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Ramírez Demonstrates His Power To Win Stage 3

Luis A Rueda Fonseca / 15.11.2008

Federico Ramírez (BCR-Pizza Hut) confirmed himself as the big favorite to win this year’s La Ruta de los Conquistadores, and to claim his fifth title and second consecutively.

“Lico� completed the 67 kilometers of the stage, between the Terramall Shopping Center in Tres Ríos and the Aquiares Coffee Village in Turrialba, with a time of 3:20:23. His closest pursuit, Paolo Montoya (Economy Rent a Car-Seven Capital) couldn’t repeat his amazing performance of yesterday and finished second with a difference of 6:18.

This result practically ensured victory for Ramírez as he has now a reliable 13:09 advantage over Paolo, with just one stage left.

“I want to thanks my teammate Alexander Sánchez who did a terrific job today. This is the kind of work that you are always expecting from a partner and friend�, explained Ramirez.

The strategy of their team’s manager Albin Brenes worked perfectly. Alexander attacked at the very beginning of the course, on the first climb. That determined the race and reduced the leading pack to three. Sánchez himself, Ramírez and Montoya.

Frenchman Thomas Dietsch (Gewiss-Bianchi) and Spanish Roberto Heras (Giant Spain) were battling for fourth to sixth places against Enrique Artavia (Súper Pro Bikes-Economy Rent a Car) in a second group.

Back at the front, Sánchez understood his mission was accomplished and wound down the pace to leave “Lico� with the lead. Ramírez established some 200 meters gap over Montoya, just before getting to main climb of the day, on the paved road that goes to the Irazú Volcano.

Today he had the benefit of knowing the terrain best as he lives on the slopes of the Irazú. This climb is actually Federico’s preferred stage out of the whole event. “Yeah, I feel like home up there. People cheer me on when they see me training and competing and the fresh temperature of the mountains always feels good�, stated Federico.

Lico got to checkpoint three with a comfortable 4 minute advantage over Montoya and managed to increase the gap on the corridor that connects the Irazú and the Turrialba Volcanoes.

“We thought Paolo would cut-off some time on the downhill from the Volcanoes into Aquiares, just as he did yesterday. Nevertheless I descended really fast and actually increased the gap. It wasn’t the plan. Originally I was supposed to take care of myself and my bike, but the weather helped us and the downhill was pretty dry and rideable�, Federico explained.

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