Hello photography and cycling lovers.
Today I want to share with you an experience that marked a turning point in my journey as a photographer and sports enthusiast: my very first attempt at capturing a mountain bike (MTB) race.
It was back in 2022, during a competition held at a rough, natural circuit known as Finca Husillo; a raw, muddy, and unforgiving terrain, ideal for those who embrace a direct encounter with the earth and the wild.
I brought along my Canon 60D, equipped with my trusted trio of lenses: the 18-55mm, the 70-300mm, and the beloved 50mm f/1.8. I had no previous experience in covering MTB events, so I decided to let instinct guide me. My goal wasn’t technical perfection, it was to capture the grit, the struggle, the energy and passion of the riders as they battled a circuit that demanded everything from them.
The “expert” friend who never races
Funny enough, I didn’t go there on my own initiative.
I was brought by an old friend, someone who doesn’t race, doesn’t train, doesn’t even ride regularly, yet is a die-hard fan of MTB.
He owns a high-end mountain bike, talks passionately about tires, suspension, gear ratios, and claims that “real cycling happens off-road”…
Yet he’s never entered a single race.
I say it with no disrespect, but it’s hard to ignore the paradox: so much devotion to a discipline he refuses to try.
Still, his enthusiasm was contagious, and thanks to him, I found myself deep in the mud with a camera, not on the sidelines.
He stayed clean; I didn’t. I got dirt on my gear, mud on my pants, mosquito bites everywhere… and a fire lit inside.
The beauty of rawness
MTB is brutal. It’s not elegant.
It’s branches scratching skin, rocks under tires, and mud all over your legs.
But in that very rawness, I found something deeply beautiful and honest.
Each athlete I captured — covered in dirt, eyes locked on the path ahead, muscles burning; made me realize that sports photography isn’t just about motion; it’s about character.
The dense foliage, the trash on the trail’s edge, the struggle through mud… Instead of ruining the images, all of that gave them narrative weight.
These aren’t polished shots. They are real moments. That’s what matters most to me.
I’m more into road cycling… but tempted
I’ve always preferred road cycling. I’m drawn to the rhythm, the endurance, the open roads and clean lines.
But after that day, I can’t deny I felt the urge to own a mountain bike too; to get dirty on purpose, to explore something wilder, something more grounded.
Maybe I will someday. For now, I hold onto these photos, the lessons learned, and the desire to keep documenting this world; one race at a time.
Are you into MTB or road cycling? What draws you more: the untamed chaos of the trail or the disciplined flow of the road?
📸 I’m currently building my professional portfolio in sports photography. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to comment, share, or follow me for more content like this.
