Dear El Tour Cyclists, Teams, Sponsors and Partners:
After carefully monitoring the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and an abundance of caution for the safety and wellness of our cyclists, volunteers, staff and the communities through which we pass, the 38th Banner - University Medicine El Tour de Tucson has been postponed to Saturday, April 10, 2021. The event was originally scheduled for November 21, 2020.
This is a heart-breaking decision as we were looking forward to a great event with a new route in 2020. We have been working tirelessly with local officials, as well as our newly formed medical advisory board, to ensure we were planning for the event according to public health guidelines. The organizers carefully monitored the evolving pandemic and consulted with a multitude of local and national health and safety officials and other event directors to base any decisions.
Although various protocols and processes of mitigating health concerns were explored as we attempted to conduct the event responsibly and safely, we still concluded that it would not be feasible to host this mass participation event as originally scheduled. The massive crowds of cyclists that are a part of El Tour were well beyond any state or local thresholds for public gatherings.
We have been holding out hope that the coronavirus pandemic would let up enough to allow us to welcome thousands of cyclists from all over the world in the traditional November timeframe. Our top priority has always the safety of everyone involved with the event and feel this is the most prudent decision.
All registered participants will have the option to roll their registration to the postponed date of April 10, 2021 or defer their registration to the 39th El Tour de Tucson that will be held in the traditional weekend before Thanksgiving timeframe of November 20, 2021.
There will also be virtual options announced soon for El Tour riders and teams to safely experience the joys of the ride this November.
El Tour has been part of the Tucson community for nearly four decades, raising over $100 million for local, national and international charities. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced us to postpone the event until spring, but this allows our riders to challenge themselves to ride in an unprecedented two El Tour de Tucson events in the same calendar year.
Keep riding and stay safe!
Sincerely,
TJ Juskiewicz, Executive Director - El Tour De Tucson