On Sunday the second annual Trans-Mexicana mountain bike race got underway from the village of Huatulco on Mexico's Pacific Coast. 45 riders have set out on the 765km (475 mile) course that will take them through deserts, dense forests, rolling hill country, and across rivers before eventually ending in Vera Cruz on the Gulf of Mexico Coast on the 1st of March.
The stage race was a big success last year, with some of the top mountain bikers in the world on hand to test their skills. Last year's champ Lupillo Cruz returns to defend his crown, which won't be easy. Cruz won by just 22 seconds in the first Trans-Mexicana, which is practically a photo finish for a race of this length. The course for this year's event is the same as last year, just done in reverse, and the riders can look forward to long climbs guaranteed to have their legs aching, only to reach the top, so they can bomb down the other side.
Corey Wallace, who finished second last year, has already begun filing race reports over at SleepMonsters.com. He has a some pre-race thoughts posted here as well as an update from the field after the first two stages, which he's posted here.
After last year's Trans-Mexicana I heard lots of great things from a couple of riders. It seems that it's wonderfully challenging rides during the day, and a great experience at night in the villages that they pass through. There is said to be a great camaraderie out on the course as well with everyone having fun and enjoying the trip across Mexico. Looks like a great event.
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