Last weekend we left Lima loaded with excitement to experience a super Mountain Biking adventure. This competition was none other than the Inca Avalanche 2015, which took place in the imperial city of Ollantaytambo. We traveled about 1 hour and a half from Cusco to Ollantaytambo; There we spent the whole weekend surrounded by adrenaline, excitement, and cyclists from all over the world. This is the 15th edition of the Inca Avalanche held in Peru and no Peruvian had ever won it before, until now...
First things first, What is the Inca Avalanche?
This race is considered the most extreme mountain biking competition held in the Peruvian Andes. In addition to being extreme, it is unique, as it is a mass start, enduro style, downhill race that is not divided into stages, but is a continuous race for 1500 meters of vertical descent during 25 to 30 minutes depending on the competitor's level.
The starting point of the race was in the town of Abra de Málaga at 4550 meters above sea level, right behind the snow-capped Verónica. Competitors could use any part of the mountain to find the best possible route to the finish point, located in the town of Tacnacc at 2800 meters above sea level.
180 cyclists from different parts of the world participated: Bolivia, USA, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Canada, England, Germany, and of course from Peru. Riders from Lima, Arequipa, Carhuaz, Juliaca, Apurimac, Abancay, Puno, and Cusco were our national representatives.
The competition was divided into two dates: One on Saturday, where the qualifying descent would take place to establish the starting order, and another on Sunday, the final day of the Inca Avalanche race.
Saturday 16, qualifying day.
The meeting point for the riders was the central square of Ollantaytambo, where they would board vans, buses, and trucks heading to Abra de Málaga. The first qualifying run would take place at 11 am and the second at 3 pm, the best time of the two runs would establish the starting order for the race day.
It was an intense, tough, and challenging day on the way. Before the start of the first run, an offering of thanks to the Apus for the protection of the riders was made. Immediately after, the first qualifying run would begin.
With all the cyclists in their positions, the first qualifying descent began; the mass of riders set off with great aggression regardless of the muddy path that awaited them. After 18 km of descent, the best time was achieved by the Peruvian Alejandro Paz with 21 minutes and 17 seconds, ensuring him a starting position in the front row (15 cyclists per row) for the final.
Sunday 17, Grand Final
The big day arrived, from 8 in the morning the cyclists gathered in the square to head to the starting point. The final would start at 12:30 pm and it would be a single descent, a single attempt, it was the moment of 'All or Nothing', 'Now or Never'. Up to that moment, the favorites were the Peruvian Alejandro Paz and the Brazilian Luana Oliveira after winning their respective qualifiers.
The start was spectacular, seeing 180 cyclists rapidly leaving in mass seeking an almost impossible descent, through mountains, slopes, ramps, and trails that crossed their path, was literally insane. Among the riders were men, women, and children as young as 12 years old.
At the finish line, more than 150 spectators were waiting eagerly to see all the cyclists cross that final line. The first to arrive was Alejandro Paz with a time of 22 minutes and 3 seconds, closely followed by Yannick Wende with 22 minutes and 59 seconds. The Brazilian Luana Oliveira reached the finish line despite a flat rear tire. Around 2 pm, the race would end amidst an atmosphere of euphoria, fatigue, and camaraderie.
The winners were:
A) In the Men's Elite category:
- Alejandro Paz.
- Yannick Wende.
- Mitch Chubey.
- Gerardo Zambrano.
- Sadhu Low.
B) In the Women's Elite category:
- Joni Wirts.
- Estela Acurio.
- Christine Dern.
- Luana Oliveira.
- Nicole Koch
As part of the Inca Avalanche awards, a ramp jumping exhibition was held in the central square of Ollantaytambo.
After the award ceremony, the closing party began with a fireworks display over the sky of Ollantaytambo and continued with music by the group Maná performed by Fer from the program Yo Soy.
ADVENTURE FACT: This is the first year, after 15 editions of the Inca Avalanche in Peru, that a Peruvian cyclist has won, so we want to congratulate our champion Alejandro Paz for this tremendous achievement.
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