Surviving an 800km Bikepacking Race Through The Middle of Mexico
“More Than Just A Race” is a short documentary detailing Paola Berber’s challenging experience racing the 2025 edition of Le Tour de Frankie, an 800km race from Mexico City to Puerto Escondido.
Paolo Berber, known as “Poli”, is a member of our Experimental Bikepacking Team. At Le Tour De Frankie she was one of just 12 women in a field of 115 riders. The film, created by Andalusia K. Soloff, Diana Mendiola, and Paola Berber, documents her bout with illness during the event, the fear of riding alone as a woman in Mexico, and the challenges of the difficult geography the route passes through.
Poli persevered through all of it and crossed the line as the 4th woman finisher. But the podium wasn’t her sole purpose for entering the race. Pushing herself, digging deep and discovering her inner strength were her goals. She achieved them, and learned even more than she expected.
Poli penned an engaging writeup about her experiences during the race. She describes in detail the challenges and emotions she went through, as well as the kindness and generosity of people she met along the way. The entirety of her writeup, along with beautiful film photos she took during the race, is posted at bikepacking.com:
In April, I raced Le Tour de Frankie, the first unsupported ultra-distance cycling race in Mexico. It covers 800 kilometers (497 miles) with an elevation gain of 13,873 meters (45,519 feet), starting from Mexico City’s iconic Zócalo and ending in Puerto Escondido, on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca. The route traverses the Sierra Mixteca, a rugged and ancient region that stretches across the states of Puebla and Oaxaca. Known for its steep terrain, deep canyons, and rich Indigenous heritage, it is home to the Mixtec people, one of the oldest and most resilient cultures in Mesoamerica, who call themselves Ñuu Savi, meaning “People of the Rain” in the Mixtec language.
This was the fourth edition of the race, and each year, the route grows more complex. This version was by far the most technical yet, with rougher terrain and more remote sections. I’d say it was roughly 40 percent pavement, 50 percent dirt, and 10 percent Indigenous roads—new roads made by the communities they pass through, with a mix of hydraulic concrete and local rocks and materials.
For me, it’s so much more than just a race. As a Mexican woman, having the freedom to ride alone and feel safe is a rare privilege. Even though I know some places are safer than others, violence is a constant backdrop where I come from, which means safety is never fully guaranteed. You always need to stay alert. Organized crime shifts territories over time, and you have to stay aware of those changes.
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This year, out of 115 registered riders, only 12 were women, split between the solo and pairs categories. Just seven of us were in the solo female category. It makes sense, I rarely ride alone here, fear and danger are valid reasons not to. But for those same reasons, I saw this race as an opportunity…
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