November 4, 2006 – Today was another epic day in Costa Rica, with a repeat victory for Hector Leonardo Paez (Full Dynamix) but marked by American Jeremiah Bishop (Trek-VW) suffering a terrible crash in the final kilometers, and still finishing second.

The stage began just outside of San Jose and headed to Turrialba, for a “short” stage of just 66.7 kms. Starting once again in the wee hours of the day – at a more civilized 6:30am, riders faced sunny skies and warm weather.

This second day was alleged to be “easier”, but when racing in the self-proclaimed (and overwhelmingly confirmed by top MTB racers) “toughest MTB race in the world”, easy is truly a relative term. Today, climbing was limited to “only” 2,654m, a third of which was paved, and the rest mostly gravel.

As always, the race was one of attrition. Early on, three riders, Paez, Bishop and local favourite Federico Ramirez (BCR-Pizza Hut) broke away. Several small groups formed behind chasing the leaders including a revitalized Tinker “Gringo” Juarez (Cannondale), showing just why he was and still is an incredible climber on the international circuit.

The course was once again filled with incredible climbs through incredibly scenic Costa Rica. Hordes of locals flocked to some of the smaller hills to watch some of the world’s best duke it out with weary legs from yesterday’s epic race. “My legs were tired from yesterday, and the fact that we had more gigondo climbs didn’t make things much easier,” Giant’s Adam “Mossman” Craig said after the race. “I tried at one point to bridge up to some of the other guys on the paved climb, but I had the legs of a 14-year-old riding to the grocery store on a cruiser, with the brakes rubbing.”

Canada’s Andreas Hestler (Rocky Mountain/Business Objects) hoped he could make some ground on the incredible descent that would end off the race, but the climbing definitely took its toll on all the riders. “That paved climb just kept on going. It never ended, I’m telling you,” Hestler said. “The descent was great but I didn’t take as many risks”¦it was slippery all over and I didn’t really feel like ending up in the ditch.”

Defending champion, Thomas Frischknecht (SwissPower), continued to have bad luck on day 2. Although he didn’t quite make the lead group with Bishop, Amador or Paez, the Swiss rider definitely had better legs today, but not the same for luck. “I flatted twice today and the cartridge didn’t fill the tire properly, so I rode 8 kms on a flat tire on the descent,” Frischy commented. “I lost a lot of time but the legs felt a lot better at least.”

Someone who seemed to be riding the perfect race today was Bishop. Riding a smart race, Bishop was content to sit on Paez until the final descent where he knew he could take advantage with his superior descending skills and perhaps put some time into the Colombian as the American was fifteen minutes behind Paez. Ultimately, it was Bishop, Ramirez and Paez that climbed the final paved ascent together, but Ramirez, who was especially animated today, had bad luck.

“Ramirez led at first and was attacking. He was really aggressive,” Paez said. “But then he had to change his tire at the top of the paved climb, so he lost lots of time.”

The long, twisty and often perilous descent – with huge rocks, ruts and wet gravel creating especially tricky conditions – was the arena for a battle royale between Paez and Bishop. Bishop kept riding on the offensive, with Paez continually slipping off the pace of the American, only to regain on the short climbs that interspersed the descent.

Descending out of the wet drizzle from Irazu volcano, Bishop definitely appeared to be the favourite for the win. At 7km to go, when Bishop finally put a gap into Paez, it looked like he might at least take the stage win.

“By the end, Bishop was 20 seconds ahead, on the downhill, re-entering the gravel after one of the pavement sections. But I was being cautious,” Paez said. And it was definitely the right call. With 6 kms to go, Bishop’s front wheel washed out and he lost it, crashing face first into the gravel.

“Then I saw Bishop on the ground surrounded by the organization and ambulances,” Paez continued. “I slowed down, saw him bleeding and I got a bit scared. I went slower in the last 5 kms because I was worried too.”

Bishop would miraculously finish, although he’d lose over 4 minutes once he got back on his bike. Right after, ambulances took him bleeding Bishop to the hospital where it was confirmed he had broken his nose and lost two teeth. It’s doubtful the American will start tomorrow

Canada’s Marg Fedyna (bungalowboys.com) won the women’s race for the second day in a row.

Results (brief)

Men’s Open

1. Hector Paez (Columbia) Full Dynamix 3:25:47
2. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek-VW 4:09
3. Andrey Amador (Costa Rica) BCR-Pizza Hut 6:48
4. Federico Ramirez (Costa Rica) BCR-Pizza Hut 11:36
5. Marzio Deho (Italy) Olympia 12:56
6. Deiver Esquivel Benavides (Costa Rica) IB 17:48
7. David “Tinker” Juarez (USA) Cannonondale 21:05
8. Eddy Perez (Costa Rica) Dos Pinos 29:53
9. Jose Andres Vega Solano (Costa Rica) IBP 30:12
10. Jonathan Rabirez Carballo (Costa Rica) IBP 31:39

13. Thomas Frischknecht (Switzerland) Swisspower-Scott 44:37
15. Andreas Hestler (Can) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects 45:00
45. Jon Nutbrown (Can) Ridley’s-Devinci 1:26:15

Women
1. Marg Fedyna (Can) bungalowboys.com 1:33:46
2. Louise Kobin (USA) XFusion 9.19
3. Hilary Harrison (USA) Kenda Tires-Giant 10.54

Master A
1. Daniel Solar (Switzerland) Bike For Fun 4:11:34
2. Melvin Alfaro Rojas (Costa Rica) Litespeed Ciclo Guilly Fox 0:48
3. William Ramirez Vargas (Costa Rica) Scott 2:55

Master B
1. Andre Bianco (Italy) 4:39:02
2. Peter Stenico (Austria) Peto Bike Zams 1:20
3. Tom Ritchey (USA) Project Rwamda 13:40

Cat Vet
1. Jim Gibson (USA) Absolute Bikes 5:38:21
2. Luis Guilles Diaz Morales (Costa Rica) 4:53
3. Arthur Wiselogel (USA) 50:51

GC after Stage 2

Elite Men

1. Hector Paez (Columbia) Full Dynamix 9.26.12
2. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek-VW 18.57
3. Andrey Amador (Costa Rica) BCR-Pizza Hut 28.18
4. Federico Ramirez (Costa Rica) BCR-Pizza Hut 38.05
5. David “Tinker” Juarez (USA) Cannonondale 53.59
6. Marvin Campos (Costa Rica) IBP 1.12.54
7. Deiver Benavides Esquivel (Costa Rica) IB 1.14.29
8. Adam Craig (USA) Giant 1.19.15
9. Marzio Deho (Italy) Olympia 1.19.27
10. Eddy Perez (Costa Rica) Dos Pinos 1.20.01

12. Thomas Frischknecht (Switzerland) Swisspower-Scott 1.44.24
19. Andreas Hestler (Can) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects 2.43.27

Elite Women

1. Marg Fedyna (Can) bungalowboys.com 13.13.41
2. Louise Kobin (USA) XFusion 45.53
3. Hilary Harrison (USA) Kenda Tires-Giant 1.06.00

Master A

1. Daniel Solar (Switzerland) Bike For Fun 11:29:29
2. William Ramirez Vargas (Costa Rica) Scott 7:31
3. Melvin Alfaro Rojas (Costa Rica) Litespeed Ciclo Guilly Fox 27:26
17. Jeffrey Cote (Can) 2:33:46

Master B

1. Andrea Bianco (Italy) 12:42:49
2. Peter Stenico (Austria) Peto Bike Zams 6:16
3. David Fuentes Fonsec (Costa Rica) Bike Station 23:34
8. Tom Ritchey (USA) Project Rwamda 1:39:01
9. Darryl Mekechuk (Can) 1:48:23

More Stage 2 results here.