Holualoa Companies 26th El Tour de Mesa honors Olympic Cyclist Nelson Vails

Thursday, February 4th, 2016

Nelson Vails, 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist is the 2016 Holualoa Companies 26th El Tour de Mesa Dedication Recipient.

Nelson Vails, 1984 Olympic Silver Medalist is Holualoa Companies 26th El Tour de Mesa Dedication Recipient.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Richard J. DeBernardis, president & CEO of Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc., announced that the 2016 Holualoa Companies El Tour de Mesa, scheduled for April 2, is dedicated to Nelson Vails – Olympic Silver Medalist, 1984 – who will be honored at the Thursday, March 31 Dedication Dinner at the Mesa Convention Center.

Vails is the first, and only, African American cyclist to win a medal at the Olympic Games. His improbable ascension from New York City bike messenger to the podium at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games, catapulted him to the world stage. Nelson Vails was known as “the fastest cat in the concrete jungle” and the cycling world dubbed him the “Cheetah.” Vails has committed his life to inspiring others around the world to overcome the odds and become their own champion.

DeBernardis also announced that Holualoa Companies remains the event’s title sponsor for the 11th year in a row. Holualoa Companies is a real estate investment and development company headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The primary beneficiaries for 2016 are Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Uphill Into The Wind; supporting beneficiaries include ALSMarc Community ResourcesNational MS Society AZ Chapter, and The Winded Foundation.

About El Tour de Mesa
El Tour, Central Arizona’s premier springtime cycling event, will be capped at 2,000 cyclists and will utilize the help of more than 400 volunteers. El Tour de Mesa is the centerpiece of CycloMesa, a three-day bicycling celebration that includes the El Tour Criterium State Championship (short-course races on city streets), the Arizona Bicycling Summit, a beer garden, a food-truck alley and live music. Since its inception, the event has seen more than 21,000 participants and has raised more than $400,000 for charity. This year’s event is also supported by AZ-TV, Berge FordCity of MesaDakotaPro.bizDowntown Mesa AssociationMC Media GroupPactimoParagon Cycling, Safeway, Two-wheel Jones BicyclesValley Guide / Madden Media and Visit Mesa.

Cyclists can choose to ride either 72 miles or 28 miles. The 72-milers will ride clockwise around the perimeter of scenic Red Mountain, beginning at 6:15 a.m. The Start/Finish Line is still in downtown Mesa on Center Street just north of 2nd Street. The 28-mile cyclists will begin at 8:45 a.m. at a “remote” start at Red Mountain RanchElementary School (6650 E. Raftriver St. in Mesa, close to Thomas and Bush Hwy.) It will finish in downtown Mesawith the other events. Children, their families, beginners or folks who just want to pedal in the sun can ride 11 miles or 6 miles in the El Tour Fun Ride beginning at 11:00am.

Perimeter Bicycling Association of America, Inc. is a non-profit organization responsible for the production of three major cycling events in Arizona, including El Tour de Mesa, Cochise County Cycling Classic, October 8 and the 34th El Tour de Tucson presented by Casino del Sol Resort, November 19, as well as El Tour 10K/5K Run, September 17.

Applications can be found online at http://www1.perimeterbicycling.com/el-tour-de-mesa/. Packet pick-up is Friday, April 1 from 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 North Center Street,Mesa, AZ. Free parking. Participants for the Fun Ride can also register on event day. For more information, call (520) 745-2033 visit www.perimeterbicycling.com, follow on Twitter @tourdemesa  or find us on Facebook @ElTour de Mesa.

#TourDeMesa  #cyclomesa  #ElTourCrit #MCLifeRocks #ALSAZ #ElTourCrit #MyDowntownMesa

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