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Cyclists from all over the world pedal into Tucson every year to participate in the historic event as a personal goal or with the idea of conquering “The Tour.�

This year’s routes for the 102-mile and 63-mile races will be different from past years due to major construction projects, including on Valencia Road, that will interfere with two of the tour’s routes, said El Tour Executive Director TJ Juskiewicz.

The route will veer slightly off track along that stretch of Valencia.

“It affects us a little bit about 2 to 3 miles of the course,� he said.

The route tweaks are needed to keep cyclists safe and traffic flowing throughout the community, Juskiewicz said. The two-year Valencia Road construction project will impact the race route east of the airport this year and next.

Juskiewicz estimated the race has 1,400 more participants than last year’s roughly 10,000.

Steve Morganstern, who owns Bicycle Ranch Tucson and has competed in the race for 15 years, said he’s not concerned about the changes in the route.

“They have maintained pretty much the same route that we’ve had and plan to have for a number of years without changing it all the time,� he said.

Bicycle Ranch is one of many bike shops to either sponsor and/or have participants ride in El Tour.

“Some years I might be going for myself, some years we may actually be working as a team to get someone else towards the front. There’s a lot of team tactics,� Morganstern said.

Last year’s 102-mile champion Chloe Dygert is unlikely to defend her title at this year’s tour, but she is featured alongside British cycling great and Olympic gold medalist Sir Bradley Wiggins in the five-day that begins Wednesday, Nov. 19, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 23.

The men’s champion, Tucson native Tyler Stites, has not confirmed if he is coming back to defend his crown this year.

“We’re still a month out,� Juskiewicz said in late October. “We hope to have Tyler back.�

This year’s event theme is connected to celebrating Tucson’s 250th birthday.

“We’ve made the theme very Tucsonie. Our posters feature Barrio Viejo, which is one of the oldest communities,� said Juskiewicz.

El Tour also has made specialty racing jerseys commemorating the 250th birthday, which can be found on .