I'm sorry to tell you this guys, but after running with the race for more than 24 hours in a row without sleep (not complaining, just best experience ever), discovering almost all locations (except for the Great Bulls of Fire) having had great fun, traveled almost 200 kms without previous notice in public transportation and being as exhausted as I am, when I come back to the forum and find lots of ill-informed comments on security of countries I have to make this statement.
The second most used language on the free internet is Spanish, and an internet-stars-based race couldn't miss (at least) one of the two most populous nations that speak Spanish, Mexico, never minding that it is in an "imaginary violence black list". Violence in Mexico is bad, unacceptable and happens in very remote areas of an enormous territory.
Mexico, at least, is free of terrorism, police doesn't kill our citizens and there are no massive school shootings. Yes, 47 students were killed in a confusing confrontation between police and drug traffickers in the remote town of Iguala last year, bad things happen everywhere, but that shouldn't be a justification to demonize a whole country and I am sure that The Race took that into consideration.
The true dangerous countries black list is the one measured in HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of deaths from terrorism in the largest cities, such as Paris, France; London, UK; Madrid, Spain; New York, USA and so on. But even worse than that is the countries black list where almost thousands of deaths happen at the hands of its own police or in massive school shootings all over.
Facts
Washington Post: On-duty police officers have shot and killed more than 700 people JUST THIS YEAR in the USA
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/09/17/on-duty-police-officers-have-shot-and-killed-more-than-700-people-this-year/ and this number doesn't account for school shootings.
Almost all of Europe is under a terrorism watch.
I'm not giving you any more facts because things must be clear enough by now and victims are to be respected and not plainly used as numbers in a discussion.
It is the US and European media (replicated all over the world) that have made a sport at demonizing Mexico for it so called "insecurity". I admire and respect TAR for having come back to Mexico after 25 seasons and am sure they are quite aware of facts and they do not mistake Mexico for Syria or Afghanistan.
I always pray that nothing happens to anyone and The Race when they are in terrorism-targeted countries. Police in Mexico has been famous for its corruption, but things change and they can only change for good after having hit rock bottom. I do not accept corrupt police and I would certainly accept less police forces that the numbers let me call assassins.
Lets make this the end of discrimination for countries and the celebration that the race is aware of it and just enjoy it as it will surprise us with its next destination, a first!
PS: None of the locations in Mexico City (DF) and Teotihuacan (MEX) were cordoned-off, surrounded by security forces or anything like that. I didn't see any security AT ALL. I already mentioned that in another post. And I am very happy that it all happened that way, even in the traditionally pick-pocket plagued Plaza Garibaldi (Mariachi Madness).
As you all saw, the Monument of the Revolution was lit in blue the night of the race and that was just part of how Mexico City felt that night, violence is simply not tolerated:
Mexico City, November 15/2015