Ralph Phillips: ‘I feel honored’ to be the Dedication Recipient for 42nd El Tour

Few people know cycling – in Tucson and abroad – more than Ralph Phillips.

El Tour de Tucson officials have long recognized that, given his longstanding relationship with Perimeter Bicycling and El Tour.

It’s the reason why Ralph will be the Dedication Recipient for the 42^nd El Tour de Tucson on Nov. 22, 2025.

“I feel very honored,” Phillips said of the honor. “I feel great about it. It came as a total surprise. I soaked in the honor and said, ‘thank you.’”

No, thank you Ralph for being part of El Tour for more than 30 years – as a cyclist-turned-analyst all these years.

“It is way past the time to recognize the ‘Godfather’ of Tucson cycling by recognizing Ralph Phillips as this year’s El Tour de Tucson Dedication Recipient,” said TJ Juskiewicz, El Tour’s executive director. “For over 50 years, Ralph and Fair Wheel Bikes have served the cycling community. In addition to running the bike shop, he founded the world-renowned Shootout and has served as El Tour de Tucson’s race announcer.  I’m sure everyone will agree it’s time to recognize Ralph for all he has done for our amazing cycling community!”

Phillips, 74, has been associated with El Tour since the mid-1980s as he assisted El Tour founder Richard DeBernardis with the ride, later becoming the event’s announcer in the mid-1990s.

In 1985, he finished third in the event and finished fifth a year later. He rode in El Tour more than a handful of times.

He hasn’t missed once since, being a mainstay and staple in the pace car giving out his insights on the race’s leaders. He was a bit taken aback, given he’d never been on the radio before much less talked about a ride.

“I was scared (about doing that) because I had never commented on things like that before,” he said. “Then, I got emotional about it because it was a bike race and I had bike raced for so long. I was excited but then I got pulled in (and told) ‘you can’t say that on the radio.’ I got bleeped a few times.”

Thirty some years later he’s still doing it, popping his head out of the pace car once in awhile to see who is among the leaders of the big ride. He and Big Al have been partners in the car for more than 20 years.

“I like (doing it) now, I really do,” he said. “One of the big pluses is having Big Al with me. He’s a professional. We discuss things and he knows how to present things. I’m learning, well, after 20 years I hope I’m learning. He’s a big help.”

If anything, Phillips knows cycling – especially in Tucson, given he’s owned Fair Wheel Bikes for 51 years.

He was first an employee at what is now the oldest bike shop in Tucson. He purchased it in the 1970s for $10,000 while studying for his LSAT.

He’s never looked back …

“It wasn’t the easiest thing to do,” he said, of becoming a bike shop owner. “I had no idea it would be that difficult, but I love riding. I could show up at 10 in the morning after my ride and it was great. That’s what my passion was. It still is.”

That’s understandable, given his love for cycling. He still rides.

Back in the day, he raced in the United States Cycling Foundation and was a Cat 2 cyclist. He traveled throughout the west and southwest to race.

It’s another reason why he’s good at what he does in the pace car – that analysis of his.

“I can tell how much effort they are putting into the race,” he said. “What the odds are in succeeding in it. I know from my gut what is happening.”

Now, 30 years into helping with El Tour, it brings him “a different kind of joy. I like working with Big Al and I know a lot of people in the Peloton. I do enjoy it. And I look forward to it every year.”