The Salvadoran Mariana Salazar and the Colombian Camilo Sánchez were the only foreign cyclists who received the highest honors as monarchs of the elite female and male category, respectively, of the 2021 Pan American Downhill Championship, which was held in Sapiranga, Brazil.
With this result, she Mariana closed her 2021 competition calendar and added the fourth Pan American title, since she had previously been an elite continental champion in 2014, 2015 and 2018.
“Mana” Salazar dominated the competition with a time of 4: 19.816 minutes to overtake Brazilians Bruna Ulrich, who completed the track with a time of 5:33, and Nara Faria with a time of 5.38.042.
Mariana also recently finished the 2021 season of the French Downhill Cups, where she placed first in the general table, after playing the three cups of the season, where the Salvadoran added 1,932 points.
For his part, the Colombian Camilo Sánchez needed 3: 23.148 minutes for the gold, ahead of the locals Gabriel Giovanini 3: 23.343 and Lucas E.A de Borba 3: 24.046. “Very happy to be the only foreigner who could get a title here,” he told the South American press after the competition.
The rest of the winners in the youth and Master categories were Brazilian cyclists. Douglas Fausto triumphed in Master A1, Filipe Spader did it in Master B1, while the youth Bruno de Freitas and Liandra Heimann became champions.
Bike Downhill is a modality that consists of descending as quickly as possible a certain route with different irregularities or obstacles on a certain mountain. It is a sport that allows you to be in direct contact with nature and enjoy the maximum adrenaline that a vertiginous descent provides.