To start off at Bahía Inglesa and reach the snowcapped Ojos del Salado at over 22,000 feet above sea level was the challenge chosen by German sportsman Guido Kunze, who established a new world altitude cycling record, registered in a documentary that will be seen all over Europe and the whole globe in the next few months.

 

The route followed by Kunze begins at Bahía Inglesa, continuing towards Copiapó until reaching the International Road, and later La Puerta sector, the Nevado Tres Cruces and finally, the Ojos del Salado Volcano, a spot that generates a lot of interest abroad, due to its altitude and natural attractions.

 

For this first documented world altitude cycling record, Kunze designed a special all-terrain bicycle capable of withstanding water, road, city, mountain and, in this case, volcanic sand tracks that surrounded his goal.

 

Martin Burchroithner, part of Kunze´s team, explained the main reason that led them to choose Atacama for this world record.  “There are not many places where you can begin at the beach and reach over 19 thousand feet in a short period of time.”

 

Pedaling 37 hours and 12 minutes, the sportsman was able to pass the altitude mark, even over what was expected, in the second highest volcano of South America.  Kunze completed the journey in 57 hours (considering pedaling and rest) until reaching the altitude of 20 thousand 449 feet.  This way, the sportsman surpassed the mark established by André Hauschke, also German, who had reached the altitude of 19 thousand 964 feet on his bicycle back in 2010.