La Ruta de los Conquistadores
Federico RamÃrez Wns Frst Sage of La Ruta
Luis A Rueda Fonseca / 12.11.2008
Te tico’s field dominated today’s stage as third and fourth places went to Enrique Artavia (Super Pro-Economy Rent a Car) and Manuel Prado (Sho Air).
Spaniard Roberto Heras (Giant Spain), three-time winner of La Vuelta a España, scored fifth, while French Thomas Dietsch (Gewsiss-Bianchi) finished in sixth position.
Today’s stage started at 5 a.m. in front of the Best Western resort at Jacó Beach and ended at the Quintas del Sol complex, in Santa Ana, near the capital city of San José.
The race
A group composed by six racers, RamÃrez, Montoya, Artavia, Prado, Heras and Dietsch managed to stay together after the Carara traverse. However, Federico attacked just after passing checkpoint three leaving the rest of the pack behind. He speeded up on the paved climb and no other racer could keep the defending champion’s pace.
RamÃrez is definitely doing his best to achieve his fifth Conquistadores.
Frederico RamÃrez
“I felt strong so I decided to attack at the beginning of the big paved climb. Carara was really hard this year and we had to hike a lot with the bike over our shoulders. Thanks God I managed to keep the advantage I got over Paolo. I think this gap will allow us to control tomorrow’s stage�
Paolo Montoya
“I think we stayed together as a group for the first half of the stage, however, after the attacks there were only three of us and then only me and “Lico�. He attacked at the right moment. I guess this wasn’t a very good day for me�
Roberto Heras
“I didn’t know what was I facing! Carara is for sure the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Now that I know what is to come, I’ll try to do my best and improve my choices.�
Thomas Dietsch
“I managed to have a good level during the first half of the race. However I got dehydrated when we were on the paved climb and finished the stage totally flat�
Other categories
It seems like this will be the local’s year at La Ruta. Adriana Rojas, the best Costa Rican female rider of the moment, won this first stage with a time of 8:13:28. It could mean that a tica might win La Ruta after 10 years. Last local cyclist to win this category was Kathy Oquendo in 1998. Adriana was third in 2004.
The Ticos also earned other two leader’s jersey today. Santos Corea now commands the Master A division, while Roberto Ballestero leads the Veterans score.
Canadian Mike Charuk, is the only exception. Whistler’s racer won the first stage of this 2008’s event. He is defending his 2007’s Master B crown.
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