Empowering Veterans Through Cycling

CreditBradley Boe Photography

Supporting Veterans Through Cycling

Project Echelon Removes the Barriers to Healing for Veterans

Discover Marana and local partners support Veterans through the Project Echelon Gran Fondo Ride!

PicturedCyclists take a break at Heritage Park in Marana, Arizona

Project Echelon is a UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Continental Professional Cycling Team that educates, equips and empowers veterans and their communities through physical activity and self discovery.

As an organization, Project Echelon removes barriers to healing by fostering relationships between veterans, their communities, and professional athletes through mentorship, structure, and the promotion of long-term health and well-being through endurance sport.

As a Purple Heart Town, this mission matches the vision of the Town of Marana to support its Veteran community.

For the third year, the non-profit is hosting a Gran Fondo Ride (a non-competitive ride of either 50 or 75 miles) with Veterans and riders of all abilities. The ride is not a race or a competition; it is a group ride where participants will abide by all traffic laws and work together to ensure safe riding takes place and community is fostered.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 (more details to come)

WHAT: Non-profit ride with North America's Top Professional Cycling Team Project Echelon

More information on Project Echelon

PicturedPro team Project Echelon trains in Marana and Oro Valley!
CreditProject Echelon

Connecting with kids

In February, Project Echelon riders were in Marana for the Tucson Bicycle Classic Marana Time Trial. They had the chance to connect with students at Carrillo Elementary School along with El Grupo Youth Cycling.

High Performance Manager, Zach Gregg, spoke with the students on topics ranging from bike safety to physical and mental health and the benefits of cycling.

CreditTucson Unified School District
Project Echelon Fondo Ride

WATCH: Project Echelon Featured on KVOA TV!

Project Echelon Gala Weekend

In addition to the Gran Fondo ride, Project Echelon held a golf tournament and gala dinner to support their non-profit work.

WATCH: Project Echelon Fondo Featured on KOLD TV

CreditProject Echelon Racing

Project Echelon at the Tucson Bicycle Classic

Project Echelon rode in the Marana area for team camp after competing in the Tucson Bicycle Classic!

CreditProject Echelon Racing

This itinerary/blog post showcases local businesses in our community. We feature partners that serve food and drink, offer recreational opportunities, places to stay, and shopping. We value accuracy, fairness and balance in our advertising and marketing. We would love to showcase your business to our visitors. These advertising and marketing opportunities (social media, articles, website, and ads) are open to all businesses within Marana and the designated two-mile “Pima County Tourism Partner Zone” around the town limits that meet this criteria. If you want to be featured on our website or in social media, please contact us at MaranaInfo@Maranaaz.gov.

Stefanie Boe

Author

Stefanie Boe

Tourism and Marketing Manager, Discover Marana/Town of Marana

Stefanie Boe is not just the Tourism and Marketing Manager for Discover Marana, she is also a passionate storyteller and a proud resident of the town. She has deep roots in the Marana area, going back to the 1970s when her family moved here from Chicago. She loves to share the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Marana with visitors and locals alike.
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