November 17, 2007 (Playa Bonita, Costa Rica) – The 2007 edition of La Ruta de los Conquistadores finished today with two unquestionable overall winners: Costa Rican Federico Ramírez (BCR-Pizza Hut) and American Susan Haywood (Trek-VW).

Both champions performed successfully during the four days of racing as each rider won three stages. The local “pizza boy” and Trek’s lady only allowed their rivals to take the last checkered-flag at today’s final stage.

This fourth stage started at the Aquiares Coffee State and finished 125 kilometers later in Playa Bonita of Limón. The men’s winner was France’s Thomas Dietsch (Gewiss-Bianchi) with a time of 5:03:15, while Swiss rider Thomas Zahnd (Team Stoeckli) finishe right behind him at 0:02 seconds. “Lico” Ramirez was third, seven seconds later.

The final result ratified “˜Lico’ as the only four-time winner of La Ruta, while Haywood will take home the women’s trophy after her first time attending this famous Costa Rican MTB event.

Haywood managed to complete the final stage on Saturday in second behind Sho-Air’s rider Louise Kobin, a former three-time La Ruta winner. Kobin won the stage with a time of 6:06:15, with Haywood crossing the line four seconds later.

Ramirez captured the yellow jersey with a total time of 17:40:21. Paolo Montoya (CRC) Mancosta Lee Cougan-Economy Rent a Car was second at 28:29, and French XCM World Cup Champion Thomas Dietsch ended up in third at 44:36 behind the winner Ramirez.

“I’m happy because we recovered the title after two year’s of foreign domination. This was the hardest La Ruta of the four that I have won,” said Ramirez.

Haywood’s final overall time was 22:50:06, while Kobin and local 18-year-old Alejandra Carvajal (BCR-Pizza Hut) finished at 43:18 and 2:41:37 respectively.

“This was another hard stage, probably the hardest one. I knew Louise had more experience on this terrain so all I could do was follow her until the finish,” commented Haywood after the race.

Though the final course profile displayed a relatively simple trip from Aquiares to Limón, the truth was that the rain and humidity made this one of the hardest stages of the entire competition.

The unstable conditions of the train-bridge over the Matina River forced organizers to change the original course a bit, as they removed a small portion of La Ruta’s characteristic train tracks and added a few more kilometers of
paved highway.

At the beginning of the final stage a group of nine riders left the rest of the competitors in the back. This lead group included overall winner Ramirez, stage winner Dietsch, along with Juan Solis (BCR-Pizza Hut), Paolo Montoya, Deiber Esquivel (IBP), Tinker Juárez (Cannondale), Thomas Zahnd and other top-ten riders.

Results

Elite Men

1. Thomas Dietsch (Fra) Gewiss Bianchi 5.03.15
2. Thomas Zahnd (Swi) Team Stoeckli-Craft 0.01
3. Federico Ramirez Mendez (CR
C) BCR-PIZZA HUT-POWERADE-KHS 0.07
4. Paolo Montoya Cantillo (CRC) Macosta Lee Cougan Santa Ana BCT 1.27
5. Deiber Esquivel Benavides (CRC) IBP Pensiones 1.29
6. David ‘Tinker’ Juarez (USA) Cannondale 6.50
7. Andreas Hestler (Can) Rocky Mountain/Haywood Securities 9.04
8. Jason Sager (USA) MonaVie/Cannondale 9.06
9. Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona 9.23
10. Manuel Prado (CRC) Sho Air/La Ruta 14.18

11. Cory Wallace (Can) Team Jasper 17.41
15. Jon Nutbrown (Can) Ridley’s /Giant 36.57
72. Matthew Young (Can) 2.51.19

Elite Women

1. Louise Kobin (USA) Sho Air/Rock and Road 6.06.12
2. Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/VW 0.02
3. Maria Alejandra Carvajal Brenes (CRC) BCR-PIZZA HUT-POWERADE-KHS 37.23
4. Trish Grajczyk (Can) Deadgoat Racing 40.27
5. Angela Parra Sierra (Col) SAFETY, Hammer Nutrition, BSS 48.29
6. Jennifer Sica (USA) Schampa Racing 49.59
7. Tamara Goeppel (Can) Leki BikeXtreme 51.22
8. Rebeca Hidalgo Vargas (CRC) Powerade 51.45
9. Patti Plagmann (USA) Team Bike Lane 1.27.42
10. Fanny Paquette (Can) MountainBiking Magazine/Rocky Mountain 1.29.31

12. Caroline Pinard (Can) Corazon-CBRS 1.42.57
19. Sheila Gardner (Can) J&J Cycle Racing 2.23.04
29. Heather Simmons (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 3.30.44
35. Tori Fahey (Can) Deadgoat Racing 4.02.30

Master A Men

1. Melvin Rojas Alfaro (CRC) Ciclo Guilly 5.38.20
2. William Vargas Ramirez (CRC) SCOTT 0.02
3. Matt Gordon (USA) Orbea 0.05
4. William Valverde Barquero (CRC) Vedova Y Obando/Husquarna 4.47
5. Luis Diego Chaverri Madden (CRC) 6.56
6. Jose Angel Beltran Bernal (Mex) Turbo 7.16
7. Scott Henry (USA) Trek/VW 7.17
8. Ohran Ohranran Matt (USA) MonaVie/Cannondale 8.28
9. Marcelo Silva Guistiniani (CRC) magnarealtycostarica.com 8.33
10. Manfred Avila Kopper (CRC) TiTus/Vitalissimo 8.54

12. Michel Bujold (Can) Lessard Cycle 14.16
26. Jeffrey Cote (Can) TwinSix 41.20
67. Marc Ouellet (Can) Les Boys 1.48.16
83. Tom Hipsz (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 2.07.46
107. Lester Pardoe (Can) Chipotle/Titus 2.26.02
125. Dean Payne (Can) BC BIKE RACE 2.50.00
138. Hughes Luke (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 3.32.1
152. Kris Wood (Can) 4.06.41
153. Trent Marshall (Can) Kelowna Cycle 4.11.37
162. Shehbaz Butt (Can) 5.02.42
163. Christian Pelletier (Can) Micro Monde 5.15.21

Master B Men

1. Matt Luhn (USA) Gopher Gulch Dirt Alert 5.45.17
2. Mike Charuk (Can) Team Whistler 17.29
3. Fernando Salazar Chavarría (CRC) Nitidos 28.01
4. John Finetto (USA) 30.42
5. Stewart Stafford (USA) Austin Flyers/BSS 30.55
6. Todd Moyer (USA) 34.27
7. Cary Smith (USA) 35.15
8. Bruce Wilson (USA) Team Cycopath 35.34
9. Piccolo Gularte Casteñada (Gua) Xerox/Donde Jose/Trefrateli 37.39
10. John W. Miller (USA) 41.01

13. James Wilson (Can) BC BIKE RACE 56.07
17. Tom Ebbern (Can) Tristone Capital 1.09.36
26. John Wong (Can) Team Whistler 1.29.30
32. Marc Ballard Jean (Can) CBRS 1.41.19
39. Daniel P. Thauvette (Can) Corazon-CBRS 2.03.51
44. James Irwin (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 2.14.31
46. Mark Parsons (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 2.16.06
47. Ognjen Sokolovik (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 2.19.12
52. Gerry McCuaig (Can) Deadgoat Racing/ Bow Cycle 2.35.46
54. Dan Swanson (Can) 2.43.04
55. Paul Granger (Can) 2.43.05
61. Krzysztof Kolada (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 2.57.27
62. Krys Tomaszewski (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
75. Paul Millar (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 2.03.52
78. Angelo Mascitelli (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 3.33.59
99. Clark Seadon (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 5.00.14

Veterans

1. Sandy Mitchell (Can) Gerick Cycle Nelson 5.56.41
2. Tony Routley (Can) Team Whistler 32.56
3. Clemente Hernández Muñoz (Spa) Freebike 44.40
4. Ricardo Mata Brenes (CRC) Comite Cantonal Deportes y Recreción Paraiso 51.45
5. Ricardo Vela Del Valle (Spa) Club Ciclista Santa Eulalia 52.56
6. Marty Halprin (Can) Olympia Cycle 1.18.05
7. Jack Funk (Can) Deadgoat Racing/ Bow Cycle 1.49.29
8. Rodolfo Reichert (Gua) Xerox/Donde Jose/Trefrateli 1.57.51
9. Don Martin (Can) 2.06.32
10. Jorge Luis Espinoza Loaiza (CRC) 2.09.57

13. Monte McKelvie (Can) 2.28.10
15. Doug McInnis (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 2.34.24
25. Yvon Ignac (Can) 3.23.33

Final GC

Elite Men

1. Federico Ramirez Mendez (CRC) BCR-Pizza Hut-Powerade-KHS 17:40:21
2. Paolo Montoya Cantillo (CRC) Macosta Lee Cougan Santa Ana BCT 28:29
3. Thomas Dietsch (Fra) Gewiss Bianchi 44:36
4. Deiber Esquivel Benavides (CRC) IBP Pensiones 01:03:08
5. David “Tinker” Juarez (USA) Cannondale 01:05:39
6. Juan Alberto Solis Rodas (CRC) BCR-PIZZA HUT-POWERADE-KHS 1.09.23
7. Thomas Zahnd (Swi) Team Stoeckli-Craft 1.40.33
8. Jason Sager (USA) MonaVie/Cannondale 1.58.11
9. Kris Sneddon (Can) Kona 2.09.46
10. Enrique Artavia Cedeira (CRC) Super Pro Banco BCT Santa Ana 2.14.18

13. Cory Wallace (Can) Team Jasper 2.51.11
17. Andreas Hestler (Can) Rocky Mountain/Haywood Securities 3.27.38
18. Jon Nutbrown (Can) Ridley’s /Giant 4.08.58
77. Matthew Young (Can) 14.59.06
104. Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain/Haywood Securities
DNF Jack Funk (Can) Deadgoat Racing/ Bow Cycle

Elite Women

4. Trish Grajczyk (Can) Deadgoat Racing 4.38.20
5. Angela Parra Sierra (Col) SAFETY, Hammer Nutrition, BSS 4.51.09
6. Rebeca Hidalgo Vargas (CRC) Powerade 5.41.36
7. Tamara Goeppel (Can) Leki BikeXtreme 5.48.33
8. Jennifer Sica (USA) Schampa Racing 6.33.11
9. Fanny Paquette (Can) MountainBiking Magazine/Rocky Mountain 7.46.46
10. Caroline Pinard (Can) Corazon-CBRS 7.58.46

23 Sheila Gardner (Can) J&J Cycle Racing 13.30.59
25 Heather Simmons (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 14.05.49
30 Tori Fahey (Can) Deadgoat Racing 18.04.42
41 Mary Clare Haley (Can) Coach Chris/Ted Velikonja Cycling Team

Master A Men

1. William Valverde Barquero (CRC) Vedova Y Obando/Husquarna 20.58.20
2. Jose Angel Beltran Bernal (Mex) Turbo 14.51
3. Benjamin Thompson (USA) bendelitemtb.com 27.31
4. Melvin Rojas Alfaro (CRC) Ciclo Guilly 30.14
5. Scott Henry (USA) Trek/VW
6. William Vargas Ramirez (CRC) SCOTT 49.03
7. Matt Gordon (USA) Orbea
8. Werner Eichler Contreras (CRC) Ulicori Bticino 1.18.16
9. Manfred Avila Kopper (CRC) TiTus/Vitalissimo 1.31.10
10. Luis Diego Chaverri Madden (CRC) 1.40.02

19. Michel Bujold (Can) Lessard Cycle
23. Jeffrey Cote (Can) TwinSix 3.49.35
80. Marc Ouellet (Can) Les Boys 10.16.10
86. Tom Hipsz (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 10.41.07
114. Lester Pardoe (Can) Chipotle/Titus 13.25.06
132. Trent Marshall (Can) Kelowna Cycle 16.28.59
134. Dean Payne (Can) BC BIKE RACE 16.39.49
146. Kris Wood (Can) 20.40.11
154. Hughes Luke (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
162. Shehbaz Butt (Can)
164. Warren Ellis (Can) NRG/EAGLE HOMES
165. Ron Ellis (Can) Eagle Homes
167. Peter Dunham (Can) Tristone Capital

Master B Men

1. Mike Charuk (Can) Team Whistler 22.38.17
2. Stewart Stafford (USA) Austin Flyers/BSS 20.20
3. Fernando Salazar Chavarría (CRC) Nitidos 51.14
4. Cary Smith (USA) 1.47.54
5. Piccolo Gularte Casteñada (Gua) Xerox/Donde Jose/Trefrateli 1.53.27
6. Jorge Castillo (CRC) Santa Cruz Manitou 2.13.00
7. Matt Luhn (USA) Gopher Gulch Dirt Alert 2.46.21
8. John Finetto (USA) 3.05.16
9. Bruce Wilson (USA) Team Cycopath 3.40.50
10. Daniel McCarthy (USA) 3.46.09

14. James Wilson (Can) BC BIKE RACE 4.38.00
16. Tom Ebbern (Can) Tristone Capital 5.01.55
31. John Wong (Can) Team Whistler 7.53.49
33. Daniel P. Thauvette (Can) Corazon-CBRS 8.18.06
38. Paul Millar (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 8.30.35
39. Marc Ballard Jean (Can) CBRS 8.36.14
40. Mark Parsons (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 8.51.53
48. James Irwin (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 10.32.51
51. Dan Swanson (Can) 10.54.36
55. Gerry McCuaig (Can) Deadgoat Racing/ Bow Cycle 11.02.31
57. Paul Granger (Can) 11.56.26
64. Angelo Mascitelli (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 13.08.35
70. Krys Tomaszewski (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 13.47.12
89. Clark Seadon (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
92. Ognjen Sokolovik (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
94. Krzysztof Kolada (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
99. Robert William Wilson (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
113. Daniel Poortvliet (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing

Veterans

1. Sandy Mitchell (Can) Gerick Cycle Nelson 23.09.10
2. Tony Routley (Can) Team Whistler 28.00
3. Clemente Hernández Muñoz (Spa) Freebike 4.04.33
4. Ricardo Vela Del Valle (Spa) Club Ciclista Santa Eulalia 4.15.08
5. Ricardo Mata Brenes (CRc) Comite Cantonal Deportes y Recreción Paraiso 4.21.34
6. Rodolfo Reichert (Gua) Xerox/Donde Jose/Trefrateli 6.32.41
7. Jack Funk (Can) Deadgoat Racing/ Bow Cycle 7.15.35
8. Jorge Luis Espinoza Loaiza (CRc) 8.50.12
9. Marty Halprin (Can) Olympia Cycle 9.01.06
10. Gonzalo Mena Rojas (CRc) 9.51.47

13. Monte McKelvie (Can) 10.51.59
17. Doug McInnis (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing 12.11.20
21. Yvon Ignac (Can) 13.50.41
24. Don Martin (Can) 15.22.05
33. Steve Howell (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
35. P. Stephen Taft (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
36. Thomas Daley (Can) Rebound Cycle
38. Kirk Schizas (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing
39. Dennis Mizerski (Can) Mattamy Homes/Aquila Racing

For Stage 4 full results click here.

For complete Final GC click here.