January 22, 2014 – The Trans Andes Challenge 2014 started with a cold and cloudy morning in a stunning scenery. Considered the Dakar of mountain biking, the race welcomes more than 250 worldwide competitors to the beautiful Chilean Andes, from Pirihueico Port in Región de los Ríos to Huilo Huilo Reserve. Inserted in one of the seven rainforests on the planet.

With 72 kilometers of racing and 2,000 meters of ascent, the winner in Open Single Men was, Javier Püschel, from Chile, followed by Joan Llordella of Spain. Meanwhile, in Open Women Single winners were American Rebecca Rush and Sonya Looney, respectively.

Canada’s Matt Hadley and Benoit Simard (Xprezo) finished second in the Open Team Men’s category behind Pau Ortiz and Antonio Zamora of Spain.

In its sixth version, International mountain bike competition, takes place in six stages, where competitors must travel more than 420 miles with adventure and beautiful landscapes that accompany all participants will test their strength and skills to cross the finish Pucón city on January 25th.

This edition features a massive participation of athletes from 5 continents: 350 competitors from 32 countries in a world class event that only this morning walking trails in southern Chile.

The early stages are performed in Huilo Huilo, later to be moving toward the north, traveling around Liquiñe, Coñaripe, Curarrehue and Caburga. The target is located in Pucón, at the foot of the imposing Billerica Volcano, in the ninth region.

Stage 2

The second stage of the Trans Andes Challenge, 57-kilometer race began in Huilo Huilo with lot complications because of weather conditions. The route included 2,600 meters of ascent in a beautiful mountain valley with pine forests to end in Coñaripe, where the Canadian duo of Matt Hadley and Benoit Simard (Xprezo) won Stage 2 of the event in the Team Open Men category.

Stage winners in Single Open Men were Joan Lordella from Spain and Javier Püschel. In Single Open Women won Rebecca Rusch and Sonya Looney, both from USA.

Amateur competitors who had to face the most extreme of the powers of this specialty in the world, persistent rain eventually forced to retreat about a dozen competitors. Anyway they will continue to live Trans Andes Challenge.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Single Open Men
1. Joan Llordella (Spain)
2. Javier Püschel (Chile)
3. Orlando Alves (Brazil)

Team Open Men
1. Matthew Hadley y Benoit Simard (Canada)
2. Pau Zamora y Antonio Ortiz (Spain)
3. Joe Kirch y Robert Schmitt (Luxemburg)

Single Open Women
1. Rebecca Rush (USA)
2. Sonya Looney (USA)
3. Florencia Espineira (Chile)

Team Open Mixed
1. Mary McConneloug y Michael Broderick (USA)
2. Elisa García y Claus Plaut (Chile)

Stage 2 Results here.

More about the Trans Andes Challenge here.