A 102-mile desert century where the lack of one big climb makes sustained group speed the real course

The 102-mile flagship starts and finishes at the Tucson Convention Center and makes a broad paved-road loop through the Sonoran Desert south and east of downtown. The official 2026 map lists 2,887 feet of climbing, so the defining demands are economical group speed, position, fueling, and exposure over a full century rather than sustained mountain passes. The decisive problem is preserving speed and position for 102 miles without treating the modest elevation as permission to over-ride the opening half.

For the rider aiming to complete El Tour de Tucson strongly on seven to eleven hours a week, this twelve-week plan builds economical group speed, positioning, fueling discipline, and late-race durability for the chip-timed 102-mile Sonoran Desert loop.

INSIDE THE FINISHER PLAN — 7–11 HR/WK

Includes zone-tailored structured rides for your devices, built-in strength with video walkthroughs, heat protocols for when your race calls for them, peloton skills workouts, and nutrition and hydration guidance.

Questions? Great. Hit me up at support@roadielabs.com.