El Tour de Tucson: routes and how to prepare
- Distance
- 164 km
- Climbing
- 890 m
- Highest point
- 1,101 m
- Categorised climbs
- 3 · up to 8 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
727–1,101 m · 3 categorised climbsEl Tour de Tucson is a charity ride around Tucson, Arizona, whose main route is 102 miles (164 km) with 2,887 feet (880 m) of climbing. The 2026 edition, the 43rd, is on Saturday 21 November 2026, with 62- and 32-mile routes on the same day. All routes start and finish downtown, at the Tucson Convention Center.
El Tour de Tucson at a glance
- Where
- Tucson, Arizona, United States
- Official website
- eltourdetucson.org ↗
- Next edition
- 21 November 2026
- Routes
- 102-mile route: 164 km, 880 m climbing · 62-mile route: 100 km, 492 m climbing · 32-mile route: 51 km
- Terrain
- Rolling to flat
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of El Tour de Tucson, 164 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
El Tour de Tucson offers 3 routes.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| 102-mile route (102 miles) | 164 km | 880 m |
| 62-mile route (62 miles) | 100 km | 492 m |
| 32-mile route (32 miles) | 51 km | — |
What the course asks of you
The 102 miles circle the city through the desert around it, with no single big climb: the climbing comes in long, gentle rises spread over the day. That makes it a ride of sustained speed, where staying with a group on the long open roads matters more than climbing.
November in the Sonoran Desert can start cold and turn warm, with strong sun: dress for both, and drink to a schedule.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train steady power: efforts of 10 to 20 minutes just below your threshold teach you the pace you can hold over the rolling roads of El Tour de Tucson.
- Build the long ride towards 164 km, at a pace you could keep all day.
- Ride part of your training in a group: on rolling roads, staying in a wheel saves more energy than any other choice.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Pushing every rise of El Tour de Tucson: on rolling roads, keep the effort steady and let the speed vary.
- Following the fastest wheels in the first kilometres, when everything feels easy.
- Drinking only when thirsty: a long rolling day dehydrates you before you notice.
Prepare El Tour de Tucson with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing El Tour de Tucson, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation towards 21 November 2026: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is El Tour de Tucson 2026?
On Saturday, 21 November 2026, according to the organiser.
How long are the routes of El Tour de Tucson?
102-mile route: 164 km with 880 m of climbing; 62-mile route: 100 km with 492 m of climbing; 32-mile route: 51 km. The 2026 routes from the organiser's route maps (climbing given in feet: 2,887 ft and 1,614 ft); all routes are subject to change.
How many riders take part?
Nearly 11,000 cyclists a year, according to the organiser.
Can I ride the course of El Tour de Tucson in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.