Inca Avalanche is the culmination of a ripping nine days in Cusco, Peru and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, thus it has morphed into the "Inca Avalanche Trail Festival", bookended by two of the most prestigious races in South America. Kicked off by the UCI sanctioned Santisimo Downhill on the second to last weekend in April. Racers from across South America and the World descend on the Scared Valley to test themselves on the challenging and scenic Santisimo Downhill course. Riders then stay around to rip local trails, take in the mind blowing ruins of Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu and lesser know sites, eventually turing their attention back to racing and the Inca Avalanche at the end of the week… likely the best nine days of anyones lifetime. For 2018, Santisimo Downhill and the Inca Avalanche will join forces, combining results from the two events, ultimately crowning an overall Champion of the Sacred Valley!
Starting at 4600 meters above sea level, 235 participants from Germany, Argentina, Australia, France, Finland, England, Wales, Canada, USA, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia and the different cities of the Peru all went "bar to bar" vying for the top spots in their respective categories. Riders were challenged by wet conditions all weekend, black mud lining the entire course making luck the key factor in the finishing results.
2015 Campeon Alejandro Paz (GT Bicycles) descended fast and without incident to cross the finish line in Tancca 1st, with a time of 20' 54", before reaching the line Paz found time to celebrate the euphoria of his triumph. 2nd place, Frenchman Kilian Bron (Sunn Bicycles) arrived seconds later, with a time of 21' 00", Bron and Paz battled hard on qualifying day, leading to a crash and almost ending Bron's ability to contest Sunday's final. 3rd saw Chilean Mauricio Acuna across the line at 21' 04" with Maurizio Acurio coming 4th at a time of 22' 37". Piero Muñoz rounding out the top 5 with finishing time of 22' 44". Despite not being regarded as a racer, Mitch Chubey landed 3rd on the podium in 2015, igniting his competitive spirit and this year he was hungry for the win. A 4th place qualifying indicated his potential, however luck was not on his side, on race day everything that could go wrong did..
Alejandro Paz Interview
Kilian Bron Interview
Mitch Chubey Interview
In Damas (ladies) Sara Bjorkqvist (Nykarleby/Haku Expedition) was the revelation of the weekend finishing with a time of 33' 32", slipping past Vianca Caillaux Delgado (Buenas Biclas) 33' 36" time and Rosa Cruz Ticca's time of 47' 22"… absent was past Campeon Estela Acurio.
With past champion Estela Acurio absent, Vianca Caillaux Delgado was practically assured the win, until Sara Bjorkqvist ruined the party
Another hotly contested category was the evergreen Master 40, which saw race director Ali Goulet (highlinersMTB.com) take the whole-shot over the 235 riders in Qualies, with Wayo Stein (Inka Adventures) in tow. The two battled it out all weekend with Wayo taking Sunday's final and the Championship, Goulet getting the confirmation of 2nd, both riders landing in the top 12 overall.
Master 40 Campeon Interview–Wayo Stein Montagne
2016 Master 40 champion Ali Goulet hunting Wayo Stein, The Peruvian's fitness proved too much for Goulet
Amazonas Explorer making it a family affair for 2017, Carol Thomas letting her daughter Lara lead them in for fourth and fifth in Damas
Diego Sarmiento, organizer of Santisimo Downhill stuck for the week after his event to rip the trails of the Sacred Valley and dominate his Master 30 category
The track was muddy and increasingly slippy as the weekend wore on, so much so that if you put a tire slightly wrong this was your fate
Adderly Quispe Puma styling his way to a fine tenth in Cadets category
Pedro Tillca Anayhua hyped on the conditions on Abra Malaga, the Inca Avalanche race course
Yuri Lucana Unda riding with a taped wrist but still willing to send the lofty grass step-down
Paul Cripps of Amazonas Explorer has competed in every Inca Avalanche since its inception, here escorting his son Oliver on his first Inca, and still pulling down third in the Master 50 category
The Lone Rider sends the Rotor Components drop, hoping for tranny
It was Kilian Bron vs South America all weekend but the Peruvian Alejandro Paz proved to be too strong… next year Kilian!
Race organizer Ali Goulet turning it down for the spectators at the finish line in Tancca, Peru Photo: Carlos Diaz @geocusco
Yan Bedoya Prudencio, last years jump jam winner, blasting plenty on the finishing jump
The bike was is a staple of the Inca Avalanche. The kids do a great job and make quite a few soles doing it… but watch your bike or it will be in the canal with your stanchions rubbing on the edge
Jacinto of Apejuc Jueces (judges) and Jean-Pierre (race coordinator) review the results
Geoff Gulevich blasting one foot during the jump exhibition
Mitch Chubey loved his 2015 Peruvian adventures so much he came back for more
The ladies loved Mark Matthews
Mark Matthews over the crowded Ollantaytambo Plaza De Armas
Two bands and a jump exhibition put on by Mitch Chubey, Mark Matthews, Geoff Gulevich and Nico Concha, now that's what we call an awards ceremony!
Elite Podium: Kilian Bron (2nd), Alejandro Paz (1st, stunt double shown), Mauricio Acuna Quintana (3rd)
Mayor Elvis Flores Farfan possibly coveting Pablo Zenteno Ubillas Rotor components… Marco Cordova Huamani seems to be logging as well
Damas winner, Sara Bjorkqvist and Ollantaytambo Mayor Elvis Flores Farfan share a joke as Vianca Caillaux Delgado (2nd) and Rosa Cruz Ticca (3rd) look on
Alejandro Paz (GT Bicycles) just off the top step, settling for 2nd in the Santisimo Downhill
3 Peruvians in the top 5 of the Santisimo Downhill, a good day for Peru
Inca Avalanche presented by Rotor Bike Components // Ollantaytambo Municipality // Haku Expeditions S.A.C
Supported by: KB Tambo Hotel & Tours // Goal Zero // Amazonas Explorer // Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking // VKdesigns
Local Sponsors: Cafe Mayu, Ollantaytambo // Hearts Cafe // Pachamama Grill - Ollantaytambo, Cuzco // Uchucuta Restaurant Ollantaytambo // Buganvilla pasteleria -ollantaytambo
Join us April 23–29th 2018 for 9 days of ripping the worlds best trails + Inca ruins + Peruvian culture X an insane mass start Enduro/DH and the Santisimo Downhill
www.IncaAvalanche.com //
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@IncaAvalanche @Santisimo_Downhill