Photo Report: Days 2 & 3 - 2019 Andes Pacifico Enduro
Once again the big mountains were calling as day two and three of the Santa Cruz Andes Pacifico brought riders to the highest elevations of the week.
Starting after a long liaison to Nido de Condores, racers would tackle the longest timed stage of the week to kick off the second day of racing. Besides being nearly 18 minutes in length, it would also be the most technical trail of the week and the smell of burning brake pads hung in the air the majority of the way down. From there it was a long drive up to Rajamotores where a series of four stages fed one into the other, ending with the classic Penon to close out the day. There was some movement of positions in the top five, but Florencia Espineira and Pedro Burns held firmly into their leads.
Day three started with a massive hike-a-bike and traverse spread over nearly four hours before racers reached the highest point on the week above Valle El Arpa. From the start, riders could see into Argentina and the summit of Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Americas. Racers would tackle two back to back stages totaling nearly 15 km before a quick lunch break and shuttle to the final 5.5 km stage of the day, La Mina. A mix of very high speeds, rocky tech, and flow on dirt with more consistent grip was a welcome change after slipping and sliding in dust the first two days, but the long liaison, altitude, and fatigue from the previous day's would make the physical sections of trail that much more painful.
With three days in the books, we now have Florencia Espineira leading the women's race followed by Laura Battista and Pauline Diefenthaler. And for the men, it is still Pedro Burns out front but now with Frenchmen Romain Pulhan in second and Francois Bailly-Maitre in third. Tomorrow we head to the smaller coastal range mountains where the race will spend its final two days and, while they may not be as tall as the Andes, they are still big enough to challenge all comers.
Hot and hazy layers to kick off Day 2
Not fluffy
Early morning hike-a-bike to kick off the day
Chasing gold to close out Day 2
The long days have seen riders finishing as the late summer sets in the Andes.
Francois Bailly-Maitre went on a charge the past two days and now sits third in the overall.
Third in the women's race is Pauline Diefenthaler.
The dust in Chile is a force to be reckoned with.
Pedro Burns has been out front for three days but his lead is still just one second with two days to go.
Nico Prudencio slipped back on Day 3 after running in the top five for the first few days of the race.
Felipe Vasquez won the day in the masters class on Day 3 but is still a long way off the leading time.
Barring a mechanical, none of the women will catch Florencia Espineira now.
Laura Battista holding down second after three days in the Women's race.
The heat here is exhausting, and the altitude doesn't really help either.
Current 2nd place rider Romain Paulan and Iago Garay relaxing on one of the more unique Lunch stops on Day 3.
Jerome Clementz trying to rest in the heat on Day 2.
Adreas Bretas coming to the end of Stage 4 on Day 2.
Wyn Masters has dropped off the podium after Day 3 but is still very much in touch with the top three riders with two days to go.
Locked and loaded for Day 3.
Sometimes four legs are better than two wheels when trying to gain elevation in the Andes.
Drink water... Or Else.
When spending a nine hour day over 3000 meters riders will go to great lengths to stay out of the sun.
Big big liaisons on Day 3.
Big terrain, loose dirt and scorching temps greeted riders once again on Day 2 and 3.
Jerome Clementz on the hunt.
Fernando Riquelme tucks into the bottom of Day 2's first stage.
Pedro Burns on the gas to kick off Day 3
Remy Absalon cuts through the dust on a very long stage to kick off Day 3.
A shiny silver Pole carving a switchback in the Andes.
Drifting with Josh Lewis.
Loose Dog loving the Chilean sunshine.
Time to lick your wounds and push on for the final two days.
Current standings
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25 Comments
- 25 0
blackbirdworks
(Feb 22, 2019 at 0:57)
Pedro Burns with no water bottle, no backpack.. Incredible the torture his body can cope with being a local of high altitude desert.
He is riding with a huge weight advantage over the others.. mad props..
- 13 7
NestorCarrasco
(Feb 22, 2019 at 4:43)
yep, millennials
- 13 0
Jack20
(Feb 22, 2019 at 5:41)
He might be riding with soft water bottles stashed under his jersey like Sam Hill
- 12 1
fullendurbro
(Feb 22, 2019 at 8:16)
@NestorCarrasco: Those damn millenials, always on their phones and not buying houses.
- 2 0
christianslater
(Feb 22, 2019 at 11:51)
has a water bottle mount, but not using it. badass
- 3 0
Guillo2
(Feb 23, 2019 at 7:57)
he is riding with a reservoir in his back under the jersey... in a few photos I saw the hydratation tube over his shoulder. Maybe a paragon vest o something like that because I don`t see any tool or tube in his bike either
- 16 1
Trudeez
(Feb 22, 2019 at 0:21)
Wyn posted on his Instagram story that he got lost somewhere on day three. Top ten after being lost is pretty impressive.
- 10 0
Boardlife69
(Feb 21, 2019 at 23:57)
Summer time...and the livin's easy.
- 7 4
optimumnotmaximum
(Feb 22, 2019 at 0:10)
that was kinda sublime
- 1 0
suspended-flesh
FL (Feb 22, 2019 at 17:20)
@optimumnotmaximum: .....and there's none left for me.
- 7 0
poleczechy
FL (Feb 22, 2019 at 10:12)
Healing vibes to Neil Donoghue, he was taken to hospital to get a hematoma drained.
- 2 0
Dav82
(Feb 22, 2019 at 14:36)
Shit!! First I've heard of this! Hope he heals up quick and gets home safe!
- 6 1
MTB-Colada
(Feb 22, 2019 at 5:02)
Amazing shots! Now I want bike checks! I know, I am very demanding.
- 4 0
mae-fr
(Feb 22, 2019 at 5:16)
that pedro burns is definetly going to be a card for my enduro fantasy league team, low cost and good
- 1 0
bicitechmtb
(Feb 22, 2019 at 10:24)
He had an impressive riding and times riding here in Chile, but outside is below 40th place, check the 2018 EWS results... But in 2-3 years may he will above 15th.
- 5 0
zoobab2
(Feb 22, 2019 at 0:20)
Allez Rémy!
- 2 0
Adamrideshisbike
(Feb 22, 2019 at 5:09)
Damn. Amazing photos. Looks like lots of fun.
- 3 1
schofell84
(Feb 22, 2019 at 6:39)
I bet the folks in dark kits are regretting that decision.
- 1 0
Braindrain
(Feb 24, 2019 at 0:19)
Maybe not...I read a bit about some theories on this last summer. In brief, it's possible that while moving dark is better. A light kit will reflect heat from the sun but also reflect your own body heat back. At low speed, stationary or walking maybe, this is fine as convection is lower and body heat is lower. As you start moving your body heat is higher and there is more heat loss through convection, so it becomes a greater benefit for a dark kit to help move the heat away from your body to be lost through convection. If any of this is right, maybe the better kit will have a light back, sides and top of arms and a dark front and inner arms for the best of both.
- 1 0
beanes1963
(Feb 22, 2019 at 8:37)
Don't tell Pedro his bike is "outdated"...
- 1 0
Golden-G
(Feb 22, 2019 at 18:15)
So many sick shots! Killer coverage!
- 1 0
Wolffb
(Feb 22, 2019 at 13:58)
Fabulous photos.
- 1 0
onemanarmy
FL (Feb 22, 2019 at 14:41)
Good stuff. Thank you.
- 1 0
nerds-on-dirt-mtb
(Feb 22, 2019 at 14:49)
Wheres the vids!? =)
- 1 2
mokydot
(Feb 22, 2019 at 0:32)
as always, nice shot!.
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