January 23, 2013 (Patagonia, Chile) – The Transandes Challenge mountain bike stage race race kicked off on Jan. 21. Riders will complete six demanding stages amounting to 430 kilometers total, riding through very beautiful landscapes of the Andes Mountains in Patagonia, Chile. The race will finish next Saturday the 26th at the city of Pucón, a major tourist destination in southern Chile.

Stage 1 – Puerto Pirihueico to Huilo Huilo – 60km
The first stage started early in the morning when competitors had to ride 3 kilometers from the race camp at Huilo Huilo Reserve to Puerto Fuy, a small town where they boarded a ferry boat. After 1.5 hours of sailing across Pirihueico lake, they reached Puerto Pirihueico, the start of the race.

The race started at 9:45 a.m., with riders completing 68 kilometers and 2,380 meters of total climbing through the roads and paths of Huilo Huilo Reserve.

The overall winner for the stage was Joao Marinho from Portugal with a time of 3 hours 36 minutes and 34 seconds, the male team Nativo of Matthew Hadley and Benoit Simard from Canada took second place and Portuguese rider Tiago Silva finished third. The Mixed Open category team winners were Americans Mary McConneloug and Michael Broderick (Kenda-Seven), followed by Chileans Claus Plaut and Elisa García. Rebecca Rush took the lead in the Open Women’s category.

Stage 1 Full Results HERE.

Stage 2 – Huilo Huilo to Coñaripe Hot Springs – 62km
A demanding day, stage 2 consisted of 62 kilometers to the finish line, then riders had to spin an additional 8km more to the final destination at Coñaripe Hot Springs. A 9:00 Am start at Huilo Huilo Reserve, began with a long steep climb into the mountains following roads and paths amid the native forest. The finish line was located at Coñaripe Hot Springs where competitors could soak their tired muscles in the stone pools.

Javier Püschel scored victory on the second stage, with a time of 3 hours 8 minutes and 20 seconds. Coming in second place was the winner of the first stage, Portugal’s Marinho, with a time of 3 hours 19 minutes and 48 seconds. Marinho still holds the leadership of the general classification. In third place, from Canada, were the men’s team of Hadley and Simard.

The Americans MacConnleoug and Broderick once again won the Mixed Duo category, with a time of 3 hours 44 minutes and 10 seconds. Meanwhile, American athlete Rusch remained the strongest in the Female Individual Category.

Stage 2 Full Results HERE.
GC after Stage 2 HERE.

More information at www.transandeschallenge.com

Stage 2 Gallery