated to ride.
If you're riding
- Start times are staggered: the 102-mile ride rolls out first at 7 AM, the 62-mile at 9 AM and the 32-mile at 10 AM. The 5K run and walk starts at 7:15 AM, and the 1- and 3-mile fun rides at 8:15 AM.
- All routes close at 4:30 PM.
- November mornings start cool and warm up fast. Wear layers you can shed.
- Check the official schedule for registration and packet pickup at the Expo.
If you're watching
The Expo & Fiesta at the finish is the place to be. It runs Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 PM and Saturday until 5 PM, with a beer garden, a main stage and an awards ceremony at 1 PM. The first 102-mile riders usually arrive around 10:45 AM.
Expect closures downtown on ride day, including Cushing Street from 6 AM to 8 PM, parts of Stone, Fourth and Sixth Avenues in the morning, and some I-10 and I-19 ramps. Broadway and Kino Parkway stay open in both directions to get you downtown.
