Andes Pacifico Race Director Shares 5 Tips for Enduro Stage Race Success

Words by Andes Pacifico Enduro

The seventh edition of the Santa Cruz Andes Pacifico is right around the corner -- the registration closes in a few days -- and there are certain myths that we want to dispel, such as: that it is a race only for the pros. Find out what you really need to participate in this adventure.

Santa Cruz Andes Pacifico is a blind enduro race where all riders must demonstrate not only their physical abilities but also mental ones. With five days of enduro on Chilean trails, it will become an experience of a lifetime for all the attendant riders.

But make no mistake, this mountain bike journey is not just for pros. Even though it is a race that requires a certain degree of expertise, it may be that your time has come to do it, you just didn't know it. We talked to the race director, Nacho Barbosa, who shared some tips with us.



Goals

The first thing you need to be clear about is your goal. Why am I racing this event? What are my objectives for these five days? Nacho explains:


This competition is not only about racing the day-to-day stages, but also about sleeping in a tent, getting up at 7 am, going to bed late, keeping the bike spotless every day, among other factors. In other words, the race is both up and down the bike, and the one who does best is not the fastest, but the one who, for example, planned the week, did not get lost, read the race map well or brought enough water.



Experience

One of the most important things when it comes to competing in an Andes Pacifico is the previous racing experience. If you have never competed in enduro, it is not recommended to start here. Having competed in one national enduro event -- or other similar race in your country -- gives a lot of perspective of what an enduro race is. You have already become familiar with the frustration, the tiredness, the competitiveness, the pressure and the adrenaline. And in that way, you can anticipate what it means to ride 5 days in a row.


Physical

The physical demand required for a Santa Cruz Andes Pacífico can vary but this is always expressed more in the descents than in the ascents, as these are largely assisted (which is always appreciated). "If you ride your bike 2-3 times a week, you can race an Andes Pacífico," says Barbosa.

If your current physical capacity doesn't convince you and you still want to prepare well for the competition, Nacho recommends:




Technique

In order to know the technical demands of the race, we have to focus again on your goals. If you are not Pedro Burns or Mitch Ropelato, the main goal should be not to break your bike or yourself. If you arrive at a more technical and difficult zone (which even though they are marked in the circuit, you can be taken by surprise) you can get off the bike and walk through it. The race has around two hours of timed stages in total, so to try to gain 10 or 20 seconds in a technical zone that you want to pass on the bike, where you can fall and lose even more time, it's not worth it.



Bicycle and equipment

This is where the budget is a limiting factor, but every dollar invested in this sport pays off when you are riding in awesome places. Ideally, a good enduro bike is recommended but it can also be a trail or an all-mountain model.

"It's important to realize that this bicycle will be ridden for five days in very natural places, which means it can be very rocky," says Barbosa.

It also becomes crucial to have good DH tyres with strong walls and to do a complete maintenance to the bike before leaving for the adventure. Tire inserts are also highly recommended, and check the bike after every day of racing -- the organization provides space, tools and bike mechanics to help you with all that during the race.


The Santa Cruz Andes Pacífico is a race to enjoy incredible landscapes while you ride over the historical trails that were once made by the diaguitas and Indians who traveled all over the Andes. An unforgettable week in the company of the great enduro stars and a bunch of cool people from different parts of the world, all united by their passion for mountain biking.




Santa Cruz Andes Pacifico is the original adventure enduro race from the Andes mountains to the Pacific Ocean that will take place on February 17th to 23rd 2020
Registration closes on January 27th.
More information at www.andespacificoenduro.com


About the organizer:
Montenbaik is responsible for introducing enduro races in South America and is recognized worldwide for being the organizer of three Enduro World Series in Chile (2014, 2016, 2018 ) and the Santa Cruz Andes Pacifico that had 6 editions every summer on the best trails of the region. In addition, Montenbaik received the award for the best enduro event for the 2014 Enduro World Series in Chillan, and was once again nominated with the 2018 Enduro World Series in Lo Barnechea, winning the 2018 Trail Of The Year award with the iconic Parvazo.

Posted In:
Racing and Events Enduro Racing Andes Pacifico