The Tour of Chile is returning after a five-year break, which was due to financial problems with the Cycling Federation of Chile and a lack of sponsors. It is now expected to take place between Jan. 28 and Feb. 6 of 2011.

The approximately 600-mile race will go through most of Chile in nine stages, exploring different geographical terrains and landscapes.

Patagonia adventure race chooses Chile’s ice field as site of next course

Trekking through desolate, treacherous, isolated lands that have rarely been explored before. Kayaking through ice-cold, rapid flowing waters, with only three other people for company. Hiking up staggering, rocky peaks and hills, with all your belongings on your back, for eight days.

This is the Patagonian Expedition Race.

If all goes according to plan, a Nationwide Tour golf tournament will be played in Chile in March 2011. Tour President Bill Calfee and its marketing director, Justin Allen, have been visiting golf courses and meeting with companies and government official over the past week. 

Andrés Délano, the president of Federación Chileno, the Chilean golf association, said holding the tournament would increase tourism and improve Chile’s image in the United States. The tournament prize would be US$500,000 to US$600,000 and would be paid for mainly by corporate sponsors. 

Had one year left in his contract; to be replaced by José Mourinho

Real Madrid announced on Wednesday that it has sacked Coach Manuel Pellegrini, a Chilean, and intends to replace him with José Mourinho, a Portuguese, once it reaches an agreement with Inter Milan to buy out Mourinho’s contract. 

Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid, said during a press conference, "I am ready to admit to some mistakes but the hiring of Jose Mourinho, one of the world’s best coaches, is an opportunity that Real Madrid, which always fights for excellence, could not afford to miss.”

The Dakar Rally, an off-roading competition open to motor vehicles from trucks to motorcycles, will take place in South America for the third time in 2011, but archaeologists are worried of the potential damage after the effect on Chile’s north during last year’s race.

Starting and ending in Buenos Aires, the route takes racers throughout northern Chile and Argentina, and most notably through the fragile region of Quillaga, Chile, which lies about 800 miles north of Santiago.

A debate is going on currently about the effects of the race on the desert terrain, and the human artefacts that have been preserved there.