About Holualoa Companies 29th El Tour de Mesa!
This bicycling event is for cyclists of all ages and abilities who ride the perimeter of Mesa and enjoy the beautiful scenery as they circle Red Mountain. El Tour, with 2,000 riders in the various distances, is the centerpiece of CycloMesa, a bicycling celebration that includes a zip line, rock wall, BMX Freestyle Show, the Kid’s Zone and more!
Saturday April 6, 2019 will bring the 29th edition of the Valley’s premier Perimeter Bicycling event – El Tour de Mesa! Cyclists choose a metric century or half century or the Fun Ride of 10 or 5 miles. There is a ride distance for everyone and opportunities to earn gifts, prizes and awards.
El Tour benefits Marc Community Resources, Inc. , Uphill Into the Wind and other Perimeter Bicycling Charities. Your registration through Perimeter Bicycling benefits these great charities with a minimum contribution you can maximize your dollars and be a fundraiser in on of the special programs – check them out HERE.
Start and Finish Locations.
The long “main event” distance: 100K (61 mi)
Start Time: 6:30 am
Metric Century – follow a scenic course with the beautiful and rugged backdrop of the Salt River Recreation Area and Tonto National Forest , circumnavigating the East Valley’s iconic landmark, Red Mountain. The Start/Finish Line is in downtown Mesa, AZ on Center Street just north of 2nd Street. Check out the route HERE.
The short “main event” distance: 50K (34 mi)
Start time: 8:30 am
The distance features a remote start at Red Mountain Ranch Elementary School: 6650 Raftriver in Mesa, close to Thomas and Bush Hwy. It will finish in downtown Mesa, AZ with the other events. We expect to have a shuttle from the finish line back to the school if you’ve not made other arrangements. More info will be announced at Expo/Packet pickup.
The 2018 event route info
Download the 2018 Route Map HERE 
Click here for the 100K (metric century) cue sheet
Click here for the Elevation Charts
Click here for the 50K (metric half century) cue sheet
Click here for MapMyRide file metric century
Click here for MapMyRide file metric half century
El Tour has two “main event” distances (100k & 50k) and two Fun Ride distances (5 & 11 miles). All distances finish in downtown Mesa. The 50k distance starts at Red Mountain Elementary School (see below).
Start Times:
100k 6:30am
50k: 8:30am
Fun Ride: 11:00am
Your GPS or map software can help you find the Mesa Convention Center, but there will be ROAD CLOSURES Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7 for the events. The information below will help you get around.
Friday April 5:
Center St will be closed to traffic between Main St and University from 6:00 pm Friday, April 6 to begin setting up the Start/Finish Line. Center St will be closed until 3:00 pm on Saturday, April 5.
DIRECTIONS: Exit the Superstition Fwy (US 60) or Red Mountain Loop 202 at Country Club exit, then head toward downtown Mesa. Turn east on University then south on Center. The Mesa Convention Center is on the east side of Center just south of University.
NO OVERNIGHT PARKING
IN THE MESA CONVENTION CENTER LOTS.
Saturday, April 6
CENTER ST from Main St to University Dr will be closed for El Tour’s start/finish line and CycloMesa.
There are parking lots throughout downtown Mesa http://azbikefest.org/maps.aspx
No parking in the Mesa Convention Center lot– that’s where the Festival will happen.
ALLOW YOURSELF EXTRA TIME FOR PARKING, even if you’ve been to the area before.
2019 Route Map: (2019 Route is the same route as 2018) View or Download the 2018 Route Map HERE
Downtown Mesa is the site for:
start & finish of the 100k event
start & finish of the FUN RIDES (5 & 10 mile events) 2018 Fun Ride Map available soon
finish of the 50k event
Parking for Downtown Mesa
The 50k event – starts at Red Mountain Elementary School
- 6650 Raftriver, Mesa Googlemap: HERE
- finishes in Downtown Mesa – see maps above
- GETTING BACK TO YOUR CAR:
There will be a free bike valet at the finish line and a shuttle available to take you (not your bike) back to your car. Why not you AND your bike? There’s a space limit on the vans so to get more people to their cars, the bikes have to stay behind. Look for the SHUTTLE flag on event day:- shuttles START at 10:30am
- last van leaves at 1:30pm
TONTO NATIONAL FOREST ROAD CLOSURE
This segment of the route is the most scenic. With Saguaro Lake access on this part, special traffic control was established in association with Tonto National Forest. It will take place between 8:00am and 11:00am to allow both cyclists and motorists to share Bush Hwy south of Beeline (Hwy 87) to Usery Pass:
8:00am – 11:00am
The southbound lane of Bush Hwy will be restricted to bicyclists only
The northbound lane will be controlled by a pilot car for all motor traffic.
The FUN RIDES: 10 miles and 5 miles.
Start time: 11:00 am
Starting and finishing in downtown Mesa, where the “big ride” starts, these short, easy rides are ideal for the new or inexperienced cyclists or those who just want to be part of the fun. The 10 and 5-milers features an easy course for adults and kids of all ages. Check out the Fun Ride page for updates.
Finish Line activities are combined with CycloMesa (see below).
Saturday’s Festival Activities
CycloMesa: Unchained Bicycle Festival
April 6, 2019 9am-2pm
CycloMesa, Mesa’s family friendly bicycle festival is back for a 9th year! Amidst the finishline of EL Tour de Mesa, CycloMesa a zooming zip line, rock walls, bungee trampolines, BMX stunt shows, inflatables, food trucks, live music and more! This free event attracts thousands of people to Downtown Mesa each spring for a day filled with fun activity celebrating all things bike. Please join us as we welcome over 1,500 riders, their families and the community for a day of excitement!
Finish Line Fiesta is accompanied by a beer garden, vendors, food trucks and more! It’s an opportunity to see, hear, feel and experience bicycling. Enjoy the festivities on streets closed to motorized traffic and watch the finishers of El Tour! El Tour’s Grand Cycling Awards Ceremony will be on stage at CycloMesa – join the fun and celebrate cycling!
Arizona Bicycling Summit. 
Be a part of this meeting of the minds for bicycle and pedestrian safety launch CycloMesa on Friday, April 5th. Hosted by Az Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals, Coalition of Arizona Bicyclists, City of Mesa. Check it out and join the conversation!
Volunteer! Not riding this year? We need your help! Volunteering for El Tour de Mesa is almost as fun as riding in the event. Sign up is quick and easy, choose an position here:
Photo by Ed Tunstall