Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – If you are looking for a unique outdoor activity that’s sure to cure your Covid quarantine blues, look no further than the Puerto Vallarta-San Sebastian Challenge, a 70 kilometer bike ride from the coast to a mountain village perched 1,500 meters above sea level.
Set to hit the road on Saturday, November 21 at 7:00 am, the ‘From Paradise to Magic Town’ bicycle challenge will take participants on a 3 to 6 hour ride from the tropical paradise of Puerto Vallarta to San Sebastian del Oeste, the Pueblo Mágico nestled high in the Western Sierra Madre.
Intermediate and professional cyclists ages 14 and up who have a road or mountain bike, and are capable of meeting the challenge presented by a 70 km ride from the beach to the mountains at an accumulated altitude of 1,500m, are invited to participate. (Training prior to the event is recommended.)
This once-in-a-lifetime bicycle adventure will begin at the humpback whale sculpture at the entrance to Marina Vallarta and follow Francisco Medina Ascencio until it connects with State Highway 544, which leads to San Sebastián del Oeste.
As the road climbs into the mountains you’ll see beautiful landscapes and diverse vegetation – from palm trees to pines – and pass through several towns that offer a glimpse of rural Mexican life. As you pedal along, you’ll also notice a change in the weather – from the humid and tropical climate of the beach to the cool fresh air of the mountains – all of which makes this bicycle ride an experience for all the senses.
Along the way, there will also be a special 5.5 kilometers chrono-climbing uphill race, from the Crystal bridge in El Progreso to La Estancia, with great prizes from the sponsors awarded to the winners of the first three places in the men’s and women’s categories.
For participants’ safety and well-being, riders will be accompanied by a police guard and medical escort, and hydration and nutrition stations will be scattered along the route, in Las Palmas, Palmillas de Macedo, Puente Progreso, La Estancia, Crucero de San Ignacio and San Sebastián, according to Francisco Javier Ortiz, one of the event organizers.
If you are a cycling fan, will you accept the Puerto Vallarta-San Sebastian Challenge?
Registration is now open at cronohub.com. Prices vary depending on your registration date, starting with $550 pesos until October 15, $650 pesos until November 19, and $750 pesos on the day of the event.
Registration fees include a commemorative medal and cotton shirt, participant number, medical insurance for accidents, basic mechanical support, food, hydration, discount coupons and a bracelet for the raffle of a bicycle. Participants can pick up their ‘race kits’ on Friday, November 20 from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm in Marina Vallarta. Transportation back to Puerto Vallarta is at the participant’s expense.
For more information and registration, visit cronohub.com.
