Mountain bikers gear up for race day

For years, Guillermo Álvarez and his fellow mountain bikers have ridden the trails of the Doña Ana Mountains, discussing how they might turn the area's mix of easy paths and technical terrain into a race of their own. On Oct. 31, that idea will become a reality. 

The inaugural Doña Ana Mountain Race will bring cyclists of varying experience levels to the South Doña Ana Mountains, with courses designed for children trying their first competition, newcomers to the sport, and experienced riders looking for a challenge. 

Álvarez, the race organizer, said the mountains offer an unusual combination of accessible routes and demanding terrain, allowing organizers to accommodate different abilities within the same event. 

“I think it's the variety of trails that you encounter in such a short distance,” Álvarez said. 

That landscape helped shape the competition, which Álvarez and his team had considered organizing for several years. They were particularly interested in creating an opportunity for younger riders to experience the atmosphere of a race without immediately facing the sport's more demanding challenges. 

The same approach extends to adults who enjoy mountain biking but have never competed. 

“Maybe this is a way that they become introduced into an actual racing event,” Álvarez said. 

According to the event's BikeReg registration page, the race includes a seven-mile children's course, a 12.5-mile beginner route, a 15-mile intermediate option and a 28-mile advanced course. Additional categories are available for single-speed bicycles and electric mountain bikes. 

The shorter routes avoid some of the more demanding sections, while the intermediate and advanced courses incorporate steeper climbs, technical descents, and changes in elevation. Riders will encounter trails with names such as Roller Coaster and Danger Zone, sections that Álvarez said have not always been included in previous competitions held in the area. 

The event is organized by Share the Toad Racing LLC and sanctioned by USA Cycling. Álvarez said the opportunity to launch it came after another race previously held in the mountains did not take place this year, allowing his team to move forward with an idea they had discussed during years of riding and exploring the trails. 

Turning that idea into an organized competition has required considerable collaboration. Supporters have helped scout routes, prepare for race day and contribute resources, drawing participation from businesses and outdoor recreation enthusiasts in Las Cruces and El Paso. 

Visit Las Cruces, local bicycle shops like Outdoor Adventures and The Bicycle Studio, and Hammer Nutrition are among the supporters. Local artist Rebecca Hayward also contributed artwork for the event's T-shirts. Álvarez said those contributions deserve recognition beyond the attention given to the organizer. 

“Sometimes the people behind the scenes get omitted from getting any kind of credit,” he said. 

For Álvarez, the project became especially meaningful once the necessary permit was secured, and he could tell his collaborators that their plans were moving forward. 

“The most rewarding thing has been seeing their response,” he said. 

Although the competition falls on Halloween, organizers are keeping the emphasis on mountain biking rather than costumes. Riders are welcome to dress up, but no costume contest is planned. 

Instead, the holiday will appear through decorations along the course, candy and a commemorative sticker featuring a shrike and jack-o'-lantern. The seasonal touches are intended to complement the race rather than define it. 

Beyond this year's event, Álvarez hopes the competition will attract returning participants from across the region. Organizers have already discussed the possibility of adding a trail to run in a future year, depending on the response to the inaugural edition. 

The longer-term ambition is to make the event a regular part of the regional cycling calendar, even though Álvarez recognizes that building such a tradition usually takes several years. 

“Our goal is to make this race something that people put in their calendar,” Álvarez said. 

For a team that has spent years imagining a race on the trails it knows so well, Oct. 31 will be the first chance to see whether that enthusiasm can extend to a wider community of riders. Álvarez hopes those who come to the mountains this Halloween will discover enough to bring them back for another ride — and another race.