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Colombia Takes Stage2 at La Ruta

Press Release / 05.11.2011

Although Wells leads the overall going into Friday’s third stage, this year is his first time racing the treacherous La Ruta and to mountain bike stage racing in general. All of which means anything can happen over the next two stages.

On Thursday’s stage two, however, the day belonged to Colombia’s Luis Mejia. Mejia may have had something to prove as he was disqualified from the 2010 La Ruta after taking aid outside official checkpoints.

Mejia topped the field with a time of 4:01:21. That bested Rom Akerson of Costa Rica by 3:05 and 7:07 ahead of five-time La Ruta champ Federico “Lico� Ramierez.

Wells, meanwhile, suffered a flat due to a broken wheel, which he had to change in a time-consuming pit stop. Wells finished fourth 9:38 behind Mejia.

Going into Friday’s stage three, Wells has a 7:11 overall lead on second-place Akerson and third-place Milton Ramos of Honduras, who is 14:57 minutes behind Wells.

In the women’s division, Costa Rica’s Adriana Rojas repeated her stage one victory by topping Leadville Trail 100 champ Rebecca Rusch and five-time La Ruta women’s champ Louise Kobin in stage two.

Going into Friday’s third stage Rojas has a 16:53 lead over Rusch and 44:41 advantage on Kobin.

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Overall
1. Todd Wells (USA) - 09:38:31
2. Rom Akerson (CRC) - 09:45:42
3. Milton Ramos (HON) - 09:53:28
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1. Adriana Rojas (CRC) - 12:30:21
2. Rebecca Rusch (USA) - 12:47:14
3. Louise Kobin (USA) - 13:15:02

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