EL MARIO CIRCUIT

Downhill on Cerro Catedral

EL MARIO CIRCUIT

Downhill on Cerro Catedral

Distance:

distancia

8 Kms

Incline:

-32%

Elevation:

ico_desnivel

531 mts

Difficulty:

ico_dificultad

4

HOW TO RATE THE DIFFICULTY OF A ROUTE OR A BICYCLE CIRCUIT?

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY:

1- Very easy: A very easy circuit, is suitable for people who can ride a bike on flat asphalt roads and then stop without stumbling. You must have basic notions of braking and shifting. You must have sufficient balance to ride the bike in a straight line without making sudden involuntary maneuvers to the sides.

2- Easy: to pedal on an easy circuit you need to have fluid shifting management that allows you to climb an asphalt slope or pedal on a flat surface without making greater effort, optimizing the energy of your legs at all times. You must also know how to differentiate and use both brakes correctly, the front and the rear.

3- Intermediate: to pedal a circuit of intermediate difficulty, you must master the skills mentioned above, both on asphalt and gravel roads and on low difficulty trails. You must also have an understanding of the correct body position on different terrains and braking precision on slippery terrain and on descents. It is important that you skillfully handle the gear change, both the plates and the sprockets.

4- Difficult: a difficult circuit is suitable for experienced cyclists who know how to pedal on uneven terrain with obstacles, climbs, descents and adverse conditions, such as mud, sand or stones. The cyclist must have good control and control the bicycle at all times, optimizing performance through precise use of gears. It is also necessary to understand how to take advantage of the acceleration of descents to successfully overcome dirt climbs and obstacles such as logs or loose rock.

5- Expert: to master an expert level circuit, it is necessary to train regularly and have physical strength. The pilot must be able to perform jumps and maneuvers at high speed without losing control at any time. It is necessary to master all pedaling, turning and braking techniques on narrow trails with steep slopes of more than 30%, and know how to avoid obstacles such as steps, rocks, roots and slippery ground with mud or dust.

 

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY:
We cannot rate the physical difficulty of a bike route, since it strictly depends on the level of training that each person has. As a reference we can say that 35 kilometers by bike is approximately equivalent to 10 kilometers on foot. Circuits with many meters of ascent and gravel surface are more demanding from a physical point of view. In conclusion, we can affirm that a person with an average training, can pedal a distance of 35 to 45 kilometers without major inconvenience, during a period of 4 to 5 hours including rest stops.

If you opt for an e-bike, the physical effort decreases considerably, up to 60% less depending on your riding and pedaling skills.

DIFFICULTY: 4

LOCATION: Cerro Catedral slope Condor 2

DESCRIPTION

Cerro Catedral has three well-defined downhill DH circuits. The best known is Open Shimano, then IXS circuit and finally EL Mario, built in 2021 as a variant for the Shimano Latam competition. The circuit was named “Mario” in tribute to the ski patrol chief Mario Ruiz who died in winter 2020 as a result of an avalanche. This trail runs along Condor 2 and Condor 1 ski slopes. It has technical sections inside the forest and fast sections outside it.

HOW TO GET THERE

You must ascend from the base of Cerro Catedral to the Plaza Oertel area along the ABC 1 ski path. From Plaza take the path that connects to Militares chairlift. From there, you must connect to the Condor 2 area, where the trail begins. Download the track and follow the route because if you don’t know the mountain well, you may not find the trail head.

SUGGESTED BIKE:

ENDURO

DH

MAPS & GPS

Circuit colors indicate type of surface

Singletrack

Gravel

Asphalt

To view the trail on your cell phone, you must first download Maps.me app. from GPS APPLICATIONS.

Then download the trail in .KML extension with DOWNLOAD TRAIL button and open it with the app. You will be able to see the track and your relative position without data connection anytime, anywhere.

Rent our bicycles or guide service to ride this trail. Ask about our cycling tours. If you are addicted to cycling trips, explore guided or self-guided multiday tours.