Description

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo (24HOP) is one of the oldest and largest 24-hour races in the world.

24-hour races are nearly extinct, but while dozens of other 24-hour races have died out over the years, this 21-year-old race keeps chugging along! "The event draws over 3,000 people annually, racing it solo, duo, or in teams of 4 or more," [writes](https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-events/24-hours-in-the-sunny-old-pueblo-race-recap/) mountain bike journalist Helena Kotala.

"Big names in endurance racing come here to test their mettle, some putting in 20+ laps solo (that's over 300 miles!)." While you can, of course, [sign up](https://www.epicrides.com/events/24-hours-in-the-old-pueblo/event-guide/) for the race in February, you can also choose to pedal the course on your own at any time of the year.

The route is specifically optimized for 24-hour racing, with miles of smooth singletrack and segments of dirt road and doubletrack for passing.

"The course is generally smooth, flowy, and fast, with just a couple technical sections, mostly near the end," writes Kotala.

"The most sketchy thing about the riding itself are the cacti that are dangerously close to the side of the trail — hit a turn too hot and you might have a body part full of spines — but you quickly get used to their presence." The course does include one tech section called the "Rock Drop," which appears specially designed as a spot for spectators to watch—and heckle—the racers as they pass through.

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo has long reigned as one of the premier events in endurance mountain bike racing.

This storied racing history has bled over into the rest of the Tucson mountain biking scene, and is largely responsible for the renown the region has gained.

Whether you sign up for the race by yourself, with friends, or just decide to pedal the course at a leisurely pace, you're guaranteed to have a fantastic time in the Sonoran Desert! Source: https://www.epicrides.com/events/24-hours-in-the-old-pueblo/ https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-events/24-hours-in-the-sunny-old-pueblo-race-recap/