January 24, 2011 (Huilo, Chile) – After 33 hours of travel time, five flights and five hours sleep we arrived in Chile, slept one more night and have just finished Stage 1 of 6. Today was hot and warm, a lot like summer in Canada, but we had it here in Chile. The Canadians are doing well and well represented. All the best to everyone in Canada. Ciao, Dre.

The demanding six-stage TransAndes Challenge started at 10:00 yesterday in Puerto Pirihiueico, Chile with 130 riders from 18 countries after a ferry ride across Lake Pirihiueico. The American team of Jason Sager and Benjamin Sonntag (Jamis) won Stage 1 in the Open Men’s category, completing the 61 km stage in a time of 3:12.44. Second place went to the squad composed of Chilean Javier Püschel and Swiss Simon Zahnd, with a time of 3:17.08. Team Kenda-Seven Bicycles’ Mary McConneloug and Michael Broderick (USA) took the win in the Open Mixed category with a time of 3:24.22.

The riders must complete six demanding stages to cover 480 km through the most beautiful South American mountain landscapes. Stage 2 offers up 80 km, connecting the Huilo Huilo Reserve with Coñaripe Thermal Complex.

Results

Solo Men
1. Blake Harlan (USA) 3:24:41
2. Andreas Hestler (Can) 3:45:55

Solo Men 18-34
1. Taigh Banson (Aus) 3:55:07
2. Samuel De la Sotta (Chi) 4:08:20
3. Manuel Grescnell (Ita) 4:33:54

Solo Women 18-30
1. Denisse Van Sint Jan (Chi) 4:58:48

Solo Men 31-45
1. Juan García (Arg) 3:35:09
2. Pat Doyle (Can) 3:51:49
3. Javier Lopez (USA) 3:54:44
4. José Antonio Riquelme (Chi) 3:55:18
5. Graham Cocksedge (Can) 4:04:40
6. Michael Lella (Ger) 4:09:38
7. Marshall Craig (Can) 4:15:48
8. Cristian Raab (Chi) 4:38:14
9. Cristian Contreras Chile 4:51:00
10. Faustino Linares (Arg) 5:11:01
11. Rafael De Vito (Arg) 7:09:40

Solo Men 46+
1. José Raul Hernández Silva (Esp) 3:34:44
2. William Glore (USA) 4:07:50
3. Zdenko Rajevic (Chi) 5:02:18
4. Rick Metzger (Can) 5:28:35
5. Michael Schmid (Chi) 6:30:35
6. Rodrigo Javier Lopez (Chi) 6:49:23
7. Luis Hernán Bustos (Chi) 6:53:29

Solo Men 80+
1. Felipe Sargent (Chi) 4:49:54
2. José Luis Astorquiza (Chi) 5:11:28

Team Open Men
1. Jason Sager & Benjamin Sonntag (USA/Ger) 3:12:44
2. Javier Püschel & Simon Zahnd (Swi) 3:17:08
3. Marty Lazarski & Neal Kindree (Can) 3:30:55
4. Francois Dumas & Nadeau Pierre-Yves (Can) 3:49:47
5. Martín Flaño & Nicolás Prudencio Chile 3:50:35
6. Jacques Gagne & Simard Benoit (Can) 3:55:43
7. Kiebacher Armin & Rabensteiner Fabien (Ita) 4:32:59

Team Mixed
1. Mary McConneloug & Michael Broderick (USA) 3:24:22
2. Elisa García & Claus Plaut (Chi) 4:00:37

Team Open Women
1. Eva Lechner & Nathalie Schneitter (Ita/Swi) 4:33:17
2. Anja De Decker & Elke Roage (Bel) 5:00:48

Team 35+
1. Mathias Hüller & Florian Reichert (Ger) 5:57:11

Team 60+ Mixed
1. Paula Tomaz & Cristian García (Chi) 5:35:45
2. Víctor Ortiz & Pamela Aguilera (Chi) 5:48:36

Team 60+ Men
1. Carlos Cardemil & José María Eyzaguirre (Chi) 3:47:52
2. Giorgio Nattero* & Sergio Madrid (Chi) 3:57:58
3. Pablo Bascur & Cristóbal García-Huidobro (Chi) 4:07:19
4. Gert De Geeter & Maarten Delforche (Bel) 4:09:31
5. Patricio Diaz & Santiago Diaz (Chi) 4:35:41
6. Sergio Bunster & Nicolás Maino (Chi) 4:35:44
7. David Frehner & Enrique Pascual Cuesta (Esp) 5:09:22
8. Telser Edmund & Wendel Valentin (Ita) 5:17:31
9. Eduardo Vitelli & Eduardo Shikasho (Bra) 5:25:30

Team 80+ Men
1. Gert Stappenbelt & Gerrit Van den Broek (Ned) 3:57:03
2. Aníbal Baeza & César Salgado (Chi) 4:38:45
3. José Valdés & Benjamin Kauffman (PRc) 4:56:48
4. Pablo Cruz & José Luis Ibaibarriaga (Chi) 5:13:47
5. Rafael Abelenda Lomas & Antoni Gasso Navarro (Esp) 6:02:12
6. Gerard Preuss & Bernd Bauernschmidt (Ger) 6:05:22
7. Fernando Lopez & Paul Parker (Can) 6:16:00
8. Edward Kaplún & Scott Biddinger USA 6:19:23

Team 100+ Men
1. Jim Gibson & Shawn Gillis USA 4:17:36
2. John Ledington & Deb Ledington USA 5:22:28
3. Al Mickelson & Jim Forbes (Can) 6:03:46