Photos: El Tour de Tucson through the years
El Tour de Tucson, first held in 1983, provides pro riders and novices alike the chance to compete or simply ride on roads closed to vehicle traffic.
2023 marks the 40th anniversary of the popular cycling event.
39th El Tour de Tucson
A rider and a group of area neighbors exchange salutes as the main body makes the first few yards of the long climb up Pistol Hill Road from Old Spanish Trail during El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
39th El Tour de Tucson
A small group of riders make the climb up Pistol Hill Road on the far eastern leg of El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 19, 2022.
38th El Tour de Tucson
Along line of bikers push their way up the first leg of Pistol Hill Road just south of Old Spanish Trail, heading into the second highest point on the route of the 38th El Tour de Tucson, Tucson, Ariz., November 20, 2021.
38th El Tour de Tucson
Gerardo Ulloa, cyclist from Jalisco Guadalajara, raises his hands as he crosses the finish line during the 2021 El Tour de Tucson in Tucson, Ariz. on Nov. 20th, 2021. Ulloa, who rode in El Tour de Tucson for the first time, won first place.
37th El Tour de Tucson
Cyclists ride along West Magee Road during Saturday’s El Tour de Tucson. Clear skies and still winds made for a fast course.
37th El Tour de Tucson
Andy Brothers, volunteer, fills an El Tour de Tucson bicyclist's water at a an aid station in Sabino Creek during the 37th annual El Tour de Tucson in Tucson Ariz., on November 23rd, 2019. More than 5,900 riders rode in Arizona's largest participatory sporting event on Saturday.
37th El Tour de Tucson
A cyclist rides through Sabino Creek during El Tour de Tucson. Organizers say 2,380 riders took part in the 100-mile distance on Nov. 23.
36th El Tour de Tucson
A pack of riders navigate the new route on Colossal Cave Road at the Pantano Wash during the 36th El Tour de Tucson perimeter bicycling race, Nov. 17, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz.
35th El Tour de Tucson
The leaders pass the aircraft boneyard during the 35th El Tour de Tucson bicycle race on Nov. 18, 2017.
34th El Tour de Tucson
Adam Rogers of Mesa pauses to kiss his wife, Amy, whom he spied in the crowd at East Broadway and Freeman Road, on the far east side.
33rd El Tour de Tucson
Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords makes her way out of the starting line in the 40-mile ride during the 33rd El Tour de Tucson bicycle race in Tucson, Ariz., on Nov. 21, 2015.
32nd El Tour de Tucson
Bicyclists reach the turn at South Old Spanish Trail and South Freeman Road during the El Tour de Tucson bicycle race on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz.
32nd El Tour de Tucson
Julio Garcia, 41, of Sinaloa, Mexico, collapses on a downtown sidewalk, finally getting a chance to rest his legs after finishing the 104-mile event at El Tour.
31st El Tour de Tucson
Riders make their way along westbound Ina Road approaching the intersection at Oracle, with the Santa Catalinas shrouded in clouds during El Tour de Tucson on Nov. 23, 2013.
30th El Tour de Tucson
Stephen Stratton, center, gets a welcome back hug from daughter Keira after The University of Arizona Medical Center 30th El Tour de Tucson bicycle race Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Teammate Aaron Einfrank is at left, and Damon Stratton is at right.
29th El Tour de Tucson
Cyclists southbound on Silverbell Road crossing Ina Road during the 29th El Tour de Tucson on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011.
28th El Tour de Tucson
The lead rider and pack turn northbound on Oracle Road from Ina Road during the 28th El Tour de Tucson in Tucson on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010.
27th El Tour de Tucson
Riders head over Interstate 19 on Drexel after crossing the Santa Cruz Wash during the University Medical Center 27th El Tour De Tucson, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009.
26th El Tour De Tucson
Keng-Yu Chuang proposes to his girlfriend Katherine Taylor while El Tour founder Richard DeBernardis looks on, prior to the start of the 67-mile race at the 26th annual El Tour de Tucson on Nov. 22, 2008.
26th El Tour de Tucson
Riders swarm the starting line for the 67-mile race of the 26th annual El Tour de Tucson, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008.
25th El Tour de Tucson
A cyclist falls on the steep climb up Snyder Road near Sabino Canyon Road, as a fellow cyclist does his best not to hit her. The two were among thousands that battled the steep hill after the Sabino Creek crossing during the 25th Annual El Tour de Tucson, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2007.
More than 22,600 trips have been recorded this year between 41 bike-sharing stations in Tucson.
El Tour officials noted the large number of cyclists that make up the race "were well beyond any state or local thresholds for public gatherings."
"If you're going to come for just a bike road and go home, this isn’t for you. But if you also want to say, 'I had the most amazing ride, I rode by an airplane boneyard, I had the best prickly pear margarita of my life and some amazing tamales' — it’s the overall package that we're selling.”
Sean Christian, a Tucsonan, finished the 102-mile route with a "gun time" of 3 hours, 49 minutes, 5.9 seconds.