Other articles by Sarah Trotto:

Korn pulls off amazing upset to win shot put Freshman proves she has backbone D-backs' top minor-league pitcher in '07 struggling at Triple-A in '08 Memphis' Barden all shook up in '07 Back in baseball's empire

Other articles by Casey Crowe:

Relay teams grab gold for local schoolsWalkoff single in 8th eliminates Catalina FoothillsCooper's record-tying HR advances Catalina Nighthawks don't dally after rallying for win Stepter sweeps hurdles events to spark Dorados

Health Care
Visiting Angels
Caregivers Education
Indian Oasis Baboquivari Unified School District
Teachers / Principals Health Care
Mountain View Retirement Village
LPN Trades/Construction
arizona portland cement
maintenance electrician Dental
Dr. John Carson, DDS, PC
Dental Asst/Treatment Coordinator Driver/Transportation
Allied Building Products
Driver / Rooftop Loader General
Chapel Haven West
Program Staff

As Tucson native Rob Alvarez made his way onto the final stretch of Congress Street nearing the last turn toward the El Tour de Tucson finish line, he was tailing tandem Chris DeMarchi and Gil Correa, using the duo to pull him through the finish line among the top 10.

"(Alvarez) yelled at us as we were coming down toward the end, that if we pushed it as hard as possible, he was going to throw us 50 bucks or take us out for a nice dinner after this was over. So we said all right," DeMarchi said.

It worked out smoothly for both sides. DeMarchi and Correa floored it for the home stretch, and Alvarez followed suit to place 10th.

"Told them that if they keep going like they were, then the steak was on me," said Alvarez, 31, who has previously finished as high as fourth. "I'll be true to my word on that one. They went."

El Tour was again successful in raising money for its major charities.

Race publicity director Melanie Rineer said the race raised $1.4 million for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, $250,000 for Tu Nidito children and family services, $50,000 for the American Parkinson Disease Association and $20,000 for the Water for People charity that promotes providing safe drinking water to communities.

Adam Zeldin, a 17-year-old Tucson High School senior, has been an avid cyclist since February.

He was looking forward to riding in his first El Tour on Saturday, but those plans were scrapped after he was hit by a truck last weekend, his family said.

Zeldin said he was riding his bike eastbound in a bike lane on Broadway near Euclid Avenue when a truck struck him near the intersection. Zeldin said he hit the truck's grill and windshield before hitting the ground. He said he was traveling at 25 mph while the truck was probably moving at 10 mph. The driver was cited, said Zeldin's mother, Nancy.

He sustained torn ligaments in his left knee and scraped elbows. While supporting friends at Saturday's race, he wore a brace on the knee and walked with a cane. He handed out food and water for members of his team, Syncardia.

"I was really upset not to be on my bike," Zeldin said. "I'm really upset I'm not going to be on my bike for quite some time."

Zeldin will undergo knee surgery and be out of cycling for at least six months, though he hopes to return.

Last month, Zeldin participated in Critical Mass, a safety ride that promotes bicycle awareness in the community.

Asked what he learned from the accident, Zeldin said: "Cars don't see you, even if you think they do."

Kansas City, Mo., resident Walt Hutchings, 54, didn't have any delusions of grandeur.

"If I could break six hours, I was going to go home satisfied. And I did," said Hutchings, who rode El Tour for the sixth straight year. "I was out here for the weather, too. By now it's usually snowing back home. This is the place to be this time of the year."

Hutchings didn't end up in the top 1,000, but he beat the mark he was aiming for and said he'll be back next year for 109 more miles.

Gilbert resident Luke Dale, 42, trained 200 miles a week for multiple months in preparation for his fifth Tour. He made his way onto Grande in 4 hours 29 minutes, good enough for the 123rd spot.

"Tucson comes together to put this race on. That stands out," said Dale, of Team Focus.

"People are willing to come from all over the world down here to take part in this because it is one of the premier events."