---

Down the Tracks to the Finish

Cory Wallace / 17.11.2008

Day 4 is a relief for many riders as it’s the last day of La Ruta and is mostly flat. This is the case, but the opening 30km includes a couple of 6 km climbs and once the riders finally hit the flat ground the blistering heat and rail road tracks work most of them over pretty well!

After suffering like a smashed bug on a windshield trying to chase the flyweight Ticos on their hardtail bikes up and down mountains for the past 3 days I was stoked for the flatter stage 4. With its rough train sections as my dual suspension Specialized Epic would now give me an advantage.

Once again on the opening climb Ramirez and Montoya rode away from the field, this time with Ramirez’s team mate Sanchez. Behind was a chase pack of 8 riders who would work together for most of the day in an effort to keep close to the leaders. Being part of the chase pack I attacked going into the main descent of the day and quickly gained 40 seconds before flatting.

After chasing for the next 40 km I finally got back into the chase group as it hit one of the trestle bridges and settled in for the 70 km flat ride to the finish under blue skies and in blistering hot temperatures. Hitting the trains tracks with 35 km to go I put myself in 2nd spot in the chase group and watched the leader ride straight into a hole in the tracks over one of the trestles.

Now in the lead of the pack I was stoked about having a chance to make the Ticos suffer on their hardtails and started pushing the pace before hitting another gap in the trestles, flying over my handlebars and suffering my second flat of the day. American Harlan Price who was riding very strongly on the day left me a tube but without a CO2 or pump I waited 9 minutes for the next rider to arrive to get support. Disappointing, but like I stated in the La Ruta preview, half the challenge of this race is staying out of trouble and having four leaf clovers surrounding you.

See All Stories On This Race