The largest salt flat in the world
With more than 10,000 km² in area, the Salar de Uyuni is not only the largest salt desert on the planet: it is also a natural mirror that reflects the sky and turns every step into a surreal experience. For gravel cyclists, it means riding on flat but demanding terrain, where the vastness and the wind are silent rivals.
Movie set
This landscape has been compared to the surface of Mars or a solid ocean. It is no coincidence that movies like Star Wars: The Last Jedi or Blackthorn have chosen the salt flat as a setting. In “The Route of the Gunmen,” cyclists will be the stars of their own movie: a modern escape that combines dust, salt, and endurance.
Between volcanoes and infinite horizons
The volcano Tunupa, with its ochre and reddish colors, watches from the north as the eternal guardian of the salt flat. Its silhouette accompanies the runners during the queen stage, when they cross endless kilometers of dazzling white. Biking here is an exercise in mental strength: the horizon seems never to arrive, but each turn of the crank brings you closer to the finish.
More than sport: a cultural journey
The salt flat is also sacred territory for local communities. The legend of the goddess Tunupa explains the creation of this sea of salt as shed tears. That cultural connection intertwines with the story of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid, outlaws who once rode through these lands. The result: an experience that transcends the sporting and becomes a journey through myth, geology, and living culture.
The challenge of the white desert
The longest stage of the race —more than 115 km crossing the salt flat— symbolizes the “Great Escape.” Here there are no hiding places: just the cyclist, their bicycle, and the infinite vastness. A place where every pedal stroke transforms into conquest and every runner writes their own page in the legend of the high plateau.
