Colombian Juanfer Vélez Wins Red Bull Guanajuato Cerro Abajo 2024
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Colombian MTB downhill rider Juanfer Vélez won Red Bull Guanajuato Cerro Abajo 2024 in Mexico on Saturday after he mastered the tricky, narrow course in front of 12,000 spectators.
The first Chilean stop in the 2024 Red Bull Cerro Abajo series saw Brazilian Lucas Borba produce a superb descent to win the 20th edition of Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo in front of 15,000 fans.
For the second consecutive year, the series then returned this weekend to the colonial city of Guanajuato in Mexico with 32 elite global riders challenged by a 1.6km track made unique by its wallrides and drops.
Second in qualifying, Vélez missed the race in Valparaíso after breaking his wrist in early January at the Manizales urban race in Colombia.
Vélez is a master at descending down the multitude of steps on this particular course and he posted a brilliant time of 1:51.212 minutes to win, narrowly beating compatriot Sebastian Holguín with Czech MTB downhill legend Tomáš Slavík taking third with a time of 1:52.478.
Vélez, who won the 2023 Red Bull Cerro Abajo series title from fellow Colombian Camilo Sánchez despite a burst tyre at this season-ending stop last year, said: “I am extremely happy, considering that last year I did not finish (DNF) on this same course. I felt great and very confident. I really love this track and the crowd. I’m very satisfied.”
Borba finished in sixth therefore it remains to be seen who will emerge as the 2024 Red Bull Cerro Abajo series winner with the third and final stop set to take place in Italy in October – the first ever event in Europe.
Red Bull Guanajuato Cerro Abajo Race result
1. Juanfer Vélez (COL) 1:51.212
2. Sebastian Holguín (COL) 1:52.246
3. Tomáš Slavík (CZE) 1:52.478
4. Felipe Agurto (CHI) 1:52.854
5. Camilo Sánchez (COL) 1:54.688
6. Lucas Borba (BRA) 1:55.169
7. Jerónimo Páez (ARG) 1:56.525
8. Gabriel Giovannini (BRA) 1:56.957
9. Bernardo Cruz (BRA) 1:57.169
10. Adrian Loron (FRA) 1:57.213
