Love Cycling? El Tour de Zona Returns to Cochise County!

• El Tour de Zona is an annual four-day cycling event in Cochise County
• From Thursday, March 21 through Sunday, March 24, 500 cyclists from around the world will participate
• Event Information: events, road closures, live music schedule

El Tour de Zona Returns to Sierra Vista

After last year's successful cycling event in Cochise County, El Tour de Zona is returning for another pass at Sierra Vista.

About 500 cyclists from across the globe will visit Sierra Vista this weekend to participate in El Tour de Zona. This four-day cycling event and festival will take place from Thursday, March 21st to Sunday, March 24th.

The event is brought to Cochise County by Perimeter Bicycling. Now in its third year, the event will host participants from about 24 states and four countries.

READ MORE: Sierra Vista is a designated bicycle-friendly community

Thirty percent of the people registered this year will travel to Cochise County from outside of Arizona. They'll have the opportunity to take in the beauty of Sierra Vista and our surrounding communities.

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El Tour de Zona: The Routes

Three separate rides are scheduled this weekend, all will begin and end in Sierra Vista's Veterans Memorial Park.

Veterans Park is the event hub and the heart of the festival. The public is invited to attend the events which will feature live music, food trucks, and a beer garden.

The event hub is called Zona in the Park, and events will occur throughout the weekend, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Admission is free and open to everyone.

El Tour de Zona: The Rides

On Friday, March 22, participants will ride a 27-mile course to Ramsey Canyon Preserve taking in the scenic views of the Huachuca Mountains.

Saturday riders will head to Bisbee and back to Sierra Vista. The course is 63 miles along a counterclockwise loop that heads down Highway 92 and returns down Highway 90.

Sunday, the cyclists will saddle up for a 36-mile ride to Tombstone and back, using Charleston Road both ways.

Road Closures and Considerations Around Cochise County for El Tour de Zona

On Sunday, March 24th, Charleston Road will be closed between Louis Road in Tombstone and Moson Road near Sierra Vista from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drivers should plan to take an alternate route.

Only emergency vehicles and residents with active addresses along Charleston Road will be allowed to drive through the area.

Throughout the weekend, drivers should also be mindful of cyclists in Sierra Vista on Friday, March 22, and along the highways between Sierra Vista and Bisbee on Saturday, March 23.

El Tour de Zona benefits VeloVets, a local nonprofit organization that supports local military veterans, including many with disabilities, through the physical and mental benefits of cycling together.

Live Music in Veterans Park: Zona in the Park Lineup

The public is welcome to join the fun in Veterans Memorial Park throughout the weekend. The festivities will happen Thursday, March 21, through Saturday, March 23.

Admission is free, and live music will be featured every day at the Centennial Pavilion. Beer and food will be available for purchase.

El Tour de Zona Entertainment Schedule:

• Corey Spector: Thursday, March 21, 1 – 5 p.m.
• Billy Chill: Thursday, March 21, 5 – 8 p.m.
• New Devotion Motown Revue: Friday, March 22, 1 – 5 p.m.
• RockUs: Friday, March 22 | 5 – 8 p.m.
• Ritmo de Sanches: Saturday, March 23, 5 – 8 p.m.

Information courtesy of the City of Sierra Vista.