Manu Tajada: "In the Titan Forest Patagonia it was clear from the beginning to introduce the gravel mode independent of the mountain bike, as will also be seen in the Skoda Titan Desert Morocco"
Manu, how many participants will there be this year in the second edition of the Titan Forest Patagonia?
We have a total of 115 participants, 26 of them in the gravel category. It’s almost double what it was last year. Of these registered, twelve are women, eleven of them are registered in mountain bike and one in gravel.
What would be the main new features of this second edition?
First, the location. 100% is new. We have gone from Coyhaique to Cerro Castillo. The four stages are new and the great novelty within the Titan World Series is that this will be the first time that there is a gravel mode independent of mountain biking.
We have gone from Coyhaique to Cerro Castillo. The four stages are new and the great novelty within the Titan World Series is that this will be the first time that there is a gravel mode independent of mountain biking
What makes this test unique?
Without a doubt, the adventure and the location. It is a place very far from what we are used to doing in the Titan World Series and the landscapes of this area are unique to this location. We are at the foot of Cerro Castillo, which is a mountain that is above the camp and is the most beautiful part of the route.
Who would be the top contenders for the podium?
In mountain biking, Oriol Colomé, local Pipo Rodríguez and Ondrej Fojtik, who has already won a SkodaTitan Desert Morocco. In girls, Ana Ramírez, who has won several editions of the SkodaTitan Desert Titan Desert, and in gravel Dani Moreno.
Titan Forest Patagonia is unique for its adventure and location. It is a place very far from what we are used to doing in the Titan World Series and the landscapes of this area are unique
How do you manage to plan the two alternatives, MTB and gravel, in each stage?
It is the first time that the two modalities are disputed. There are eight different routes, four mountain bike and four gravel, of which there are common kilometers, but in the more technical trail areas I separate them into more gravel tracks.
There are four stages of the Titan Forest Patagonia, is this a correct number or could there be more?
Four is the ideal format in the Titan World Series, leaving a much tougher race for six days, with a much tougher component and a navigation stage that is the six days of the Titan Desert Morocco.
In Morocco there will be a gravel modality with six stages completely different from mountain biking. The reality of cycling today is that there is a large group of potential participants who practice gravel instead of MTB
What support is the race having in the area?
Very good, from the entire Aysén region, from all the institutions, from the city, from the small town of Cerro Castillo, any institution is dedicated to the race, considering it as one of the most important events that happen here throughout the year.
What would be the DNA of the Titan Forest Patagonia?
Of all the Titan World Series locations, this is undoubtedly the most adventurous and least competitive due to the remoteness component where we are, the type of courses and also the race format.
Were you clear from the beginning to include gravel in the Titan Forest Patagonia?
Yes, because Patagonia allows for gravel racing, unlike Mexico (Durango Titan Desert Mexico) where there is not, because the orography of the terrain does not allow it.
The third edition of the Titan Forest Patagonia is guaranteed. We are waiting for where the new location will be and we are already working on other areas of Patagonia
Yes, there will be gravel in the Skoda Titan Desert Morroco.
Yes, in Morocco there will be a gravel modality with six stages completely different from mountain biking, because the reality of current cycling is that there is a large group of possible participants who practice gravel instead of MTB.
Do you expect a high number of gravel cyclists in Morocco?
It won’t be a large number, but I do trust that 25% or 30% of those registered will be gravel riders.
These days the second edition of the Titan Forest Patagonia is taking place, do you already have the route of the third in mind?
Yes, yes, the third edition is guaranteed. We are waiting for where the new location will be and we are already working on other areas of Patagonia.
