Ever watch a race and wonder what it feels like to push the absolute limit, where one tiny mistake means disaster?
That’s the feeling of Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo, an urban downhill race that turns the colorful, chaotic streets of a Chilean port city into one of the wildest mountain biking tracks on Earth.
Forget dirt trails. We’re talking about riders hitting speeds over 50 km/h down steep stairways, launching off rooftops, and whipping through someone’s actual living room. It’s as insane as it sounds.
I’m going to walk you through what makes this race a legend, spotlight five champions who conquered its concrete chaos, and share some of the wildest moments from the track. Let’s get into it.
Key Takeaways
The Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo is a legendary urban downhill race in Valparaíso, Chile, a city so unique it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Four-time champion Tomáš Slavík cemented his legacy by winning the 2025 race, tying the all-time win record. His winning time was a blistering 2 minutes and 18.828 seconds.
The 2024 race saw Lucas Borba become the first Brazilian to win, with a time of 2:18.674, often in front of crowds of over 15,000 spectators.
The course is a brutal, nearly 2-kilometer dash from the top of Cerro Cárcel down to Plaza Aníbal Pinto, featuring man-made jumps and ridiculously narrow alleys.
The event is a cornerstone of the global Red Bull Cerro Abajo series, which also includes insane urban races in Mexico and Italy.
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The Significance of Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo
This isn’t just another race. It’s a full-blown spectacle that throws elite mountain bikers into an environment that’s actively trying to take them out. It’s the ultimate test of speed and nerve.
Unique urban downhill challenge
Riders blast down the gritty hills of Valparaíso, a city famous for its steep, winding streets and vibrant art. The course is a maze of stair sets, rooftop drops, and even a section that goes right through a residential house.
This isn’t just about being fast, it’s about survival. Missing a handmade obstacle, like the notorious “wallride of Atahualpa,” can get you a 5-second penalty, which is more than enough to kill your shot at the podium.
Even the best in the world know the risks.
If you’re not scared at least once on this course, you’re probably doing it wrong. [cite: ]
– Tomáš Slavík, four-time champion
Concrete bites back way harder than dirt, and the tight turns demand absolute precision. It’s an adrenaline sport in its purest form, where a single slip-up ends your run.
Impact on the global mountain biking community
Since it was first launched by a group of local riders in 2003, this race has become a global phenomenon. By 2005, it was added to the UCI global ranking list, putting it on every serious mountain biker’s radar.
Today, it attracts competitors from all over the world and pulls in huge viewership numbers. The 2024 race, for example, saw a peak of over 33,000 live viewers on platforms like Red Bull TV and TVN.
This race has firmly planted Chile on the map as a premier destination for urban biking contests. It has also helped popularize the sport in general, inspiring countless people to look into hobbies for sports lovers or check out mountain biking news feeds to follow the action.
Notable Winners and Records
To win here, you need more than just skill, you need nerves of steel. These are the riders who have proven time and again that they have what it takes to be crowned the “King of the Port.”
Top champions and their achievements
The leaderboard for this event reads like a who’s who of urban downhill royalty. Three men stand at the pinnacle, each with a record-tying four victories.
- Tomáš Slavík (Czech Republic): A true force in the sport, Slavík took home titles in 2017, 2018, 2023, and most recently in 2025. His wins are a testament to his incredible consistency and power.
- Filip Polc (Slovakia): Another European powerhouse, Polc dominated in earlier years, also racking up four impressive victories.
- Antonio Leiva (Chile): The hometown hero, Leiva was one of the earliest riders to master these streets, claiming four titles and showing the world what Chilean riders are made of.
Other notable champions include France’s Cédric Gracia, who grabbed two wins in 2007 and 2009, and Chile’s Pedro Ferreira, who conquered the course in both 2019 and 2022.
In the women’s races, Chile’s own Bernardita Pizarro won three consecutive titles from 2004 to 2006, while Luana Oliveira of Brazil also secured three championships in 2008, 2010, and 2012.
Highlights of Recent Events
The last couple of years have delivered some of the most dramatic moments in the race’s history, from redemption stories to heartbreaking crashes.
The King’s Redemption: 2025 Race
The 2025 race was all about redemption for Tomáš Slavík. After a snapped chain forced him out of the 2024 race just seconds into his run, he came back with a vengeance.
The competition was fierce. The fastest qualifier, Juanfer Vélez of Colombia, was on a blistering run and ahead of Slavík’s pace until he lost traction on a dusty asphalt corner and crashed. This opened the door for Slavík, who put down a nearly perfect run to win by just 0.201 seconds over Chilean rider Felipe Agurto.
His victory secured his record-tying fourth title, a legendary comeback story for one of the sport’s greatest.
A First for Brazil: 2024 Race
With Tomáš Slavík out early due to that mechanical failure, the door was wide open for a new champion in 2024. Brazilian rider Lucas Borba seized the opportunity, throwing down an incredible run to win his first Valparaíso title.
It was a historic moment, marking the first time a rider from Brazil has ever won the event. The victory was incredibly close, with Borba edging out Felipe Agurto by just over a tenth of a second in front of a massive crowd of 15,000 fans.
The Unmatched Legacy of Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo
After more than two decades, the Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo has more than earned its reputation. It’s not just a race, it’s a piece of mountain biking culture.
The 21st running in 2025 was a perfect example of why this event is so special. It had drama, with the favorite crashing out. It had a legendary performance, with Tomáš Slavík coming back from disappointment to tie the all-time record. And it had a razor-thin margin of victory that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
This race turns an entire city into a stadium and pushes the best mountain bikers on the planet to their absolute limits. There’s nothing else quite like it.
People Also Ask
What is Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo and why do people talk about it?
Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo is a legendary urban downhill race held on the steep, winding streets of Valparaíso, Chile since 2003. Riders navigate a nearly 2-kilometer course filled with massive stair sets, rooftop drops, and even ride through a house, making it one of the most extreme events in mountain biking. The race is so intense that over 15,000 fans gather to watch who will be crowned the “King of the Port.”
Who are some champions who conquered this event?
Recent winners include Brazil’s Lucas Borba, who took the title in 2024, and Czech legend Tomáš Slavík, who won his fourth title in 2025. Slavík is now tied with Antonio Leiva and Filip Polc for the most wins in the event’s history.
How hard is it for bikers to win at Valparaíso Cerro Abajo?
Winning requires absolute precision at speeds hitting over 50 km/h on a course that drops through narrow alleys and over insane man-made features.
Why does this race matter so much in mountain biking?
This race is a major stop in the Red Bull Cerro Abajo series and is famous for its raw, unpredictable urban environment that tests rider skill unlike any other course.
