The El Tour De Tucson concluded with an exhilarating award ceremony, celebrating the achievements of cyclists across various categories. Participants expressed their emotions as they crossed the finish line, climbed the podium, and accepted their trophies. Many were accompanied by friends and family, making the moment even more special.
Riders Share Their Experiences
Cyclist duo Riley Wraith and Chase Bullis reflected on the thrill of the race. Wraith, an enthusiastic cyclist with the Arizona Cycling Association, noted, “I would say that biking is definitely one of the best sports, but I’m biased. It gets you outside, allows you to do a lot of things, and meet new people.” Bullis added, “I was happy finishing as well because I was a little tired because it was windy. But I felt really good finishing.”
Despite only starting their training a week prior to the event, Wraith achieved an impressive third place in the 62-mile juniors category. “It was definitely exciting,” Wraith stated, “because I was exhausted from basically sprinting the last seven miles with all these really fast people.”
Adaptive Champion’s Journey
In the adaptive category for the 102-mile event, Tracy LaMarche claimed victory, sharing her emotional journey throughout the race. “There are so many emotions,” LaMarche expressed. “It goes from being down in the doldrums and thinking, ‘I cannot do this, what did I sign up for?’ to riding along at 28-29 miles an hour and thinking, ‘Oh my God, I can do this.'”
LaMarche emphasized the feelings of triumph that accompany such achievements, stating, “Just the elation that happens and the feeling of empowerment that comes across when that happens is incredible.” She acknowledged that her success stemmed from teamwork and rigorous training. “This is my first year riding and racing,” she explained. “All this year has just been getting familiar with being on a bike and how to pedal, how to pedal with one leg because I do not use my right leg to cycle.”
Looking ahead, LaMarche has set her sights on the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles. “This was a huge mental boost for me to think that I might actually have the skill level to get there,” she said, reflecting on her aspirations following this significant accomplishment.
The El Tour De Tucson continues to be a platform for cyclists of all backgrounds, showcasing their dedication and passion for the sport. As the event wraps up this year, participants are already looking forward to future races and the challenges that lie ahead.
