During the month of September of each year, in the department of San Rafael, in the south of the province, this mountain bike race takes place that offers the perfect synergy of an extreme race and the most beautiful landscapes of the southern province.
Long is the history of this competition that began in the 90s, with the help of many MTB lovers of those times and that, with the passing of several editions, took shape a singular and hard bike tour with career format in Valle Grande, the entire Atuel Canyon traveled upstream to El Nihuil and returned through the fields, which, between the limits of the dunes and the very edge of the canyon, deposited the cyclist in Arroyo La Frazada (up to this point they had traveled 85 km). From there, along a much easier path, we came back to the starting point in Valle Grande. This difficult and almost mythical journey had a total of 104 km of pure adrenaline. After a few years, the race was diluted.
With some frustrated attempts to resume it, it was not until 2016 that it was reborn into the hands of CE.VE.MA (Malvinas Veterans Center), under the name of Atuel Canyone MTB Challenge.
The last editions have brought together almost 400 runners including the best specialists in the country, which is why it was declared a departmental sports tourism interest by the Tourism Authority of Mendoza.
As for the schedule of activities, this emblematic race begins on Saturday with the competition of Kids that brings together children from 4 to 12 years who have the opportunity to take their first steps and also show their qualities. For them, a circuit has been developed in the forest of Camping La Ensenada and part of the hill of that place.
While the following Sunday, starting at 8, is the competitive race. In total there are 75 km of route, where there are also 21 categories on stage in both the male and female branches. Regarding the route, it starts at the El Nihuil dam and has its culmination at the Valle Grande dike, with the special seasoning that the biker transits the main stage that is the Atuel Canyon. For their part, the promotional will cover a route of 54 kilometers. An experience for lovers of this sport, without equal!
