The Tucson Bicycle Classic brings four days of road racing to four very different parts of the Tucson region, combining serious competition with some of the roads and scenery that have made Southern Arizona a winter cycling destination.
The racing begins Thursday with the Marana Time Trial, a fast 4.5-mile prologue on the Chuck Huckelberry Loop where every rider races Eddie Merckx style and the first leaders of the General Classification are determined.
Friday brings the Sahuarita Road Race, racing in the reverse direction of Tucson’s legendary Shootout route. The 20.5-mile circuit around the Helmet Peak area combines climbing, rollers, fast descents and wide-open desert roads where tactics and teamwork come into play.
On Saturday, racing moves into the heart of Tucson for the Rio Nuevo Tucson Criterium. The 0.73-mile course alongside historic Barrio Viejo features tight corners and a 180-degree turnaround, with cafés, restaurants and breweries nearby. With racing throughout the day, this may be the best stage for spectators who want to experience the speed and excitement of bike racing up close.
The weekend finishes Sunday with the Oro Valley Circuit Race, a fast and tactical 2.8-mile course featuring rolling terrain and a punchy uphill finish on Musette Drive. Spectator areas and a finish-line beer garden make the finale as much fun to watch as it is difficult to race.
Four days. Four communities. Four completely different courses. Whether you’re racing for the GC or simply want to see what competitive road cycling looks like from a few feet away, the Tucson Bicycle Classic is a great showcase of why Tucson has become one of America’s great cycling communities.
February 18–21, 2027 | Tucson, Marana, Sahuarita & Oro Valley
Take part in one of the most challenging stage races in North America, April 24-28, 2024, in and around Silver City, New Mexico. You have the chance to race on the same courses and at the same time as the top professional men and women teams during the 2024 Tour of the Gila. The Pro Women’s and Pro Men’s races are part of the UCI America Tour and the USA Cycling Pro Road Tour.
The Tour of the Gila is honored to put on a challenging and rewarding stage race. We organize men’s and women’s UCI races on the international professional stage, and include multiple amateur categories that allow racers to test their skills on the same terrain that the Pros race. Gila is a race that helps aspiring athletes gain experience to move their careers forward, whether that be to competing internationally, or simply moving up a category.
The Tour of the Gila has reworked the amateur races for 2024, with the goal of offering a better chance for racers to attend. We have a 4-day format for Men 2,3 and Women 2,3; and a 3-day race for Women 4,5, Men 4,5, and Masters Men 3,4—40+/50+/60+. The Junior Men 15/16 and 17/18 will race together in a 3-day event. With the exception of the Junior Men’s race, there is a required minimum of 30 racers for each category. Please spread the word and encourage your fellow racers to register.
Each racer will receive a swag bag at packet pick-up.
2026 TUCSON BICYCLE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY THE METEOR
Celebrating 38 years of bringing Pro and Amateur cyclists together for a 3 day stage race
What: A three-day USA Cycling stage race: Stage 1 – time trial, Stage 2 – road race, Stage 3 – circuit race. Riders MUST complete each stage in order to start the next stage. Novice riders not required to start or finish every stage. DNF riders in those groups will be allowed to start the next stage. See Tech Guide when it becomes available.
When and Where:
Time Trial Prologue –
Downtown Crit
Road Race –
Circuit Race –
For course layouts, times and venue locations see official Tech Guide. Please note that Tech Guide will be available mid-January. To stay up to date, please like and follow us on Facebook.
Entry Fees:
Men Pro/1 & Women Pro 1/2: $185
All other adult categories: $155
Juniors (13-18): when racing in a Juniors category: $65
Fees include mandatory USA Cycling daily surcharge but not the BikeReg service fee or Arizona Sales Tax.
Normal online registration closes at midnight Mountain Time on Sunday, February 15, 2024. Late Fee registration is available at 20% surcharge from February 16, 2024 until midnight Mountain Time February 18, 2024. There is no registration after February 18th, 2024 and category changes must be made prior to close of online registration. No exceptions.
New Time Trial
Friday – Feb 16th
24001 S Rainbow Valley Rd
Buckeye, AZ 85326
35+ Miles, 45 minutes from Phoenix
7:00 AM
Road Race
Saturday, Feb 17th
I-10 South of Phoenix
Exit 185 (SR 187/387)
AZ-387 & Tamarack Way
Casa Grande, AZ 85194
35 Miles, 35 minutes from
Tempe
Criterium
Sunday, Feb 18th
1900 W Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Parking @ 19th AVE
and Jefferson
The Annual Valley of the Sun Stage Race takes place in February each year in the greater Phoenix area. The Valley of the Sun bicycle race is a three-day USA Cycling event in which professional and amateur road racing cyclists compete in different categories for cash and non-cash prizes. A stage is held each day, with riders in each category competing for a stage victory and also for their category’s overall ‘General Classification race win by having the lowest cumulative time for all three stages. The stages include the Landis Cyclery – Trek Individual Time Trial on Friday, the Safeco Insurance, Parrish Agency, Road Race on Saturday, and the exciting Hiser Joy criterium on Sunday in downtown Phoenix. There are over 700 participants in 25 categories of professional and amateur riders, both men and women, ages 10 to over 60, all competing for their portion of a $20,000 cash purse.
Recognized by USA Cycling as one of the premier road cycling events in the Southwest, The Valley of the Sun Stage Race is the first event of the annual American Road Calendar. The American Road Calendar highlights top events in the U.S. for riders across various categories to put on their list of must-do events.
“The Valley of the Sun Stage Race has been a part of our Junior Development Series for many years. We are pleased to give them the recognition they deserve for providing a great experience for all categories of racers.”
Chuck Hodge, Chief of Racing and Events, USA Cycling
For the tenth year, VOS will include a Hand Cycle category. The Paralyzed Veterans Racing Team, along with the Free Wheel Foundation have been key supporters helping to drive the success of this new event. Darol Kubacz of the PVRT had this to say about VOS: “What VOS offers for the athletes is outstanding – above and beyond what most cycling events around the country have been able to offer “adapted” cyclist. I have great confidence in this event being a great experience for the beginner and advanced racer!”
Along with the three days of racing, there are events on Sunday for children under the age of 12, including a kid’s bicycle race. A portion of the proceeds from the race are donated to the SAFE KIDS Coalition of Maricopa County and the Phoenix Police Department to support child helmet safety awareness.
The Valley of the Sun Stage Race is put on by the White Mountain Road Club, and is one of the largest bicycle races in the nation. Race promoter, Brian Lemke, had this to say about the race: “It is a great opportunity for cyclists of all ages and categories to brush shoulders and race on the same course as many of the top professional and amateur riders in America.”
Please contact Race Director John Harrison zonaharrison@yahoo.com with any questions that aren’t answered on this page.
Tolero Racing is proud to host the Flapjack Flats 20K Time Trial (TT and Collegiate TTT). The time trial will be held at Picacho Peak, Arizona, just east of Picacho Peak State Park and north of the Bowlins Travel Center. This location is conveniently located halfway between Tucson and Phoenix. We will have the first rider off at 9:00 a.m. While COVID-19 measures are no longer in effect, please feel free to continue measures as you feel necessary. We do encourage riders to bring spectators.
While low traffic, racers must still stay to the right side of the road! There will be race officials on the course to enforce this rule!
START TIME
First Start will be at 9:00 a.m. Start times will be posted on this site (toleroracing.net) by 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 9th, 2024. Your start time will also be written on your bib number.
REGISTRATION
This is a USA Cycling Sanctioned Event, so you have to have an active license or purchase a One Day license (available on BikeReg when you register) to race. It’s up to you to have a current license, and Bike Reg will let you register with an expired license.
Registration will only be online at bikereg.com. Day of race registration is not available. You must sign your waiver release online when you register for the race. We will not have your waiver to sign at the event.
Registration closes Thursday, February 8th, 2024 @ 8:00 PM.
Merckx bikes are legal road bikes for mass start events (i.e. no disk wheels, tri-spoke, quad-spoke, no aero bars) just like Eddie Merckx would have ridden. There are no clothing or helmet restrictions. Any wheel that is legal for a mass start road race is legal for a Merckx race. Each wheel must have a minimum of 16 spokes, regardless of the rim depth.
PACKET PICK UP
Packet pick up will start no earlier than 7:30 AM (close at 8:45) on race day. Refer to the image below for packet location. Your number will have your start time printed on it. After receiving your packet, please follow the instructions given by the volunteers assisting with parking.
PARKING, BIB PICK-UP, WARM-UP, AND STAGING
Dirt parking lot at the BOWLINS TRAVEL CENTER, 16098 E Camino Adelante Dr., Eloy, AZ. We recommend you bring your trainers for a good warm-up. Riders may warm up on the road in a southerly direction, away from the race. Please do not congregate on the roadway.
Please do not park on or block the gas refueling pad (see “NO PARKING” area on image below); Bowlin’s may have a gas delivery on race day and they need access. Also, please park where you won’t impede the exit of those 18-wheelers that are remaining in the parking lot.
BIB # PLACEMENT
Proper placement of the bib # is necessary so our officials can accurately read your number and record your time when you cross the finish line. The photos below show the proper placement for kneelers/upright (right back) and recumbents (right leg).
TIME TRIAL COURSE
The Time Trial will be held near Picacho Peak State Park, conveniently located halfway between Tucson and Phoenix. This is a flat course. At the start, you will head north and at approximately the 10km point, execute a 180-degree turn and return to the finish. There will be no warming up on course after the first rider has started. If we have sufficient manpower available, we will have a holder available at the start. Only our official holder may be used. If no holder is available, you will start with one foot down.
While low traffic, racers must still stay to the right side of the road! There will be race officials on the course to enforce this rule!
Participants (Riders)
Finishing riders should exit the finish area after they are done racing.
Riders should discard all refuse in trash receptacles placed at the start line or bib pick-up.
DIRECTIONS
From Tucson: Take I-10 and Exit #219, turn right on to Picacho Peak State Park, turn left on E Camino Adelante Dr, parking will be on your left just past the gas pumps.
From Phoenix: Take I-10 and Exit # 219, turn left onto Picacho Pk State Park, turn left on E Camino Adelante Dr, parking will be on your left just past the gas pumps.
THE 10TH LA VUELTA A SANTA CATALINA PRESENTED BY EXPLORE PINAL COUNTY
(RACE AGAINST TIME + LA CLÁSICA SAN MANUEL)
ARIZONA’S HARDEST CRITERIUM! SAN MANUEL, AZ
FEBRUARY 3-4, 2024
(USAC PERMIT: 2024-8455)
Welcome! The UA Cycling Team and Sabino Cycles Team are excited to host the 10th Annual Santa Catalina Weekend. The weekend features LaClásica San Manuel and the Race Against Time This event also serves as a fundraiser for a scholarship for the Mammoth-San Manuel Unified School District! See BikeReg on how to support this fund.
All events start and finish in San Manuel.
The tech guide, with course maps, start times, and elevation charts, can be found here
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! My gift for you is all the rides all in one place.
If you would do me a favor in return (It’s actually for you), can you take 90 seconds and fill this from out.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dYZtqKFdnyz_ILEUxz3HBMTN_fcW7P_RlV8plJ5AzE/viewform.It is for putting a Velodrome on the next bond election. I appreciate that many of you will never use this, but it is good for the cycling community as a whole. The day will come when your single track, BMX track or favorite road is in need of support and I’ll be asking others to step up and support you as well. This is about making Southern Arizona the best cycling community in the Universe.
This weeks Community Ride List includes rides for the next few weeks. Personally, I’m planning my rides over the vacation and it was nice to see everything for a few weeks in one place. Tucson MTB puts out a list of the 8 days of Mountain Bike Rides. This list helps expand that to the 15 Mountain Bike Rides. If the road is your thing there are 19 rides over the holiday season. That does not even include the standard weekly rides.
Looking for Motivation in 2015? Check out the race section. Mountain Biking Associaion and USA Cycling posted their spring races and they are all listed here as well as some charity events.
This list is a major time commitment and it is my pleasure to put it together. All I ask in return for the list is that you remember I’m A REALTOR. If you have a relationship with another REALTOR, I love loyalty and respect those relationships. However, if not, or if you need a second opinion, Please keep me in mind. Many agents spend money advertising for new business, others sit open houses or cold call. My business is based on referrals from past clients and friends. The less time I have to do traditional prospecting the more I can do for the cycling community. For example: this list.
Held under USAC Permit # (TBA)
