Video: Extreme Bike Race in Chile

By ⋅ February 21, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
A biker in action in Chile. (Photo: Josefina Bahamondes)

A biker in action in Chile. (Photo: Josefina Bahamondes)

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For the Geo Quiz we are looking for a city located about halfway down Chile’s long Pacific Coast.

For centuries the city was a major stopover port for ships going back and forth between the Pacific and the Atlantic.

This central Chilean city still attracts international visitors.

Each year the city hosts an unusual mountain bike race that follows a very topsy turvy course.

Valparaíso is the answer to the Geo Quiz.

It is a World Heritage Site with Victorian homes hanging off the hillsides and tiny cobblestone streets covered in murals, but once every year, the city is transformed into a racetrack for downhill mountain bikers.

Steven Bodzin reports.


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Discussion

12 comments for “Video: Extreme Bike Race in Chile”

  • Grace Thornton

    I was just in Valparaiso a few weeks ago, I know how crazy those hills are. Thanks for the story! 

  • radome914gt

    Drops 882 feet in 1800 meters.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1588550147 Dean Pierce

      Thanks for the listing of points. Or download this file to use in Google Earth.  http://db.tt/eTONxUwM

  • graciela_p

    I had no idea that this was happening and I think it’s so cool! I love that people gather to watch the 50 bikers race on the intense course. It definitely seems like it gets everyone’s adrenaline pumping. I know mine would be. I think it’s crazy that one of the jumps includes jumping out of a second story window! That seems so dangerous. These bikers must be carefully trained and very skilled to qualify for this race. I would love to visit Chile to watch this race, it looks so interesting and awesome!

  • Carmen_03

    This is so cool! These people who are doing this are crazy though. I’m scared to ride my bike down a hill, or even on dirt, nevermind doing all these crazy stunts, it’s so scary. It’s also very dangerous, they have to have paramedics there in case something bad happens, like the people who broke their leg and jaw. I would never be able to do this, it said they jump down two stories, and if they don’t land correctly it can be tragic. For the people who are doing these races, since they are very good at this, it must be fun to be a part of. I think it would be cool to be able to be there watching. If they had a race like this in Rhode Island, I would definitely go watch, it is so cool.

  • estefania94

    I think that this is unbelieveable! I would personally never do this because I constantly walk in things and fall. I would definately hit a person! Then I would feel terrible forever about it. I thought at some points the course was extremely narrow, those people take a risk standing that close. I understand that they are professionals but mistakes can still happen. The course was some intense twists and turns and jumps and on one BIG hill. I think this is my favorite blog though. I enjoyed watching that video.

  • rosa530

    Que horror! Cuando era nina, simplemente montando mi bicicleta abajo el calle fue peligroso. Mis pobres rodillas. No puedo imaginar como estes atleticos montan abajo el curso. Yo pienso que yo no poder mirar la carrera porque no me gusta cuando gente here. No es el evento ideal para mi.  

  • marta6

    ¡Qué peligroso y loco! Andando mi bicicleta me da temor suficiente sin los escaleras, las cuestas, y los personas estúpidos en el medio de la carrera. Me sorpresa que tantos personas andan los bicicletas en esta carrera. Unas personas rompieron los huesos… es prueba suficiente para mí que esta carrera es peligrosa. Pero, en la otra mano, es bueno que esta carrera traiga las turistas y los jóvenes a Valparaíso, Chile. Yo no nunca andaría en esta carrera, pero los atléticos son talentosos, no puedo lo negar. ¡Pero el video fue loco!

  • Maria94

    This is insane! I would never ever go down a hill on a moutain bike going extremly fast, hearing there are broken stairs, doors etc. That is so scary I would be so scared to die. I hope that noone has ever died while doing this. Its so scary I would feel I would hit someone and kill them if not myself. Its so scary to know people actually do this for fun, and to have an adrenaline rush. I feel this would be so cool to watch though, but I would be scared of getting hit.

  • julia94

    I think that this is really neat! I would have never thought that someone would actually do these extremely dangerous stunts. I would be so scared if I were these people and I also would not be able to do it. It is really scary that they have to people there to made sure that no one gets hurt but it is kind of like the united states sport game because there is always someone at the event just invade there is an accident. If this sport was in the untied states or in rhode island I would really enjoy going to see one because it is a new way to see other counties cultures.

  • Graciela22

    ¡Esta actividad es ridículo! No me gusta el ciclismo extremo en Chile. ¡Es muy peligroso y loco!  Pero, yo vi el video y parece un poco emocionante. Cuando yo era niña, yo solo montaba mi bicicleta en la calle.  Los hombres en el video andan las bicicletas en las escaleras, las colinas, y otros lugares peligrosos. Espero que los atletas no se lastimen.

  • Ana94

    Que loco! Eso es muy peligroso. Me caigo cuando camino por las escaleras, nunca puedo montar mi bicicleta en los. Las personas que participan en la carrera son muy valientes. Si yo estuviera en esta carrera, me tendria mieda!