43rd El Tour de Tucson Launches Free Youth Registration DOGs of Tucson Sponsors Youth Under Age 18

April 16, 2026

El Tour registration opens April 16 at noon pacific time

TUCSON, Arizona. (April 16, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Perimeter Bicycling of America has partnered with the DOGS of Tucson cycling group to offer free El Tour registration for all youth under age 18 to help develop the next generation of cyclists.

You can register here: 43rd El Tour de Tucson. Registration opens at noon pacific time on April 16.

Young riders can ride the 32-, 63-, 102-mile El Tour routes or the Fun ride for free when they sign up with a parent or guardian when El Tour registration opens April 16, 2026.

El Tour is the largest and most popular road cycling event in the United States, with more than 10,000 participants riding or racing in 2025 — 800 of which were youth under the age of 18.

“We expect that number to more than double with free registration in 2026, and continue to surge given the LA2028 Olympics excitement,” said El Tour Executive Director TJ Juskiewicz.

El Tour youth cyclists reflect the PeopleForBikes 2024 study results which showed US youth participation increased at 35% — making youth the largest growing rider segment.

The Tucson DOGS cycling club was founded in 2000, and its 400-person membership reflects Tucson’s broad base of avid road, track, mountain and gravel cyclists.

“The DOGS believe El Tour is the ideal way to motivate our youth to ride and race in our desert terrain and on the Tucson Loop and Velodrome we all enjoy,” said Reg Dowdall, DOGS Founder.

In support of its youth cycling programs, the Tucson Velodrome will award a free Velodrome Certification session to all under-18 youth who finish the 63- and 102-mile El Tour routes. Perimeter Cycling is also collaborating with youth cycling groups including El Grupo Youth Cycling to offer youth cycling training and will be sharing details of the program by May 1 so youth can practice safety and skills for El Tour de Tucson on Nov. 21, 2026.

Be sure to follow El Tour and DOGs at:

El Tour Facebook: facebook.com/ElTourdeTucson

El Tour Instagram: @tourdetucson

Strava for El Tour

DOGs Instagram: @DOGSOFTUCSONCYLING