March 31, 2007 (Phoenix, AZ) – Steve Bauer and Tim Lefebvre from Team RACE took on over 1,000 starters at the 16th edition of the El Tour de Phoenix. Bauer, who was honoured as the event chose to dedicate this year’s edition to him, led the riders out on the 118km (74 mile) course that would take a single loop through Mesa and Phoenix over the Usery Pass.

With complete police protection and impressive eight-lane road ways the riders literally flew out of town onto the desert loop. John Simonson from Tucson, AZ found himself out alone in front of a group of fifteen riders once over Usery Pass.

Finishing in a time of 3:01:27 Simonson took the win holding off the chase group lead by Steve Bauer who captured second with a time of 3:03:04 while Lefebvre placed fourth. Other Canadians who placed on the day were Liam Philley in 107th and Doug Morris in 464th, both of Toronto.

Sponsored by Holualoa Companies the El Tour raises money for the Desert Mountains States Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. A sister event of the older El Tour de Tucson event which attracts over 8,000 riders, the El Tour de Phoenix race is quickly gaining recognition.

16th El Tour de Phoenix

1. John Simonson 3:01:28
2. Steve Bauer 3:03:04
3. Christopher Mosora 3:03:05
4. Tim Lefebvre 3:03:05
5. Kimo Seymour 3:03:06
6. Mark Fosenburg 3:03:06
7. Ben Nichols 3:03:06
8. Peter J Brown 3:03:06
9. Dan McGhee 3:03:07
10. William S. Dixon 3:03:07

107. Liam Philley 3:13:27
464. Doug Morris 4:07:35

Note: Tandem category brothers Bob Pongratz and Jim Pongratz finished in 3:01:27.