December 16, 2009 (La Unión, Costa Rica) – Costa Rican team BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS won today’s Teams Time Trial at the inaugural stage of the 45th Vuelta Ciclista Internacional a Costa Rica. The “pizza boys” stopped the clock on a time of 12m 28s 40 after 10,6 kilometers of racing at the City of La Unión.

Second place was another local team, Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue at 4 seconds, while Colombian Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia finished third at 10 seconds. BCR-Pizza Hut’s triumph placed its youngest rider as the first leader of the tour. Fabricio Quirós, a 19 years old cyclist from the province of Cartago, is going to wear the yellow jersey tomorrow. He is also the best of the Young Riders classification.

Vuelta a Costa Rica 2009 – Interview with Marc Dufour (manager team TDQ / GTH)


According to Quiros, it wasn’t planned to be him the selected racer to cross the finish line in the first place. “That was reserved to some of the most experienced riders but I’m really happy this coincidence happened! I’m sure the team’s main purpose won’t be to maintain this jersey so early but to take care of our potential winners. This is the most important jersey I`ve worn anyway”, he added.

Tomorrow’s second stage will go from San José to Pital of San Carlos, close to the North border between Costa Rican and Nicaragua. It will be a 149,6 kilometers route with two sprint points (83,3 Km. and 126.2 Km) and one climbing port (109,9 Km.).

Etapa/Stage 1: Contrarreloj por Equipos/Teams Time Trial
Tres Ríos de La Unión. 10,6 Km.

1. BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS (Costa Rica) 12:28.40
2. Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue (Costa Rica) 12:32.71
3. Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia (Colombia) 12:38.65
4. Plycem-JPS-Orbea (Costa Rica) 12:42.81
5. Grupo ICE (Costa Rica) 13:14.49
6. Team Ámsterdam (Holanda) 13:42.90
7. Selección Nacional de Rusia (Rusia) 13:52.14
8. Selección Nacional de Guatemala (Guatemala) 13:52.27
9. Tour d’Quebec-GTH (Canadá) 13:54.99
10. Bufete Guzmán y Álvarez-Exeltec (Costa Rica) 14:15.58

GC after Stage 1
1. Fabricio Quirós CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) 12:28.40
2. Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
3. Allan Morales CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
4. Guillermo González CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
5. Alexander Sánchez CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
6. Federico Ramírez CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
7. José Alberto Montero CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
8. Josué González CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) 4.31
9. Henry Raabe CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) Mt
10. José Adrián Bonilla CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) Mt
11. Marconi Durán CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) Mt
12. Janier Acevedo COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) a 10.25
13. Nicolás Castro COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) Mt
14. William Valencia COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) Mt

Best Young Rider (U23)
1. Fabricio Quirós CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) 12:28.40
2. Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
3. Allan Morales CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) Mt
4. Josué González CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) a 4.31
5. Nicolás Castro COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) Mt

Teams Classification
1. BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 0:12:28
2. Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:04
3. Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:10
4. Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:14
5. Grupo Ice 0:46
6. Amsterdam Team 1:14
7. Russian National Team 1:24
8. Guatemala National Team
9. Tour D’Quebec-GTH 1:26
10. Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 1:47