Wild Attack on Runners in Río Negro! Horsemen Assault Them with Whips and Stones

Violence erupted in the middle of the competition. A group of horsemen attacked runners with whips and stones during the 17th edition of the ‘Doble Apolo’, a trail running race held this weekend in the Paso Córdoba Protected Natural Area in General Roca, Río Negro. The organization reported that the attackers also removed part of the circuit’s signage and announced they will file a complaint with the authorities.

Videos shared by witnesses on social media show the moment athletes are intercepted by a group of men on horseback on one of the sections of the 8-kilometer course, in the canyon area leading to the Colicheo climb. The images show the horsemen throwing stones and striking runners with whips as they try to continue the race. When some attempt to dodge them, they are blocked by the horses and even chased for several meters.

The recording, made by one of the participants, also captures the verbal exchange between the two groups. ‘Get them out, get them out!’ the horsemen shout as they confront the athletes. On the other side, one runner responds that there is ‘no need’ to treat them that way. ‘Why don’t you respect us?’ one of the horsemen retorts, implying that the competitors were not allowed to pass through that area. ‘We were told we could go straight through here,’ another athlete replies. Without reaching an agreement, one horseman demands: ‘Let the son of a bitch (sic) organizer come.’ ‘We have nothing to do with it, friend,’ another participant replies before the video ends.

After the video was released, the organization reported that the same horsemen removed the signage for the 8-kilometer circuit, causing several competitors to become disoriented. According to Diario Río Negro, the attackers argued that the runners were entering a protected area.

One of the first to recount the incident was Víctor Simonelli, winner of the 8-kilometer race. During the official event broadcast, he said: ‘There was a protest. We scattered and didn’t know where to go because there was no signage, but we guided ourselves and managed to continue.’ Another athlete who was attacked was Fernando Castro, who said he was struck while advancing along the course. ‘I saw the horses and some runners turning back. I thought this couldn’t happen and kept going. Then they started chasing me, hit me with bolas on the head, and tore my shirt,’ he recounted. Castro explained that he tried to continue the race but eventually had to withdraw due to the aftermath of the attack. ‘I couldn’t recover, I cramped up everywhere, and at kilometer 10 I decided to quit. I feel helpless, but also happy that the race could continue. We need to do something to keep enjoying our hills. This can’t happen. They ruined my race; we train every day for this,’ he stated.

The race organizer, Alejandro Pellegrini, confirmed they will file a legal complaint as a result of the incident. ‘There were people on horseback who threw stones at the runners. Tomorrow we will go to court. Last night they threatened us. We have municipal and provincial permits to hold the race. We had everything organized for it to be a celebration, and today we have kids angry because they got lost,’ he said. According to Diario Río Negro, Pellegrini noted that once the incident was over, the race proceeded normally. ‘Those who already knew the course had no problems, but people coming from elsewhere did. They changed the 8K circuit, but not the 15K and 28K ones,’ he explained.

The organizer stated that this is an unprecedented event in the race’s history. ‘This is the first time an episode of this magnitude has occurred. In other editions there were threats, but nothing like this ever happened,’ he emphasized. He also highlighted that the race has 18 years of history and 17 editions, and said they have always sought to coexist with those who use the protected area. ‘We try to respect nature, the runners, the sponsors, and all the people who work. We had people on the course who left in fear. We apologize to the runners who were attacked. We have all the permits and we paid for them. We tried to avoid the conflict zone, but because they fenced it off, we had to modify the course.’