November 11, 2008 – The 16th edition of what has been called the toughest mountain bike stage race in the world starts on Wednesday, Nov. 12 on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast in the town of Jacó. In comparison to weeklong 600+km epics like the TransRockies, TransAlp and Cape Epic, this four-day, 377km traverse of one of Central America’s most beautiful countries may not sound as difficult, but everyone who survives La Ruta de las Conquistadores (the Route of the Conquistadors) comes back wide-eyed and reeling. Many factors make this race a true test of willpower and stamina, including the heat, humidity, gobs of mud, bugs, river crossings, getting lost, and huge vertical gain – or so I’ve heard.

This will be my first time racing La Ruta – or any MTB stage race for that matter – so I know I’m in for an eye-opening, soul exposing experience. As I jet south I’m getting a lot of time to think about the epic journey ahead. Yes, I’m a World Cup XC MTB racer, so I know how to ride a bike and suffer, but World Cups are only two hours long and separated by entire weeks.

On Wednesday, at 5:00 am Central Time (which will feel like 3:00 am for me many others on the start line) 600 competitors will embark on the first of four stages, the 110km Stage 1, which includes 4,400m of vertical gain. That’s almost 4.5km of vertical (or as my Mom pointed out, about halfway up Everest). No wonder a large percentage of racers never make it past the first leg of the race! The challenge is to pace yourself so you don’t bonk after three hours. And in my case to keep my mind and body chipper enough to submit my daily stage reports to pedalmag.com (thank god for editors).

There are 42 Canadians registered to race out of nearly 600 riders, so feeling lonely isn’t likely to happen for most and we’ve heard that the Costa Rican kids along the route are quite friendly, and generously hand out motor oil to help lube-muddied and hopelessly degraded drivetrains.

Among the crazy Canucks disembarking from Jacó on November 12 are Tony Routley, second in the Veterans category behind fellow Canuck Sandy Mitchell, fourth-placed Open Female rider Trish Grajczyk from Alberta, and Cory Wallace, who placed 17th last year in the Open Men’s classification. World ITT 2008 silver medallist, Svein Tuft, who was scheduled to race, has pulled out on short notice, to the disappointment of many.

For me La Ruta has become something almost mythical. Ever since I first read about it years ago, when I was just starting to get hooked on mountain biking, the images of cycling over shrouded volcanoes, through impossibly lush rainforests and past remote coffee plantations has hovered in the back of my mind. I knew that one day I would find myself on the start line hoping to survive the things that many adventurerous riders had experienced, so when the call came three weeks ago to saddle up, I didn’t hesitate.

This is my opportunity. No matter how much I train, research and acclimatize, I will be faced with challenges and obstacles that can’t be planned for. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be so wish me luck – I know I’ll need it!

La Ruta 2008

Stage 1 – November 12 – Jacó to Ciudad Colón – 110km

This stage is the unfriendly introduction to La Ruta. A 3am wake-up call, 110km, 4,400m vertical gain, mud bogs. Many never beat the 12-hour time cut.

Stage 2 – November 13 – Ciudad Colón to Tres Ríos – 76km

The second stage sounds friendlier, but with Stage 1 already in the bank, it probably won’t feel any easier as this leg is known for its incredibly steep grades.

Stage 3 – November 14 – Tres Rios to Turrialba – 66.7km

Racers hit the competition’s highest point on Stage 3 on the slopes of the volcano Irazú at 3,010m, so lots of climbing on the menu again. Once riders have reached the peak and warmed themselves with a hot sugar cane drink, it’s downhill all the way to the finish.

Stage 4 – November 15 – Turrialba to Bonita Beach – 125km

This is the longest stage distance-wise, but with a net elevation loss and the beckoning Caribbean sands of Playa Bonita luring riders eastward, it’s also relatively quick. However, this is the infamous “train track” day, with teeth rattling legs of intact train tracks to ride on, along with trestle bridge crossings that are not for the faint of heart.

For more on La Ruta visit www.adventurerace.com