Before 35,000 spectators, Down Hill 2019 Puerto Vallarta witnessed for the third consecutive year the speed and style of the most experienced cyclists at the international level.
By Barbara Ramos Villalobos
In Puerto Vallarta, the 2019 Down Hill competition let the adrenaline of 40 riders from Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, the Czech Republic, France, Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Chile run through their veins, caressing them with their acrobatics Vallarta heaven. The Mirador del Cerro de la Cruz, witnessed this explosive adventure.
The viewpoint of Cerro de la Cruz: A high slope
The Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint has become an iconic place for Puerto Vallarta. The view of Banderas Bay is unmatched. Everyone who goes up marvels at the beauty that characterizes our typical Mexican town. This is a postcard that has the perfect combination for the memory photo. The green of the mountains and the blue of the sea, in conjunction with the orange of the tiles, which adorn the roofs of the traditional houses of our city.
The willing residents of Vallarta gave up their homes and streets over the course of a weekend to hold this international event. The narrow streets, tight curves and natural descents were the favorite spaces to set up a track. high speed downhill bikes. It was like this, that the wooden ramps built according to the curves and natural slopes of the hill, made the competition full of exciting moments.
The riders began their journey against the clock until they reached the Rotonda del Mar de Colunga on the Malecón; after traveling 900 meters away. The narrow streets put the talent and expertise of these riders who caressed the Vallarta sky to the test, in each of their pirouettes along the descent.
France was crowned at Down Hill 2019
The Frenchman, Adrien Loron, took the cake in this type of competition with a time of 1:26.30. Later, by just 21 hundredths of a second, the Chilean, Pedro Ferreira, had a time of 1:26.51. Hot on his heels is the Colombian Camilo Sánchez in third place with a time of 1:26.54. However, the Mexican Ricardo Peredo, was one of the most successful in the event, by performing a competition that placed him in tenth place, with a time of 1:32.71.
The magic of the riders: the most anticipated tricks
Once the race was over, the competition for the best trick was held. One of the crowd favorites. The eyes of the spectators moved in unison, seeing the athletes soar through the skies of the center, performing different types of pirouettes. The riders magic It was the most anticipated moment. The ovations could not miss before the complicated maneuvers. It was then, that the applause silenced the sound of the sea, to provide more support to the riders.
On his first visit to this competition, the Spaniard, Bienvenido Aguado, became the top winner of this modality, followed by Sam Pilgrim from the United Kingdom and DJ Brandt from the United States. Therefore, the ovations, applause, and enthusiastic exclamations, were the food of the talented bikers, who risk their lives on their steel steeds.
The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust and the company Altius Events were the organizers of the most important urban downhill race in the Pacific of Mexico. The 35,000 spectators present this year are eager to see what the 4th edition of Down Hill Vallarta will bring in 2020.
Photos: BRV PHOTO / Barbara Ramos Villalobos