No Doped Racers in La Ruta 07’

Luis Rueda / 24.06.2008

For the second year in a row, the doping tests collected during the four stages of La Ruta de los Conquistadores returned 100% negative results.

The Costa Rican Doping Commissaries controlled 20 racers over the past edition of La Ruta, which is the only MTB multi-stage race in the country that applies this kind of controls.

The Costa Rican Cycling Federation (FECOCI) communicated the final results to the organizers last week, after several months of waiting.

“We are now allowed to release the prizes to the Top 5 finishers in each category. We are going to deliver more than $25,000 USD in both cash and gift prizes; such as several amazing Fox Shox”, said PR Director, Luis Rueda.

Besides, the winners in all 5 categories have won a free entry to this year’s La Ruta, which is held for November 12-15.

The tests were analyzed at the Madrid Laboratory, in Spain, which is the UCI’s approved institute responsible for all the Costa Rican Cycling Federation’s controls.

“I guess the time was finally worth it. We don’t know why it took almost five months for them to examine and send out the results, but the important thing here is that all the racers that were tested turned out to be clean once again; all of them, local and non-local guys”, added Race Director, Diego Víquez.

Last year’s winner, Costa Rican Federico Ramírez, now has the green light to represent his country at the XCO, at the Olympics, next August.

Other 2007’s champions were:

Open Women: Susan Haywood (Trek-Volkswagen) USA

Master A Men: William Valverde (Vedoba y Obando) CRC

Master B Men: Mike Charuk (Team Whistler) CAN

Veterans Men: Sandy Mitchell (Gerick Cycle Nelson) CAN