Sports

Around El Tour

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.23.2008

Waiting for a train

Denny Vaughan, 43, of Tucson has ridden in 10 El Tour races, but Saturday was the first time he could remember cyclists having to wait for trains to pass.

The lead pack in the 109-mile race of four cyclists from Mexico waited 40 seconds for a freight train to pass near Interstate 10 and Tangerine Road. A second pack of cyclists waited about a minute and a half for another train, said Vaughan, who finished 14th.

"It's just timing," he said. "If we had been there four minutes earlier, we wouldn't have been stopped by the train."

By the numbers

4,539

Number of cyclists in the 109-mile event

1,517

Record number of cyclists in the 35-mile event

Capping off the day

Spotted on helmets throughout the day:

Yellow pompoms, saguaro cactus, Nebraska Huskers mini flag, red, black, yellow, white pipe cleaners in the shape of a mohawk, peacock feathers, dorsal fins, Santa Claus hats, silver Hershey's kisses

By the numbers

166

Bike patrollers on Saturday

She said it

'It's gorgeous. I love it here. To be here and not have to wear every thermal outfit and article of clothing is great.'

Women's 109-mile winner, Erica Allar, of Fogelsville, Pa.

By the numbers

1,387

Number of cyclists in the 67-mile race

Pit stop before the race

As thousands of cyclists waited for the start of the 109-mile race at 7 a.m., the master of ceremonies asked, "Anyone got to go to the bathroom?"

That joke that has become an El Tour tradition. Dozens of cyclists raised their hands.