After a two-year coronavirus break, Chile's legendary city race is back. Valparaíso is considered one of the most difficult courses in the urban downhill series. It is almost 2.4 kilometres long, peppered with 1605 steps and technical drops over rooftops. The riders have to shorten their handlebars to get through the narrow alleyways better. It is a very strenuous and dangerous route for the riders. Bernard Kerr, for example, had a serious crash in qualifying. Fortunately, he was uninjured, but he had to sit out the final.
This year, 30 top international athletes competed. The event was split into two days. Trackwalk and training took place on the first day. Qualifying and the race took place on the second day. The excitement continued right up to the last rider. The times of the top five riders were very close to each other. First and second place were separated by just 0.04 seconds. Fischi was also only two tenths behind.
Johannes on his race day: "I'm extremely happy with my third place, I knew that I had a chance of making the podium after the first run. That's why I gave it my all, drove the course cleanly and round and pushed myself to the absolute limit on the stairs."
The race in Valparaíso may have taken place for the 18th time, but there is still no shortage of extremes. These narrow and technical passages are pure thrills every time.
The video diary of Johannes Fischbach.
