5-9-07 // Online Exclusive: La Ruta Extended Mix In 2007

This year, for the first time ever, racers at the La Ruta de los Conquistadores will pedal the complete Pacific-to-Caribbean route across Costa Rica. Organizers have added one stage to the November stage race, making it four days instead of three. Event director Luis Viquez said the modifications to this year’s November 14-17 event will improve the course and allow riders to experience more of Costa Rica as they retrace the path of the Spanish conquistadors.

“We included a new stage for the second day, which will link the finish venue of day one with the start venue of day three,” said Viquez. “Now we will certainly cross Costa Rica from coast to coast in four days.”

The expanded format highlights the La Ruta’s 15th anniversary edition, and part of the reason for the change is to avoid the mud-soaked death marches that have occurred on the opening day’s La Pita climb in rainy years past.

“We realized that the first day had to change a little bit,” Viquez said. “The last muddy climb of the first day route has been taken out of the map, and a pavement ascent [will be used] instead.”

Total distance of the new route is 221 miles, with nearly 38,000 feet of climbing. Here’s a quick look at the new route:

Stage 1, November 14 (96 kilometers): Similar to the 2006 route, riders will depart from the Best Western Jacó Hotel on the Pacific Coast. Stage 1 finishes at El Rodeo horse farm, 20 kilometers west of Costa Rica’s capital, San José. If for any reason this route cannot be used, an option has been established over an old almost flat gravel trail that connects to the finish venue.

Stage 2, November 15 (72 kilometers): Day two begins at El Rodeo and follows a scenic route over the mountains and around the Central Valley of Costa Rica. The finish is at TerraMall Shopping Center, 15 kilometers east of San José.

Stage 3, November 16 (67 kilometers): The third day starts at TerraMall and features a 30 kilometer climb to the highest point of the race, the Irazú Volcano, at 9,875 feet. After summiting Irazú, riders will descend the El Tapojo downhill to Turrialba Volcano, and then finish in the coffee-producing town of Aquiares.

Stage 4, November 17 (120 kilometers): The final day starts at Aquiares and takes riders across the infamous train track and bridge sections of the course. Riders will finish on the Caribbean beach, Playa Bonita.