Costa Ricans dominate their home turf at one of the toughest mountain bike stage races
Photos: 16th Annual La Ruta Results
The 16th La Ruta de los Conquistadores was held November 12 through the 15 and again staked its claim as one of the world's toughest multi-day mountain bike stage races. The race followed the route that took Spanish Conqueror Juan de Cavallón 20 years to finish, but instead of 20 years, racers traversed Costa Rica, from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea, in just 4 days.
The king of los Conquistadores--Costa Rican Federico Ramirez (BCR-Pizza Hut)--won the event finishing 2008's La Ruta, at the coastal city of Limón, in a time of 17:52:32--some 30 minutes faster than last year’s event. This was Ramirez's fifth La Ruta’s trophy in six appearances. He finished the final stage in second place after losing out in a sprint against his rival, Paolo Montoya (Economy Rent a Car-Seven Capital). Overall, Ramirez clenched the title after placing first in the first and third stages and second in the second and fourth.
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Other notable finishes include the only non-Costa Rican on the podium: Frenchman Thomas Dietsch (Gewiss-Bianchi), who finished 3rd in the '07 event. US-based Costa Rican Manuel Prado has climbed up the ranks of La Ruta standings since he started competing in the race back in 2005 when he finished in the thirties--this year his fifth place finish stands as a career highlight. The First place American was 10th place Harlan Price (Independent Fabricant) followed by another American, Thomas Turner (Van Michael Salon), in 11th. And last, but not least, WTB marketing guy and veteran Bike editorial staffer Dain Zaffke, finished a very respectable 24th place--way to go Dain!
2008 La Ruta de los Conquistadore Results
1 Ramirez Federico 1 Bcr-Pizza Hut 17:52:32
2 Montoya Cantillo Paolo 2 Economy Rent A Car 18:06:18
3 Artavia Cedeño Enrique 28 Super Pro - Economy 19:01:13
4 Thomas Dietsch 3 Gewiss-Bianchi 19:02:20
5 Prado Manuel 11 Sho-Air/Rock N'road 19:06:12
10 Price Harlan 47 Independent Fabricat USA 20:09:23
11 Turner Thomas 60 Van Michael Salon USA 15 20:15:30
24 Zaffke Dain 31 Bike Magazine/Wtb USA 24 23:02:16
Reader Comments
Posted Mon Nov17, 2008, 7:02 PM — By Carlos Gonzalez
Could you please modify the text to say "....the only non-Costa Rican on.."? If you want to see a Costa Rican a little pissed off is to call him/her Puerto Rican. Nothing bad about Puerto Rico, but we love our country a good deal. Costa Ricans is what we are (or ticos, you choose).
Pura vida
Posted Mon Nov17, 2008, 7:48 PM — By Miguel Villegas
Excuse me, we arent puerto ricans (people fromPuerto Rico) we are costarricans ( people from Costa Rica).
This is very important for us, there is a lot of diference.
Posted Mon Nov17, 2008, 9:20 PM — By Webitor
Oh my goodness! I am so sorry for making that error. Of course it is Costa Rican—I did not mean to insult you at all, it was my stupid mistake—I fixed the text, please accept my apologies.
-Alan
Posted Tue Nov18, 2008, 8:16 AM — By Jason M.
Great pics! What a race. Every year I am in awe of this race. Every year I also say "no way in HELL am I ever trying that!!" :)
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