P&S Specialized Mexican Cycling Team a Constant Winner in Tucson

Reprinted with permission from Perimeter Bicycling Association

By Francisco Romero . – The P&S Specialized Cycling Team from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico has taken the cycling world of Southern Arizona by storm.

P&S’s emergence has been a bit monsoon-like when it comes to participating in El Tour, where since 2006 four different P&S members have placed no lower than 10^th.  There have been four first-place finishes in the main race (107-111 Mile).

They’ve made the podium their home the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

So, watch out Special Olympics 32^nd El Tour de Tucson presented b Casino Del Sol Resort participants.

“We absolute enjoy competing in El Tour de Tucson… other teams, other cyclists already know who we are and want to compete against us,” said Manuel Sanchez, the first-place finisher in the 81-mile event.  “But at the end of the day, at the end of the race is my favorite moment (because) all of us become one big cycling family, team members and the competitors alike embrace each other, it is just an amazing atmosphere.”

And there’s nothing like being at the top.  That’s where Juan Magallanes found himself after outworking the others to finish first in last year’s 107-mile event.

Magallanes is expected back in 2014.

Like most of its member Manuel Sanchez started cycling as a hobby.

“I started mountain biking, then I was invited to join the P&S cycling team and the rest is history,” said Sanchez.  “Now my priorities are my family, my job and cycling.”

Most recently, cycling has been a near-the-top priority.  They’ve been preparing for El Tour for months.

According to Sanchez the team has been getting ready for El Tour de Tucson, coming up November 22^nd. 

The team latest accomplishment was in late September as four of its members combined to finish first in the Arizona Team Time Trial Championships Master Category in Arizona City.  Luis Chacon won the individual race.

David Salomon, Ernesto Yberri, Luis Chacon and Manuel Sanchez finished with a time of 38:48 in the 40K.

It is the third year in a row that the team has accomplished the feat.

“We compete with a lot pride, we have a very disciplined and competitive team,” said Manuel Sanchez.  “We feed of each other, we motivate each other to keep going.”

For Sanchez, Tucson isn’t just the team’s favorite place to compete, but he has also

taken it a step further and has made Tucson a favorite destination for the family.

Tucson is not only the team’s favorite place to compete, but Manuel has taken it a step further and has made the Old Pueblo a favorite destinations.

“It is the perfect city for cyclists,” Sanchez said.  “It is just amazing how the bike paths are designed for either a joy ride or to train for our competitions.”

What makes P&S so unique is the team is as eclectic as they come and come from varied walks of life.  The team is made up of lawyers, accountants, and engineers and only a handful of full time cyclists, its sole Olympic member is Hector Hugo Rangel who participated in 2012 in London.

“Because of the make-up of our team, some our members train early in the morning and others train late ate night, my training starts at four in the morning.”

P&S Specialized Cycling team success is having a great impact in the City of Hermosillo and the State of Sonora.  Soccer may have the biggest fan following in Mexico, but since 2006 the P&S Cycling team has had the greatest success in various categories.

According to Sanchez they are working together with Sonoran local and state government officials on various issues such as, developing bike routes throughout the state, driver’s education and awareness of cyclists and encouraging the youth to practice the sport.

The team’s next goal is to add more women and have them ready to compete as soon as possible.  The team currently has three women actively training.