A group of cyclists from Holguín practices urban downhill riding on the steep streets and hilly neighborhoods of the city, taking advantage of the mountainous geography that characterizes this provincial capital of eastern Cuba.
The images shared on social media by Instagram user Iskander (@con_iska_fernandez) show these riders speeding down steep alleys.
One of the most recent videos carries the following description: “Some urban DH in the winding streets of the mountains in the city”.
What is urban downhill?
The urban downhill —also known as DH urban— is a discipline of mountain biking that involves descending at maximum speed on courses outlined in urban environments, utilizing stairs, ramps, jumps, and obstacles from urban furniture, competing individually against the clock.
It differs from traditional downhill, practiced on wooded or mountainous trails, in that it transfers all the action to the heart of the cities.
The bicycles used in this discipline are double suspension, with a sturdy geometry designed to absorb the impacts from jumps and rough terrain.
In Cuba, where access to specialized equipment presents a significant economic challenge, riders adapt low-cost mountain bikes, modifying them with hydraulic brakes and suspensions to tackle descents.
The global reference for this discipline is the Red Bull Valparaíso Cerro Abajo, held since 2003 in the hills of Valparaíso, Chile, featuring a circuit of approximately two kilometers and a vertical drop of 205 meters.
In two decades, the event has brought together more than 300 riders from 27 countries, establishing that city as the global capital of urban downhill. The geographical similarity with Holguín is remarkable: both cities have steep streets, stairs, and pronounced slopes that cyclists turn into natural tracks.
However, in Cuba, the practice of this sport is limited by the difficulties in acquiring bicycles and specialized equipment, which is practically inaccessible for most of the population.
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