November 9, 2007 (Costa Rica) – La Ruta de los Conquistadores celebrates its 15th anniversary this year and Pedal has teamed with up with Andreas Hestler for daily Dre race reports and behind the scenes coverage at pedalmag.com.

La Ruta runs from November 14-17 and with Dre on the start line will be 69 other Canucks including his Rocky Mountain-Haywood team mate Max Plaxton, as they all compete in this solo competition against a 500+ field at what has been dubbed the “hardest race on planet”. The women’s event has 45 riders on the start list.

Both 2006 men’s winner, Leonardo Páez (Col) Full Dynamix, and defending women’s champ Canada’s Marg Fedyna, are not competing this year so the titles are up for grabs.

Some of the other stalwart Canadians on the start line include Kris Sneddon (Kona), Jon Nutbrown (Ridley’s/Giant), Melanie McQuaid (Nature’s Path/BMC), Dean Payne (BC Bike Race), Dennis Mizerski (Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing) and Tony Routley (Team Whistler).

Here’s the 2007 Start List (PDF) and stay tuned for more coverage from La Ruta at pedalmag.com.