Open Shimano Latam 2: Cuenca, Ecuador

In its first visit to northern South America, the Open Shimano Latam gets to Cuenca, Ecuador. The city lies at 2550 meters above sea level, right at the heart of the northern Andes, a perfect place for a gravity fed mountain bike race. It began with course walk and practice on Friday, followed by qualifying on Saturday afternoon. Sunday, riders get a final training lap in the morning and then the big final.

Cuenca is full of history and famous for his architecture.

The track is placed in Turi, really close to the city. It begins with a ridgeline full of rocks, then traverses the mountain's slopes to a really steep chute and into the woods. After some fast and tight singletrack, it dropped into a jumps section and the finish line. Most of the soil in the track is of volcanic nature, hardpack with some loose spots and it gets really slippery when wet.

The infamous "cangahua" soil, slippery when dry and extra slippery when wet.

There were categories for every kind of rider: Hardtails, Enduro, Kids. And most of them included international competition as Colombian, Peruvian and Argentinian riders came for glory. In the Elite class, they were welcomed by a stacked field of the best Ecuadorian elites.

The first section was full of grass which turned out really slippery after the rain. Better to fly above it.

The jumps and turns before the ridge line were lined with some slimy grass. Better to hover above it.

Sunday morning was the last chance to ride the course before finals.

Practice train along the technical ridge line.

Great fitness was advisable in the traverse or an enduro bike.

Good fitness was advisable in the traverse, or an enduro bike. Amaru Pazos proved to have both and ended up second in the Enduro class.

The steepest part of the track. Look at the marshal in the bottom.

It was steep. Marshal at the bottom for scale.

Elite rider, "El Guambra" Jurado was flying through the woods during practice.

The bobsled section, tight and twisty.

Santiago Verdezoto railing the last berm in the course. Sunday morning it was lined with spectators and full of noise.

Santiago Verdezoto railing the last berm. Sunday morning it was lined with spectators and full of noise.

Qualifying saw the first shots fired, with Peru's Alejandro Paz beating the time of local favorite, Mario Jarrin. In the end, everyone was hoping to improve his times in finals. The track was nice and solid, with only minor damage caused by the riders. Overnight rain came to worry the racers but after a sunny morning, it was all good and even improved traction in some spots.

Overnight rain came to worry the riders.

Sunday morning.

The winner in the 15-16 class was not afraid of this daring line in the ridge.

Kalev Montesdeoca, winner in the 15-16 class, was not afraid of this exposed line in the ridge.

Not a bad view but better keep the eyes on the line.

Colombian riders were flying down the track, no matter their age or category. Alejandro Quintero got 2nd in Master B...

Colombian riders were flying in the course no matter their age. Here Johan Rodriguez drops into the finish line for a third place in Amateur.

...and Johan Rodriguez finished 3rd in Amateur.

Spectators manage to get everywhere, no matter how steep or far.

Santiago Vasquez getting ready for the last section with the help of the crowd.

The juniors made easy work of the jumps.

Ecuadorian DH and 4X legend Diana Marggraff enjoying the woods and a winning run.

Ecuadorian DH and 4X legend, Diana Marggraff, enjoying the woods during her winning run.

Sebastian Alfaro was one of the favorites but the young man from Per crashed in the steepest part of the course.

Sebastian Alfaro was one of the favorites, but the young man from Peru crashed twice in the steepest part of the course.

Alejo Ortiz was also a podium threat but in the end, he couldn't match his qualy run.

Luciano keeping it low to grab the last spot in the podium.

Luciano de Neufville keeping it low to grab the last spot on the podium.

Santiago Coello had a great weekend with a fourth place.

Lots of style from Santiago Coello, who had a great weekend with a fourth place.

Juan Ordo ez fully committed to third place.

Juan Ordonez, fully committed and into third place.

Alejandro Paz last man down the hill improved his qualy time but it wasn t enough.

Alejandro Paz from Peru, last man down the hill, improved his time but it wasn't enough to beat Mario Jarrin.

After a tight qualy Mario opened the gas to get the win by 2.43 seconds.

After a tight qualy, Mario managed to get a clean run and the win by 2.43 seconds.

Women's podium: Maria Gabriela Acosta (2nd), and Diana Marggraff (1st)

Men's podium: Juan Ordonez (4th), Alejandro Paz (2nd), Mario Jarrin (1st), Santiago Coello (3rd), and Luciano De Neufville (5th).

It was a great race, full of action, surprises, and incredible performances like Martin Jijon's run, good enough to win the Enduro class and get a 7th place overall. Huge props to everyone involved in the organization, especially Andres Sotomayor. It was mint.

MENTIONS: @shimano / @ajaneta

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