The second round of the 2026 Open Shimano Latam took place in Cuenca, Ecuador, on August 8th and 9th, bringing top downhill mountain bike riders to the Turi Bike Park. More than 180 riders from Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, and other countries competed in Turi in one of the region’s major downhill mountain bike events.
Among the winners was Ecuadorian cyclist Mateo Cardenas Serrano, who took first place in the Infantiles category with a time of 3:48.196. His performance added another great result to his promising competitive career. The result adds another strong performance to his young competitive career and highlights his potential as a promising young rider in South American downhill MTB.
Learn more about Open Shimano Latam and Mateo Cardenas’ performance in Cuenca
- What is Open Shimano Latam?
- Open Shimano Latam 2026 in Cuenca: Second Round of the Season
- Mateo Cardenas: Infantiles Winner at Open Shimano Latam 2026
- Mateo Cardenas and the Machu Travel Foundation
What is Open Shimano Latam?
Open Shimano Latam is a downhill mountain bike championship that has been held since 2008. What began as a national competition has grown into an international downhill series featuring riders from across Latin America. The organization describes it as one of the most important downhill championships in South America. The series has attracted riders from numerous countries across Latin America throughout its history.
The championship primarily focuses on downhill, a discipline in which riders descend individually on a demanding course. Downhill is a discipline in which riders race individually down a demanding course, relying on speed, bike control, line choice, and technical skill. These characteristics make this race a challenging test for both experienced competitors and emerging cyclists.
Open Shimano Latam 2026 in Cuenca: Second Round of the Season
The second round of the 2026 Open Shimano Latam took place on August 8–9 at Turi Bike Park in Cuenca. It was the second round of the 2026 season and an important edition of the championship. Saturday focused on official practice, while Sunday featured the competition and final runs.
More than 180 cyclists participated, representing multiple countries in the region. The event featured several categories, allowing cyclists at different stages of their competitive careers to participate. Categories included Elite Pro, Women’s Pro, Master Pro, Junior, Cadets, Infantiles, E-Bikes, and others.
The international field also produced several strong performances. For example, Chilean rider Pedro Burns won the Elite Pro category with a time of 3:13.118, while Ecuadorian Rafaela Roldan Raue took first place in Women’s Pro with a time of 3:37.087.
Mateo Cardenas: Infantiles Winner at Open Shimano Latam 2026
One of the standout performances among Ecuador’s young riders came from Mateo Cardenas Serrano. This young rider competed in the Infantiles category and secured first place at Turi Bike Park with a final time of 3:48.196.
His result is particularly encouraging for Ecuador’s young downhill MTB community, as it reflects the growing opportunities for youth riders to compete at the regional level. His competitive history includes previous participation in downhill events, including national and international races. For a young rider, each competition provides valuable experience and an opportunity to continue developing the technical and competitive skills required for downhill racing.
Mateo Cardenas and the Machu Travel Foundation
Mateo Cardenas is an ambassador for the Machu Travel Foundation, an organization that supports young athletes and promotes development opportunities through sport. His participation in events like the Open Shimano is an example of the type of competitive experience that can help emerging riders progress.
Through its support for young athletes, the Machu Travel Foundation helps create opportunities for riders to gain competition experience and continue developing their skills. His participation in events such as the Santisimo Downhill and Abra Malaga Avalanche 2026 is also part of his development as a young rider supported by the foundation.
With the 2026 Open Shimano Latam season still underway, Mateo Cardenas’ performance in Cuenca offers another glimpse into the development of Ecuador’s young downhill riders. His victory in the Infantiles category adds valuable racing experience and another milestone to his young career. For MTB fans, Mateo’s progress offers an opportunity to observe the next generation of downhill riders as they gain experience and face new challenges.
