Brazil - 9th Urban DH of Santos

Jan 25, 2011 at 8:02

For the 9th year, the city of Santos, localized in the south coast of Sao Paulo's state, will host Brazil's biggest urban race : The "Descida das Escadas de Santos" (that can be translated to Santos' Stair Descent).

The race will take part on the first weekend of February, days 5 and 6, and the schedule also includes course walk on the 3rd and practice on the 4th. The course is in the fact a 417-steps stairway that gives access the Church of Our Lady of Monte Serrat, built in 1603 and one of the major tourist spots of the city. The actual record belongs to the Slovak Filip "Polcster" Polc, set in 2010 and incredibly under the 1 minute mark : 59s152!

International riders
For 2011 the entry list will be more international than ever. And for the first time, we'll have more than one World Champion on the track.

2003's Men DH Champ Greg Minnaar and 2009's Women DH Champ Emmeline Ragot will bring their rainbow jersey experience to the race. But they'll be among a huge list of international and local talents, such as :

Filip Polc, current King of Mont Serrat

Men
* The current "King of Mont Serrat", Filip Polc - 28 anos, Slovakia
* Cedric Gracia, France. Cedric was the first international racer to come over, winning in 2003 and 2007. He definitely was an eye opener to other foreign racers.

Greg Minaar, the freshman of this year's race

* Marc Beaumont, England. First year for 2010's #5 on UCI World Cup, he'll have a tough mission ahead.
* Chris Van Dine, EUA. Last year he had a visa problem and got stuck in Chile for a few days. He arrived on the end of the quali day and didn't have time to get to know the course enough to make into the finals.
* Antonio Leiva, Chile. Second year for 2006's Panamerican Champion. Leiva it's a local legend in Chile and can improve last year's 7th place.
* Mario Jarrin, Ecuador. Biggest name on his country, Jarrin got 8th last year and been competing in Santos since 2003.
* Sebastian Vasquez, Chile. - 11 times Chile's National Champion, 5 times Panamerican Champion and current Master A2 World Champions will try to put his name back on the 10 fastest riders of the event.

Emmiline Ragot, another world champ in Santos

Women
- Katie Holden, EUA. California talent, Katie will debut on urban races in Santos. She was 2009's Panamerican Champion and 2009's Pro Tour Champion.
- Fionn Griffiths, England. Fionn will return to Brazil after 2005's WC in Balneario Camboriu and will keep an eye on local legend Luana Oliveira and also in her teammate Ragot.
- Dianna Magraff, Ecuador. Won in 2004 and want her crown back in 2011.

Katie Holden

Local jewels
Brazil has its own superstar team and together they'll definitely aim for the crowns of king and queen of Mont Serrat. Here they are:

* Wallace Miranda : 2 times winner and former Brazilian National Champion, he already said that he wants to get back on top. Off season for him was a MX season, so well see how a dirtbike will influence his riding.

Wallace Miranda, that will fight back in 2011

* Markolf Berchtold : Brazil's most well know rider. 5 times Panamerican Champion, 8 times Brazilian Champion, besides his international experience in teams such as Global Racing, that revealed Mick Hannah and Greg Minaar. He said that he performs better in pressure scenarios, so he'll come more motivaded than ever.

Local legend Markolf Berchtold

* Luana Oliveira : Actual Queen of Mont Serrat. She impressed the world in 2010's 4x Worlds in Mont Sant-Anne by winning the small final in a DH bike, girls will have a tough time trying to beat her.

You can recognize Luana from 2010's 4X Worlds

* Bruna Ulrich : Another talented women. She is a former National Champion and last year's winner of the qualify day. Training hard since the beginning of the year, Bruna it's pointed as one of the candidates for the title.

And it's gonna be LIVE
Since 2009 the race has been broadcast live on TV Globo, the biggest satellite television in Brazil. The urban race takes part in a sport show called Spectacular Sport, that it's aired all Sunday morning. The race is one of the events that compose a group called Spectacular Summer, a bunch of summer sports competitions that happens between December and the end of February.

Getting all news
You can check what's going on in the official website www.descidadasescadasdesantos.com (link for a translated version here) or in DHBrasil.com.br.

The 9th Descida das Escadas de Santos is organized and managed by the Liga de Ciclismo do Litoral do Estado de São Paulo (Liesp) and brought to you by Riachuelo, Redecard , Night Power, Oi, Sedex, Wizard and Caixa Econômica Federal. The race is also supported by HDI Seguros e Peugeot, Prefeitura de Santos, Sociedade de Melhoramentos do Monte Serrat (SMMS) and Time Eventos. Marketing by ReUnion Sports & Marketing.

Must Read This Week

1. Kona Entourage - Tested 34995 reads
2. Movies for Your Monday 32262 reads
3. First Look: 2013 X-Fusion - Oversized, 34mm Trail Forks, Slippery Coatings and a Wild-Looking XC Shock 28626 reads
4. Pinkbike Product Picks 27075 reads
5. Ultramontane No. 03 23285 reads
6. Valparaiso Urban Downhill - Photos from the Race 21173 reads
7. Sequence Saturday 7 20508 reads
8. Tech tuesday - RockShox BoXXer TLC 19312 reads

50 Comments

Score Time

richierocket (Jan 31, 2011 at 5:21)

I'm a Canadian living overseas (Korea vs Brazil)but I wish I was elsewhere... Tremendous athletes here (Korea)but organization skills are weak as heck and the curses are short, way too tight(probably due to size) and not nearly technical enough. Still love ANYTHING on two wheels though! Hahaha, hate it/me! I Love PB!

[Reply]

mudmandhbrazil (Feb 2, 2011 at 9:40)

This race is one of the most amazing downhill urban races in the world. The track is vertical, big stairs and jumps, no pedal parts, only braking… I’ve been racing there in 2003 (first DHU) and 2004 when I met Cedric Gracia that won the race. The organizers had trouble with the race in 2005, the rain cut off some lights of the track and the race was at night. But know this race is the most and only popular downhill race in Brazil because they show the race live in the most popular Brazilian tv channel. This year will be a dream race with Greg Big air Minnar and many others top pro DH racers. This Sunday the ground will shake hard in Santos my friends!!! Congratulations to the organizers that are very professional and will do this amazing race live in the TV. Tv in Brazil only show soccer so this race is an amazing achievement for Downhill in Brazil.
Other amazing Downhill urban race was de Red Bull Desafio do Morro here in Rio de Janeiro, the track was much longer, steeper and hard, but it was only one race.

[Reply]

annimaxdh (Feb 2, 2011 at 22:41)

The Harder one is Valparaiso Cerro Abajo in Chile, much harder than santos, even harder than Lisboa down town, the gaps are bigger, the obstacles much harder and the stairs, way more stepper.
Check this Photo album to se a really extreme Urban DH Race. http://annimaxdh.pinkbike.com/album/Valparaiso-Cerro-Abajo/
I wonder wich international MTB stars will have the guts to ride it this year.
Cheers!

[Reply]

marcelotime (Feb 13, 2011 at 18:25)

Não sei se somos a mais dura...ou a mais técnica.....mas com certeza somos os mais assistidos....11 pontos de audiência em uma das maiores emissoras de televisão do mundo....53 pa'ses assistiram o evento em tempo real. A Descida das Escadas de Santos ou Downhill Urbano Brasil se prepara para fazer a maior festa do Downhill mundial em 2012..uma edição especial..10 anos de prova.

Esperamos todos aqui em Santos....

Site oficial: http://www.descidadasescadasdesantos.com.br/
Algumas imagens: http://www.tvtribuna.com/videos/?video=6683&idcat=20

[Reply]

TheDudinator (Jan 31, 2011 at 14:11)

Brasil ftw! My family lives close to Santos (Praia Grande) and i have not yet participated in any bike-race in Brasil right now... That'd be my dream!!

[Reply]

joebunn (Jan 31, 2011 at 11:16)

Small error, but it was bugging me: where you wrote localized, I think you meant located. This race should be fun, that's a lot of stairs!

rchavarria (Jan 31, 2011 at 11:33)

No worries, lesson learned!
Cheers.

joebunn (Jan 31, 2011 at 14:17)

De Nada!

[Reply]

Bashment (Jan 31, 2011 at 1:20)

damn looks sweet Go MINNNNNAR 4 the win

[Reply]

kingpin2607 (Jan 31, 2011 at 2:29)

POLC GO GO GO !

Havros (Jan 31, 2011 at 11:14)

Fingers crossed for Filip Polc!

Strawberry1 (Feb 1, 2011 at 11:40)

Polc - Majster!!!!!!

[Reply]

sixthelement (Jan 31, 2011 at 3:57)

And do not forget that the winner of the Lisbon Downtown 2010 will also be there!!

[Reply]

juliodh (Jan 25, 2011 at 8:55)

it`s gonna be a really great fight!

+ 14

lewisstp (Jan 31, 2011 at 0:28)

Love that pic of minnar! Big Grin

tom-cuthbert (Jan 31, 2011 at 2:16)

Emmiline Ragot is haaaawt Razz

DirtyDee (Jan 31, 2011 at 3:56)

^Agreed^

Mr-Lemon (Jan 31, 2011 at 9:28)

Nah she really isnt.....

skibbe (Jan 31, 2011 at 16:21)

sorry for the neg props, it was meant to be positive. haha

tom-cuthbert (Jan 31, 2011 at 17:01)

Not in this photo, but in person she is.

zorba73 (Jan 31, 2011 at 19:01)

So, my mum's a nice person. What are you saying about my mum?

doug13 (Jan 31, 2011 at 23:08)

Emmiline is hot, but I believe she's a vegetarian. Frown

Mr-Lemon (Feb 1, 2011 at 11:53)

What difference does that make ^^
what are you on about? im sure your mum is a nice person.... a very nice person Smile

doug13 (Feb 1, 2011 at 22:39)

As in she doesn't like munching on sausages.

zorba73 (Feb 2, 2011 at 12:38)

Or just likes to eat the doner kebab?

[Reply]

Paul26 (Jan 31, 2011 at 6:18)

We gonna have a NICE SUNDAY RACE DAY.
With soo many mulatas , caipirinhas and DOWNHILL.

[Reply]

tocadacapivara (Jan 31, 2011 at 5:27)

Dá lhe Brasil!

Go Brazilians!

[Reply]

annimaxdh (Feb 2, 2011 at 23:54)

By the way... Luana... Every year U look nicer and nicer!
Espero ver novamente voçe en Valparaiso este año!

[Reply]

seba (Jan 31, 2011 at 21:40)

AND ....ANTONIO LEIVA..... FROM CHILE... THE FASTEST MAN OF LATINOAMERICA....

[Reply]

annimaxdh (Jan 31, 2011 at 22:57)

Even Bigger, Much Harder... Valparaiso Cerro Abajo (Valparaiso Down town) in Valparaiso, Chile is comming up next after Santos, on Feb 20th
I wonder if Minaar will have the guts to go race there.
You can ask Polcster how was this race on last year.
Or also you can check the pics I have in the Valparaiso Cerro Abajo Album:
http://annimaxdh.pinkbike.com/album/Valparaiso-Cerro-Abajo/
Greetings from Chile!

[Reply]

Potok (Jan 31, 2011 at 2:48)

Filip Polk to vyhraje! Big Grin

[Reply]

Gibatronic (Jan 31, 2011 at 8:25)

uhuuuuu! I wish the best for Markolf and Wallace!
hope they make a good race and win that shit!

[Reply]

gsilva (Jan 31, 2011 at 4:52)

Santos in this weekend..Lets go down on the stairs race!!!
Good topic Raul.

[Reply]

northwestdhdad (Jan 31, 2011 at 10:11)

Would love to race this event.

[Reply]

annimaxdh (Jan 31, 2011 at 8:18)

[Reply]

Gibatronic (Jan 31, 2011 at 8:30)

...nice site pinkbike, I thought the submit button didn't work! it seems that I was wrong, please... put something like "submitting"

[Reply]

JulioFr (Feb 1, 2011 at 4:59)

Nice, this time it will be very international event
Go Go Wallace and Markolf \o/

[Reply]

maraburton (Feb 2, 2011 at 9:08)

FILIP šrooobuj šrooobuj

[Reply]

kubqo (Jan 31, 2011 at 10:20)

ouu.. filip polc is best Big Grin

[Reply]

ThiagoDownhill (Jan 31, 2011 at 15:03)

vai ser fera o DHU de 2011 .todo mundo ligado...

[Reply]

euforiaz (Jan 31, 2011 at 9:22)

..this race sounds like so much fun, love urban DH!!

[Reply]

stevie123 (Jan 31, 2011 at 14:17)

this guy needs to get over to nz

[Reply]

FERNANDOXXX (Jan 31, 2011 at 14:23)

let's go MARKOLF!!!!!!!!To win!

[Reply]

hgcsfreeride (Feb 5, 2011 at 9:10)

vamo que vamo wallace boa sortee!!!!!!

[Reply]

pellegrinimtb (Jan 31, 2011 at 10:48)

Wow. Greg "Big Air" Minaar will rule this thing!

[Reply]

djbruno (Jan 31, 2011 at 14:14)

yeah! let`s go buddys!!!

[Reply]

JoaoPaulocavalo (Jan 31, 2011 at 10:08)

é nois...

[Reply]

hugslyh (Jan 31, 2011 at 13:26)

lol epic

[Reply]

jamisdiabloDH (Jan 31, 2011 at 16:50)

vai ser loco de maais

[Reply]

diogodavinha (Feb 2, 2011 at 17:39)

GREAT EVENT!!!

[Reply]