November 16, 2005 – After all of his achievements during the 2005 season, Swiss rider Thomas Frischknecht (Swisspower Team) demonstrated even more why he is one of the most popular mountain bikers on the planet.

With excellent control and ability to handle the most adverse conditions, “Frishy” wrote a new chapter in the history of the La Ruta de los Conquistadores in Costa Rica this past weekend becoming the first foreigner to win the event.

“Frishy” won the first stage of La Ruta on Friday, Nov. 11 from Punta Leona (Pacific Coast) to Santa Ana in San Jose (115 km), to wear the leader’s golden jersey (open category) thus living up to the predictions that he’d be victorious at La Ruta.

On Day 2 the current Marathon Bike World Champ lost the yellow when local rider, Marvin Campos (Interfin Banex Pensiones), won the amazing ascent up to Irazú volcano and the downhill to Aquiares (77.9 km).

Nevertheless, the third day was special for “Frishy” because he was able to ride an interesting threesome with local racer Paolo Montoya (La Ruta 2004 winner) and American Jeremiah Bishop.

They made it to the finish line together in Limón (on the Caribbean) and “Frishy” recovered the leader’s jersey and made history at La Ruta, becoming the first non-Costa Rican to win the race after 13 years.

La Ruta de los Conquistadores 2005

Final Results

Day 3

1. Paolo César Montoya CRC Santa Ana/ Banco Cuscatlán 04:24:00
2. Thomas Frischknecht SUI Swisspower/ Scout Team 04:24:00
3. Jeremiah Bishop USA Volkswagen/ Trek Team 04:33:11
4. Roddi Lega CAN Norco Factory Team/ Ride Guide TV 04:45:14
5. Marvin Campos CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 04:45:24
6. Rom Akerson CRC Red Bull Team 04:45:37
7. Deiber Esquivel CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 04:46:55
8. Gonzalo Bonilla CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 04:46:55
9. Douglas Gutiérrez CRC Nature Valley 04:47:23

OVERALL

Open Men

1. Thomas Frischknecht SUI Swisspower/ Scout Team 14:32:58
2. Marvin Campos CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 14:46:32
3. Paolo César Montoya CRC Santa Ana/ Banco Cuscatlán 14:49:29
4. Deiber Esquivel CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 14:56:31
5. Jeremiah Bishop USA Volkswagen/ Trek Team 15:08:30
6. Gonzalo Bonilla CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 15:49:20
7. Roddi Lega CAN Norco Factory Team/ Ride Guide TV 15:53:52
8. Allan Cordero CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 15:58:14
9. Jorge Coto CRC Santa Ana/ Banco Cuscatlán 16:07:21
10. Douglas Gutiérrez CRC Nature Valley 16:16:27
11. Rom Akerson CRC Red Bull Team 16:17:24
12. Edgar Zumbado CRC Betplatinum.com 16:48:58
13. LuisVillanea CRC Scotiabank-Pepsi-DHL 16:52:36
14. Walker Ferguson USA Scott/ Giro Team 16:54:29
15. Alejandro Díaz de la Peña ESP Maxxis Team/ MSC Bikes 16:54:31
16. Carlos Marín CRC Banco Cuscatlán-Santa Ana-Super Pro 17:01:07
17. Jesús Rojas VEN Red Bull/ Café Flor de Patria Team 17:02:25
18. Manuel Prado CRC Sho-AIR 17:10:27
19. Maikol Cambronero CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 17:16:55
20. José Vega CRC Interfin Banex Pensiones 17:21:50
21. Jesús Arcila PER Unixys Team 17: 25:58

Master A 30-39

1. Melvin Rojas CRC Litespeed/ Ciclo Guilly 16:16:53
2. Esteban Vargas CRC Ciclo Santa Bárbara 16:42:16
3. Esteban Méndez CRC Hospira Holding 16:55:50

Master B 40 +

1. Allan St. Pierre CAN No team 17:42:21
2. Pat Dodge CAN The Bike Shop 18:51:43
3. Jorge Castillo CRC Super Pro/ Botica El Pueblo 19:09:15

Open Women

1. Louis Kobin USA XFusion/ Adidas/ Magura Team 20:00:58
2. Ligia Madrigal CRC Powerade Team 20:58:46
3. Jamie Whitmore USA Reebok Team 22:07:35