Kick-off to El Tour de Tucson on Saturday

TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — With just under two months until El Tour de Tucson, the cycling event kicked off on Saturday, September 21, at Rillito Park.

Cyclists ride the Chuck Huckelbery Loop during the Pima County El Tour Loop de Loop, which also promotes some of El Tour de Tucson's nonprofit partners.

TJ Juskiewicz, executive director of Perimeter Bicycling, says nonprofits promote their causes and try to recruit people to be cyclists on their teams. The race is hosted by Perimeter Bicycling.

“We have 43 different nonprofit booths today, 75 of which are nonprofits involved in El Tour de Tucson. What they are doing today is talking to the riders,” Juskiewicz said.

According to El Tour de Tucson, charities raised just over $6 million in 2023.

“This is a big deal for these charities, for some of them it is the biggest fundraiser of the year,” the executive director said.

This launch event is in its seventh year and Juskiewicz says it's the people who make it so great.

“There are just great people in this community,” he said. “It's a cycling community, people just like to get out and ride their bikes.”

This year's El Tour de Tucson will take place on Saturday, November 23rd. Organizers expect about 10,000 participants for this year's event.