UPDATE 19 October 2023: Tucson Police detectives now say Timbers was hit by a red 2000s Nissan Frontier or Xterra and are searching for the vehicle/driver.

Arizona police report 78 year-old John Timbers, a former national caliber racer and founder of La Vuelta de Bisbee cycling race, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver from behind Tuesday morning in Tucson. His death is now added to a long list of over twenty cyclists killed recently on Arizona roads, including two who died in February when a truck plowed into group ride, making the state one of the deadliest for cyclists in America.

Police are investigating the incident and at press time had not identified any suspects or vehicles. They are asking anyone with possible information or video of the area near East Grant Road and North Sahuara Avenue around the time of the accident (05:00) to contact police.

According to AZ Cycling, Timbers founded the Vuelta de Bisbee, one of the iconic stage races in the Southwestern USA, in 1976. As a top road racer he was a member of the USA National Team, winning everything from the Iron Horse Classic in Durango to the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, plus numerous victories at the Mt. Lemmon Hill Climb in his home town of Tucson.

Photo Credit: AZ Cycling

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