Vuelta al Cotopaxi
Cycling Round Cotopaxi
Rebecca Rusch / 26.11.2008
The race is an annual event that this year has 150 2-person teams taking part. It’s a tough race covering 140 km (88 miles) at a height of over 3000 meters above sea level (9500 feet) over 2 days, with an overnight camp on the way.
The teams are divided into five categories: men’s, women’s, mixed teams, master’s and super master’s. Here is Rebecca’s pre-race news;
Rebecca here checking in from Ecuador. I just got over here and will be competing in Vuelta al Cotopaxi this weekend.
I have found out it’s the biggest mountain bike race in Ecuador. Entries filled up in 12 hrs this year and they have a waiting list of 200 people. It’s only the 4th year for the event and it has grown to become really popular.
I am staying with the race director and Specialized distributor and he has personally been giving Greg and I the first class tour of the riding around Quito for the last 2 days. It is a city of 2 million people, but you can still ride awesome single track within minutes.
I will be racing with my boyfriend and 24 hr solo single speed world champion, Greg Martin. We have found out that the mixed division in the Vuelta is the most competitive division in the race. There are multiple really strong teams from Ecuador who gear up for this particular race. Since it’s nearly ski season at home where we live and our riding has been limited lately, Greg and I will have our work cut out for us.
The altitude is also a significant factor here. The lowest point of the race is 10,000 ft and we’ll go as high as 14,000 ft. The weather last year was also bitterly cold and snowing. We are prepared for any sort of weather, strong competition and majestic views.
For our pre-race prep, Greg and I are doing a slideshow in Quito, exploring the local tourist sites and getting up to the highest altitude possible each day. I hope to get my report and pictures posted early next week, and maybe some video too.
The race website is here, though there are only a few pictures on a single page at the moment.
To get a feel for the race watch the excellent video on our next page. The commentary is in Spanish but this does not take anything away from the amazing views and course.
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