Huairasinchi will be starting this year in the village of Cotacachi. Surrounded by farmland, expansive lakes, and slopes that sweep upward to the surrounding mountains, there is no lack of breathtaking scenery. Race check-in seemed to go smoothly today with racers registering and picking up their swag and initial race packets.

Day one will kick off with teams on bike. In fact there will be quite a bit of biking in this race. Over 141 miles (227 km) to be exact. Later in the day they will be paddling and trekking. Also part of the first day’s disciplines will be a Tyrolean traverse. For those of you unfamiliar, a Tyrolean traverse is basically a zip line across an expanse, often a canyon or river. This year’s traverse will be 200 meters across!

Forty four teams are taking to the Andes this year, 16 of which are in the Elite class. The majority of teams are Ecuadorian and Colombian. Buff Thermocool will be the team to watch in the Elite class as they were the victors last year and caught everyone’s eye when announced at the opening ceremonies. A mixture of Spanish, French, and Finnish teammates they are tough and know how to win this race. Team Ecuador Chevrolet should also prove to be a strong contender this year as well.

One particular team already stealing the limelight is Untamed New England. The first all-female team to compete in Huairasinchi they drew the most applause by far when announced. I sat down with captain Leanne Mueller and her team after the briefing. Here is what they had to say about the race.

Team Untamed New England

AWM: How did you prepare for the race? Any changes to your training schedule for Huairasinchi in particular?

Leanne: We found out we were coming the week before Christmas. We held back on the Christmas treats. We also looked at altitude training tents, they were $5,000, so decided not to do that. Trish and Nikki started their training as soon as they found out. They went on a fast track. Sarah broke her ribs the day before Christmas.

Sarah: Yeah I was out two solid weeks. Then I could sit on a spin bike. Then other training, and soon it was time to slow down for the race.

AWM: What are your plans for competing in other races this year?

Leanne: I’m signed up for Untamed New England.
Trish: I’ll be doing some mountain bike stage racing.

AWM: Is there a particular stage you are worried about or dreading?

Trish: No, but we’re afraid of bulls. Someone at our hostel was chased by a bull.

AWM: Any favorite energy snacks?

Nicola: Hearty Snacks!
Group: Chocolate and Banana Bread.