Please congratulate Xavier Ernesto Chiriboga, who has set a new fastest known overall time for the #stagecoach400 route, taking two hours off the previous record, setting the bar at 37hr 21min. He completed his ride in Idyllwild at 9:21pm Saturday evening.
He dedicates his ride to his inspiration, his daughter Manuela.
@chiriboga_xavier resides in Quito, Ecuador, where he is a cheese maker and farmer from el Sinche. When he isn’t working, he does various local adventure style racing and cycling, with his first bikepack event being the high elevation 2021 TransEcuador Bikepacking Race, using a shower curtain taped across his triangle as a frame bag, and a makeup kit bag on the top tube. He came in 1st by a full day, setting an FKT there as well. He has also won the @huairasinchi of the @arworldseries Adventure Race World Series, the Brevet across Ecuador, and the Petzl Trail Plus running race.
A few years back, Xavier met Stagecoacher @th3l0cust while he and friends were bikepacking in Ecuador, and he learned about the 400. He wanted to come take part, and prove himself. But, in order to do so, he needed help. His team, friends, and family back home helped him get to the US, and then had to borrow almost everything- bags, navigation, InReach… Hunt Cycles donated a wheelset and kit, so Xavier and Cale threw together a hardtail comprised of borrowed hand-me-down equipment and inexpensive knock off parts (including the no-brand Chinese carbon frame) 2 days before the grand depart, and he got a crash course in how to use all the technology while out on his own.
It was his first time in a desert of any kind, and he said he loved all of the rocky descents. He said once he got through Coyote Canyon, he looked at the time, and knew he could do it, so he ran up the steep Turkey Trail switchbacks as he got closer to Anza. He showed up in Idyllwild empty, with no food or water left, full of joy. This guy is really something else.
He took some footage during the ride as well, which you can check out on his page. He would love to do more events and races, but is genuinely in need of any sponsorships in order to do so.
The previous course record was set by the legend Eddie O’Dea @eddieodea back in 2013, at 39hr 27min, which ended in a hallucination induced racing sprint up the mountain to the finish. No one has come even close to that time until this year.
There must be an honorable mention for the second finisher this year, Abdullah Mustafa @theadroitman finished in a blazing fast 43hr 18min, which is the fastest time in the last 8 years, only behind Xavier’s.
Congratulations to the 2022 grand depart top 3 men’s (and overall) finishers:
37:21 Xavier Ernesto Chiriboga @chiriboga_xavier
43:18 Abdullah Mustafa @theadroitman
48:47 Mateo Paez @whatswrongwithpaez_
Photos by @th3l0cust
SoCal Bikepacking 
amazing performance. wow.