Course changes have shortened the route for El Tour de Tucson by about a half-mile and could lead to a faster race today, founder Richard DeBernardis said.

For the first time since 1992, the 109-mile bicycle race will have new starting and finishing lines on Church Avenue between Alameda and Pennington streets. The route also has shifted to avoid construction on Oracle Road, and riders will use the Interstate 10 frontage road instead of the Silverbell Road stretch.

The alterations shorten the 109-, 80-, 66- and 35-mile races by about half a mile, DeBernardis said, so if the weather is calm, times could be at least five minutes faster, he said. More than 8,000 cyclists are expected to participate in the 27th annual El Tour events.

• Race coverage Results database, video and slide shows
• More El Tour news

How can you tell the difference between a Big Game and a Really Big Game That'll Still Make You Whine 50 Years From Now?

You measure it by the hurt. The most hurtful words in UA football history arrived at Oregon's Autzen Stadium on Oct. 29, 1994. Don Essig, the Ducks' PA man said:

"Please, fans, do not run onto the field at the conclusion of the game."

• UA Football Hope for great leap forward
• UA Football Scout team vet proud of career, eyes law school
• UA Basketball Wise has plenty on plate for trip to Hawaii
• UA Volleyball Stanford rallies for 3-2 victory
• More sports news

For the last three years, Adam Thran, his defense attorney and his doctors have been telling prosecutors and judges he is too medically fragile to stand trial on charges of shooting at Tucson police officers.

Thran, 26, was shot three times by police responding to a call that he had flashed a gun at the cashier at a north-side gas station. Instead of skin, fat and muscle over his internal organs, he has a layer of synthetic mesh and skin.

• Humane Society sets up shop in mall
• Border agent convicted of rape, faces 5 to 14 years
• 10th person - a child - dies of H1N1 here
• More Tucson/Region news

Coyote chorus	Quail
Old West Santa	Javelina

Choose from the above items and many more, including cards and calendars, in the StarNet store. Visit the store for more selection, as well as other StarNet items.