Saturday, May 16

Get Your Gravel On: Gravel Racing in the Borderlands showcases the Inaugural Apacheria Gravel Race, which took place on November 15, 2024, in Douglas, Arizona. We first meet Mike Miller, the founder and organizer of the race. After years of competing in unfulfilling cycling events, he decided to found his own. Douglas, Arizona caught Mike’s eye as the ideal place to put on his race for a few reasons. First, the historic Gadsden Hotel drew his attention with its local significance and beautiful architecture. Because of this, Mike decided to make the hotel the headquarters of his first race in Douglas. Another feature of the area that Mike found intriguing was the Geronimo Trail, a mixed-surface road that runs east of Douglas and parallels the US-Mexico border wall for much of its length. The international nature of the town and race launched a unique collaboration between the citizens of Douglas and Agua Prieta, Mexico, Douglas’s sister town. Dave Nevins, the City of Douglas’s tourism coordinator, and Rita Vargas Torregrosa, the consul of Mexico, are collaborators and advocates for the event. They go on to explain the backstory and history of their towns, as well as why an event like this race is so important to the communities they represent. Event participants Laural Hall and Javier Armendez speak on the geography and race conditions, such as high winds and rough terrain, as well as what Gravel Racing is and why the community it forms is so important. Elaborating, Mike Miller explains the three different routes offered at the event and how they are unlike any he has seen at other races, as they pass through a national historic landmark, a national wildlife refuge, and along the U.S.-Mexico international border wall. Finally, focus turns to next year's event. Mike explains how the race will be rebranding to Borderlands Gravel with a clear vision for the future and the community's excitement to pedal again next year.