Chasing a story
Filming an ultracycling event from a car is a small adventure in itself. You have to follow the riders along back roads, rocky tracks and rough, broken trails, doing so without getting in their way and anticipating their movements. Sometimes, you have to cover many kilometres to capture just a few seconds of footage. Throughout it all, one thing must never be forgotten: respecting the unfolding adventure and the riders themselves, while trying to tell the story of the route.
The Voices of Balutia
With Ride the Land, we wanted to go beyond the images of an endurance event. We wanted to capture the experiences of those who took part in Balutia, listen to their stories and understand how they felt along the route. Not just those riding at the front, but also those moving at their own pace, accumulating kilometres and finding their own reasons to keep going.
A Landscape with Stories to Tell
But Balutia also unfolds beyond the bike. That is why the documentary explores the villages, mountain ranges and landscapes that shape this adventure, from the wide-open horizons of the valleys to the remains of abandoned mining settlements, where the land holds stories that deserve to be told.
Ride the Land: How We Filmed Balutia
Being Where It Matters
Due to the event’s production demands and the blistering pace of the front runners, covering the entire route was impossible. The second half of Balutia was barely captured on camera, as once the first riders reached the finish line, the arrivals became a steady stream. And being there was essential: to welcome, congratulate and celebrate those who completed the adventure after riding 870 kilometres solo. Because documenting Balutia also means being there for the moment when all that effort finally pays off.
A Memory for the Future
The result is a record of Balutia’s first edition, the people who made it possible and the places they travelled through. A film that not only allows us to relive Balutia 2026, but also aims to stand the test of time and inspire those who may one day want to experience this adventure.
We would like to express our gratitude to Enrique Fuentes, cinematographer and editor of Ride the Land.
The Next Story Begins in 2027
Next year, we’ll be back to tell the stories of all the riders who come to take on the Balutia route. If you want to be one of them, registration for Balutia 2027 is now open.
Text: @davidmolinagrande
Photos: @patassat