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Día de intensas emociones.

Antes de las 7 de la mañana, Andres Tagle llegó a Coyhaique cruzando la meta de su cuarto AcrossAndes en primera posición. Menos de 48 horas le tomó completar los 955 kilometros en donde estuvo menos de 3 horas detenido.

Unas 6 horas después lo hizo Cristian Auriemma quien termina su tercer AcrossAndes, por segunda vez en segunda posición.

Marcin Barwiński completó el podio 8:22 detrás de Andrés. El Polaco se mantuvo cerca del top 10 y anoche atacó para apoderarse del tercer lugar que estuvo amenazado hasta ultimo minuto por el Brasilero Telmo Hansen que llegó media hora mas tarde.

En las mujeres, Becca Book se mantuvo incombustible en la punta y remató séptima en la general. A esta hora Cynthia Carson descansa en Villa Amengual kilometro 824 para, seguramente, salir a primera hora de mañana a completar el ultimo tramo. Lo que no creo que tenga en cuenta es que la Española Sami Sauri está solo unos 17 kilometros mas atrás y viene avanzando consistentemente por lo que podría provocarse un adelantamiento.

Las duplas también están en llamas. Ayer la dupla 256 de Oviedo y Pellegrini veía amenazada la punta por una equivocación que les hizo andar 60 kilometros de mas. La dupla 260 de San Martin y Gallardo recortaron entonces y fueron al acecho. Cuando Oviedo y Pellegrini pararon a dormir, San Martin y Gallardo tomaron la punta y estuvieron todo el día jugando al gato y el ratón. Finalmente a las 6 de la tarde la dupla 256 decía adiós, ya que uno de los integrantes tuvo una lesión muscular impidiéndoles seguir.

La cosa entonces va así: General

Cap Nombre Resultado

100 Andres Tagle 47:34

109 Cristian Auriemma 53:23

112 Marcin Barwinski 33:57

143 Telmo Hansen 56:40

225 Rama Wieland 57:51

209 Lukasz Ugarenko 60:55

192 Gaspar Rodriguez 61:26

114 Becca Book 61:34

239 Fred Bisi 62:02

223 Lorenzo Riveros a 24 km de meta

Mujeres

Cap Nombre Pais

114 Becca Book USA

119 Cynthia Carson USA

200 Sami Sauri España

152 Adele Lecocq Chile

204 Isi Solari Chile

194 Jéssica Röpcke Brasil

133 Maria Gana Chile

241 Maialen Zabala Chile

Duplas

Cap Nombre

260 Andres San Martin & Simón Gallardo

242 Marcelo Aravena & María Paola Bulla

248 Erik Manriquez & Edison Manriquez

254 Felipe Mura & Luis Urrutia

262 Juan Vidal & José Fuenzalida

252 Rodrigo Villegas & Carlos Muñoz

244 Adriana Cisneros & Ulisses Abbud

Photo: Clemente Diaz

English

Day of full emotions.

Before 7am, Andrés Tagle arrived in Coyhaique, crossing the finish line of his fourth Across Andes in first position. It took him less than 48 hours to complete the 955 kilometers where he was stopped for less than 3 hours.

About 6 hours later Cristian Auriemma finished his third Across Andes, for the second time in the second position.

Marcin Barwiński completed the podium 8:22 behind Andrés. The Pole remained close to the top 10 and last night he attacked to take third place, which was threatened until the last minute by the Brazilian Telmo Hansen who arrived half an hour later.

In the women category, Becca Book remained unstoppable at the top and finished seventh overall. At this time Cynthia Carson is resting in Villa Amengual at kilometer 824 to, surely, leave first thing in the morning to complete the last section. I presume that she don’t know that the Spanish Sami Sauri is only about 17 kilometers further back and has been advancing consistently, which could cause an overtaking.

The duos were also on fire. Yesterday the duo 256 of Oviedo and Pellegrini saw the lead threatened by a mistake that rode 60 kilometers for nothing. The duo 260 of San Martin and Gallardo then take advantage and went on the prowl. Later, when Oviedo and Pellegrini stopped to sleep, San Martin and Gallardo took the lead and spent the entire day (of today) playing cat and mouse. Finally at 6 PM the duo 256 said goodbye to this AcrossAndes since one of the members had a muscle injury preventing them from continuing.

General

Cap Nombre Resultado

100 Andres Tagle 47:34

109 Cristian Auriemma 53:23

112 Marcin Barwinski 33:57

143 Telmo Hansen 56:40

225 Rama Wieland 57:51

209 Lukasz Ugarenko 60:55

192 Gaspar Rodriguez 61:26

114 Becca Book 61:34

239 Fred Bisi 62:02

223 Lorenzo Riveros a 24 km de meta

Mujeres

Cap Nombre Pais

114 Becca Book USA

119 Cynthia Carson USA

200 Sami Sauri España

152 Adele Lecocq Chile

204 Isi Solari Chile

194 Jéssica Röpcke Brasil

133 Maria Gana Chile

241 Maialen Zabala Chile

Duplas

Cap Nombre

260 Andres San Martin & Simón Gallardo

242 Marcelo Aravena & María Paola Bulla

248 Erik Manriquez & Edison Manriquez

254 Felipe Mura & Luis Urrutia

262 Juan Vidal & José Fuenzalida

252 Rodrigo Villegas & Carlos Muñoz

244 Adriana Cisneros & Ulisses Abbud

Photo: Clemente Diaz

Andrés Tagle takes the win at Across Andes Patagonia Verde for the second year in a row in a provisional time of 47 hrs 34 mins! Luckily he'd tested his bad weather kit so well last year, he was ready for a second rain onslaught this time around.

Español

Termina el día dos en Across Andes y ha llovido casi todo el día en la Patagonia.

Anoche a eso de las 00:30 El local Thomas Rodriguez quien marchaba segundo se retiró por problemas técnicos luego de completar la temida cuesta Queulat. Thomas es novato en estas pruebas y fue una sorpresa ver cómo se mantuvo en los primeros lugares el primer día al ritmo de experimentados corredores.

Andrés Tagle desde ayer ha mantenido en el liderato, ya marcó el ultimo CP y marcha directo a meta, aun a unos 180 kilómetros de completar este desafío.

Cristian Auriemma (Italia) ayer llegó a CP1 con su manillar quebrado. Luego de repararlo con lo que encontró a su paso, retomó el segundo lugar y lo ha sabido mantener.

La lucha por el tercer puesto hoy estuvo muy reñida entre el Chileno Lorenzo Riveros y el Polaco Lukasz Ugarenko. Riveros estuvo todo el día con problemas en su transmisión y hace pocos minutos decidió parar en La Junta y soltar el ritmo de carrera.

Becca Book

En mujeres la estadounidense Becca Book se mantiene sólida en la punta y séptima en la general seguida por su compatriota Cynthia Carson quien retoma las carreras luego de un accidente que la dejara fuera de Trans Continental Race. Tercera sigue la española Sami Sauri quien el año no logró terminar por condiciones climáticas.

Sami Sauri. Photo: Clemente Diaz

En duplas la cosa también se ha movido.

La dupla 256 (Carlos Oviedo y Manuel J Pellegrini) venían haciendo un carrerón, muy despegados de sus persecutores: la dupla 260 (Andres San Martin y Simon Gallardo), pero erraron en un desvío lo que les costó una perdida de 60 kilómetros y a esta hora ambas duplas están prácticamente juntas para partir hacia CP3. Terceros marcha la dupla mixta número 242 de Marcelo Aravena y la campeona de 2023 María Paola Bulla.

Se espera que Andres Tagle complete la prueba durante la noche alrededor de las 04:00 y se consagre una vez mas como el Señor AcrossAndes

Posición Numero Nombre País Distancia

1. 100 Andrés Tagle Chile 772km
2. 109 Cristian Auriemma Italia 672km
3. 209 Lukasz Ugarenko Polonia 659km
4. 223 Lorenzo Viveros Chile 636km
5. 112 Marcin Barwiński Polonia
6. 143 Telmo Hansen Brasil
7. 114 Becca Book USA (first woman)
8. 225 Rama Wieland Australia
9. 233 Steven Davis USA
10. 167 Marcelo Mixirica Brasil

English

Day two of the Across Andes is ending and it has rained almost all day in Patagonia.

Last night at around 00:30, local rider Thomas Rodriguez, who was in second place, retired due to technical problems after completing the dreaded Queulat pass. Thomas is a novice in these kinds of races, and it was a surprise to see how he stayed in the top spots on the first day amongst many experienced riders.

Andrés Tagle has maintained top spot since yesterday, he has already ticked off the last CP and is heading straight for the finish line, even though he is about 180 kilometers away from completing this challenge.

Cristian Auriemma (Italy) yesterday arrived at CP1 with his handlebar broken. After repairing it with whatever he found on his way, he took back second place and has managed to maintain it.

The fight for third place today was very close between Chilean Lorenzo Riveros and Polish Lukasz Ugarenko. Riveros have had problems with his transmission all day and currently is slowing his pace.

Becca Book

In the women's category, American Becca Book holds firm at the head of the women’s race and seventh overall, followed by her compatriot Cynthia Carson, who is returning to racing after an accident that left her out of the Transcontinental Race. Third is Spaniard Sami Sauri, who last year was unable to finish due to weather conditions but is back with a vengeance.

Sami Sauri. Photo: Clemente Diaz

In the pairs, things have also changed.

The pair number 256 (Carlos Oviedo and Manuel J Pellegrini) were having a great race, very far from their pursuers: the pair 260 (Andres San Martin and Simon Gallardo), but they made a mistake in a detour, which cost them a loss of 60 kilometers and at this time both pairs are practically together going to to reach CP3. Third is the mixed pair number 242 of Marcelo Aravena and the 2023 champion María Paola Bulla.

I could predict that Andrés Tagle will complete this race during the night around 4 AM and be crowned once again as Mr. AcrossAndes.

Due to the various out-and-backs on the route, the leaderboard is showing as a little skewhiff; those who are yet to tackle the dog leg to CP3 at Lago Verde are being included in the top 10 leaderboard as if they were in La Junta for the return to Coyhaique. The current leaderboard on the ground is as follows:

Posición Numero Nombre País Distancia

1. 100 Andrés Tagle Chile 772km
2. 109 Cristian Auriemma Italia 672km
3. 209 Lukasz Ugarenko Polonia 659km
4. 223 Lorenzo Viveros Chile 636km
5. 112 Marcin Barwiński Polonia
6. 143 Telmo Hansen Brasil
7. 114 Becca Book USA (first woman)
8. 225 Rama Wieland Australia
9. 233 Steven Davis USA
10. 167 Marcelo Mixirica Brasil

The women's leaderboard is at it appears on Follow My Challenge:

Becca Book 619km

Cynthia Carson 574km

Sami Sauri 507km

The leaders are expected to arrive back to Coyhaique in the early hours of the morning so we'll know more then!

Español

Son las 21:30 en Chile y termina el dia cero de Across Andes, la quinta version de esta prueba de 1000 kilometros y 15.000 metros de desnivel que se celebra esta vez (al igual que en 2023) en la patagonia Chilena. Segun la programacion, hoy se realizó el checkin de los corredores en donde se les entrega su GPS tracker, su kit de competencia y se revisa su equipaje obligatorio. Tambien hubo tiempo para una conferencia de prensa y para una charla tecnica en donde Mariano, uno de los creadores de este evento, reveló los ultimos ajustes y detalles del estado de las rutas.

El recorrido de esta version será de 956 kilometros con 13.900 metros de desnivel acumulado que tendrá como base la capital de la región de Aysen, Cohyaique y luego de rodear esta ciudad irá hacia el norte atravesando el majestuoso parque nacional Queulat para adentrarse en la cordillera hasta el poblado de lago verde (cerca del limite con Argentina para luego retornar hacia el mar atravesando Chile a lo ancho. Poseriormente retornarán al sur, cruzando el parque naciona Queulat nuevamete hasta completar el recorrido en Coyhaique.

En esta version el evento cuenta con 151 participantes de 25 nacionalidades desde los 20 a 62 años de edad. Andres Tagle (Chile) en varones y Paola Bulla (Colombia) en damas son los ganadores de la version 2023 y tomarán la partida mañana para defender sus respectivos titulos.

Se espera un clima frío y con lluvia a ratos, aunque en la patagonia nunca se sabe.

Mañana a las 7:30 empieza esta fiesta y estaré compartiendo con ustedes reportes diarios de esta aventura increible.

Saludos! Julen Gallastegui Fotos: @cdiazphoto

English

It’s 21:30 in Chile of the end of day zero of Across Andes, the fifth version is a test of 1,000km and 15,000m of elevation which again celebrates Chilean Patagonia. According to the program, today riders registered where they received their GPS trackers, race kit and had their mandatory equipment checked. It was also the time for a press conference and a technical talk where Mariano, one half of the founding team, revealed the latest adjustments and details of the state of the roads.

This edition will be 956km with 13,900m of elevation accumulated which is based from the Aysen region’s capital of Coyhaique. After going around this city, riders will go north through the majestic Queulat National Park to enter the mountain range to the town of Lago Verde (close to the border with Argentina) and then return towards the sea, crossing Chile. Later, they will return south, crossing the Queulat National Park again until completing the tour in Coyhaique.

In this edition of the event, there are 151 riders from 25 nationalities ranging from 20 to 62 years old. Andrés Tagle (Chile) in the men’s and Paola Bulla (Colombia) in the women’s are the winners of the 2023 edition and they will take part in the race to defend their respective titles.

We are waiting for a cold climate and rain at times, although with Patagonia you can never know.

Tomorrow at 7:30 the party starts and I will be sharing daily reports of this incredible adventure with you.

Saludos! Julen Gallastegui Fotos: @cdiazphoto

Welcome to the 2024 edition of Across Andes! Chile’s original bikepacking race takes to the roads of Patagonia Verde once again for its fifth edition; following in the tyre tracks of last year’s route the 166 riders will tackle a wide diversity of landscapes in one of the lushest areas in South America.

From the start in Coyhaique riders climb into Coyhaique Alto towards the Argentina border for the highest stretch of the route as much of the remaining route is almost at sea level. These uplands are vast and inhospitable, they can be a lonely and windy place so riders have been warned to stock up early in the race before reaching the first checkpoint at the historical Estancia Ñirehuao after 190km of riding. This Estancia is a haven for those who the first 3,000m of climbing has hit hard. There will be hot food available and benches with sheepskin rugs which became their own currency at last year’s event for those who avoided the evening rain which wasn’t forecast to stop for two days.

CP1 Estancia Nirehuao the morning after the night before. Photo: Clemente Diaz.

Riders continue on to reach the Carretera Austral which is notorious amongst cycle tourists after 233km, this road is very much the heart of the route as riders will return to Coyhaique on this very road later in the race. Southern Chile has this one single road which dissects Patagonia from north to south; it was conceived to allow overland access to the south of the country for military purposes. The riders will pass from the farmed valleys north of Coyhaique to the rugged fjords near the Parque Nacional Queulat, but not before tackling the prominent climb on the Carretera after 360km. The tarmac on the Cuesta Queulat is so steep on the south side that the grip on the corners has been improved with some red paint containing a sandlike substance, whereas the northside’s sixteen hairpins have yet to be paved and are still gravel.

Queulat means the sound of waterfalls in Chono, the language of an indigenous peoples, and the sound of the many waterfalls cuts through the silence on the Carretera Austral. Needless to say, riders will have no trouble finding drinking water here.

*Photo: Clemente Diaz"

The first time riders reach La Junta, they will be 420km into the ride and almost halfway, which for many will be the first time they stop for a rest before heading on their first out-and-back leg westward towards the Pacific coast and a ramp crossing Palena River which like most Patagonia rivers is huge: the melting glaciers and snow of the Andes create deep and fast rivers which will be swelling in late spring. Last year, the route crossed the river and included a dotwatcher favourite of a ferry and its schedule, however, the poor weather meant the crossing was cancelled during the race. This uncertainty has caused Mariano and Paulina to leave it out.

Photo: Clemente Diaz

Riders make a U-turn once they reach the ramp back to La Junta and continue eastward deeper into the Andes on a gravel road to Lago Verde. At the end of the road is the third checkpoint at 520km. This small town is remote and beautiful with its immaculate town centre square and views of the steep forested hillsides hovering above the lakes. It’s close to the Argentine border and is rich in the traditional Patagonian gaucho culture such as the horse training arena in Villa Mañihuales earlier in the route and the lucky ones may have a chance of seeing this training in action in this area.

Their return to La Junta is followed by a blitz back down the Carretera Austral back to Coyhaique.

Lago Verde is also the scene of where I foolishly lost my passport when cycle touring after reporting from Across Andes last year, and even though I broke the golden rule of travelling here, I still think it’s gorgeous!

I’ll follow up tomorrow evening with a peak into the names on the start list and some registration excitement!

I’ll be dotwatching from the UK this year with support from those on the ground, as opposed to being at the race like I was last year. I’ll miss the beautiful community Mariano and Paulina have built but dotwatching is a perfect balm for the FOMO.

All reports will be translated and available in Spanish as well!