"Last weekend, Colombian pro downhiller Sebastián Holguín of MS Racing won Red Bull's Valparaíso Cerro Abajo urban DH race on his aluminum belt-drive, gearbox Zerode G3 Downhill bike. As we've heard Gates & Pinion rightfully prosthelytize for several years, the improved suspension performance benefits and kinematic design freedom of a gearbox gravity bike just makes a lot of sense. But we've yet to see one pop up to the top step of an elite DH podium just yet."
"But it is worth noting that this year's Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo had a pretty stacked list of racers, including urban downhill legends, multiple past winners, local heroes, and some proper World Cup downhillers. And the track had plenty of technical challenges for both rider and bike, including the many requisite gaps and massive step-down jumps, a proper rocky dirt section, plus 280 sharp-edged stone & concrete steps."
"Will the Gates €100K Belted Purse be won in 2026? Gates has been enticing pro downhillers with an extra 100,000€ prize to " the first elite racer to win a UCI Downhill event on a belt-driven bike " since 2024. This will be the third season offering the prize, and we think 2026 will be the year they have to pay up."
Colombian pro Sebastián Holguín of MS Racing won Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo riding an aluminum belt-drive, gearbox Zerode G3 downhill bike and set a course record with a commanding gap to second and third. The Zerode G3 emphasizes reduced unsprung mass, improved suspension performance, and kinematic design freedom associated with gearbox gravity bikes. The event featured a stacked field including urban downhill legends, past winners, local heroes, and World Cup downhillers. The course included gaps, massive step-down jumps, a rocky dirt section, and 280 sharp-edged stone and concrete steps. Gates has offered a €100,000 prize since 2024 for the first elite UCI Downhill win on a belt-driven bike, and Holguín's result suggests 2026 could be the year it is claimed.
Read at Bikerumor
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