December 19, 2009 (Liberia, Costa Rica) – Costa Rican Esteban Castro gave his team Bufete Guzmán y Álvarez-Exeltec its very first victory in the history of La Vuelta Ciclista Internacional a Costa Rica. Castro won today’s fourth stage between La Fortuna of San Carlos, at the North of the country, and Liberia, the business capital of the North Pacific province of Guanacaste.

The Bufete Guzmán y Álvarez-Exeltec is the newest cycling club of Costa Rica so this is its inaugural participation to the national road tour. Esteban Castro, best known as “El Loco” (“The Crazy”), completed the 190.1 stage – the longest for this year’s event – with a time of 4 hours, 56 minutes and 42 seconds, 21 seconds ahead of the main group. Second and third places went to Colombian Carlos Pulgarín and William Valencia (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia).

The winner jump out of the peloton with some 30 kilometers to go, after him and the rest of the group chased the three riders that starred the longest breakaway of the tour to date. Local Luis Rojas (Bufete Guzmán y Álvarez.Exeltec), Eduardo Garita (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) and Hersson Jiménez (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) attacked early in the stage and got an advantaged of 11 minutes at the middle of the race, before being caught on  the flattest section of the course.

The biggest surprise of the day was the decision of the Russian Team that abandoned the competition in protest for the disqualification of its sprinter Alexander Khatuntsev after yesterday’s race.

The next stage will take place tomorrow on a 140 kilometers course between Liberia and Esparza.

Results

1. Esteban Castro (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 4:56:42
2. Carlos Pulgarin (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:22
3. William Valencia (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
4. Henry Raabe (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
5. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH
6. Fabricio Quiros (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
7. Jeroen Kers (Ned) Amsterdam Team
8. Steven Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea
9. Gregori Brenes (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
10. Niels Lommers (Ned) Amsterdam Team
11. Federico Ramirez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
12. Juan Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea
13. Mariano Herrera (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea
14. Douglas Offer (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
15. Marconi Duran (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
16. Carlos Hernandez (Gua) Guatemala National Team
17. Alexander Sanchez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
18. Jose Bonilla (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
19. Janier Acevedo (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
20. Alexis Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
21. Guillermo Gonzalez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
22. Pablo Araya (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:26
23. Marco Salas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea
24. Marco Guillen (Crc) Grupo Ice
25. Cesar Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea
26. Jesus Castaño (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
27. Enrique Artavia (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
28. Erick Perez (Gua) Guatemala National Team
29. Paulo Vargas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea
30. Allan Morales (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
31. Josue Gonzalez (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
32. Diego Flores (Gua) Guatemala National Team
33. Juan Solis (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
34. Johan Barahona (Crc) Grupo Ice
35. Jan Lof (Ned) Amsterdam Team
36. Cory Wallace (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH
37. Charles Thibault (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH
38. Nicolas Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
39. Allan Cordero (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec
40. Moises Hernandez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
41. Salas Marco (Crc) Grupo Ice
42. Julian Rodas (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
43. Marvin Guzman (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH
44. Jose Montero (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
45. Roman Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea
46. Noe Alvarez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:34
47. Eddier Godinez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
48. Alfredo Sanchez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 0:38
49. Gilbert Tencio (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:34
50. Vincent Veilleuz (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 0:45
51. Giel Nijs (Ned) Amsterdam Team
52. Lars Van Devall (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:51
53. Randall Aguilar (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 0:49
54. Hersson Jimenez (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:55
55. Jonathan Camacho (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:54
56. Luis Alvarez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 0:57
57. Luis Rojas (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec
58. Daniel Rodriguez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 1:02
59. Dion Beukeboom (Ned) Amsterdam Team
60. Renan Gonzalez (Crc) Grupo Ice 1:12
61. Cody Canning (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 1:07
62. Miguel Rojas (Crc) Grupo Ice 5:09
63. Mynor Lopez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 1:48
64. Daniel Korevaar (Ned) Amsterdam Team 7:26
65. Eduardo Garita (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 7:16
66. Pablo Leiva (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:13:24
67. Alfredo Flores (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:11:36
68. David Vargas (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:32:42
69. Alejandro Padilla (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:13:25
70. Dirk Van Der Craats (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:32:42
DNF Alexey Shmidt (Rus) Russian National Team
DNF Sergey Kolesnikov (Rus) Russian National Team
DNF Ivan Kovalev (Rus) Russian National Team
DNF Victor Smalko (Rus) Russian National Team
DNF Evgeniy Kovalev (Rus) Russian National Team

GC after Stage 4

1. Gregori Brenes (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 12:27:35
2. Federico Ramirez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 1
3. Alexander Sanchez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
4. Henry Raabe (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 4
5. Marconi Duran (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 5
6. Jose Bonilla (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue
7. Allan Morales (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade
8. Fabricio Quiros (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 9
9. Janier Acevedo (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:10
10. William Valencia (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:11
11. Juan Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:14
12. Pablo Araya (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:15
13. Nicolas Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
14. Jesus Castaño (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
15. Alexis Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:16
16. Paulo Vargas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:19
17. Steven Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:20
18. Cesar Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:23
19. Marco Salas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:24
20. Julian Rodas (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
21. Carlos Pulgarin (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:29
22. Salas Marco (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:51
23. Juan Solis (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:57
24. Jose Montero (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 1:15
25. Guillermo Gonzalez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 1:21
26. Josue Gonzalez (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1:29
27. Eddier Godinez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 1:52
28. Enrique Artavia (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1:55
29. Esteban Castro (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 2:46
30. Diego Flores (Gua) Guatemala National Team 2:49
31. Mariano Herrera (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 3:06
32. Cory Wallace (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 3:09
33. Roman Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 3:10
34. Mynor Lopez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 3:15
35. Erick Perez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 3:48
36. Carlos Hernandez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 3:55
37. Allan Cordero (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 3:57
38. Douglas Offer (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 3:58
39. Luis Rojas (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 4:01
40. Noe Alvarez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 5:04
41. Jonathan Camacho (Crc) Grupo Ice 5:53
42. Gilbert Tencio (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 6:11
43. Johan Barahona (Crc) Grupo Ice 6:19
44. Daniel Rodriguez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 7:09
45. Hersson Jimenez (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 7:11
46. Moises Hernandez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 7:20
47. Daniel Korevaar (Ned) Amsterdam Team 7:40
48. Randall Aguilar (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 7:41
49. Marvin Guzman (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 7:51
50. Renan Gonzalez (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:11:09
51. Miguel Rojas (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:13:52
52. Vicent Veilleuz (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 0:14:34
53. Alfredo Flores (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:15:38
54. Jean-Michel Lachance (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 0:17:04
55. Jeroen Kers (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:17:26
56. Jan Lof (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:17:47
57. Dion Beukeboom (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:18:11
58. Lars Van Devall (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:18:41
59. Charles Thibault (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 0:19:56
60. Giel Nijs (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:22:20
61. Cody Canning (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 0:23:13
62. Alfredo Sanchez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 0:23:27
63. Marco Guillen (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:24:37
64. Eduardo Garita (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:25:10
65. Alejandro Padilla (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:29:47
66. Niels Lommers (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:29:58
67. Pablo Leiva (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:32:41
68. David Vargas (Crc) Grupo Ice 0:35:49
69. Luis Alvarez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez – Exceltec 0:39:18
70. Dirk Van Der Craats (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:57:06

Points classification
1. Henry Raabe CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) 39 pts
2. Esteban Castro CRC (Bufete Guzmán y älvarez-Exeltec) 34
3. Douglas Offer CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) 31

Best Climber
1.   Jan Lof HOL (Team Amsterdam) 6 pts.
2.   Giel Nijs HOL (Team Amsterdam) 6 pts.
3.   Jean-Michel Lachance CAN (TDQ-GTH) 4 pts.

U23 Classification
1.   Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) 12:27:35
2.   Allan Morales CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 5 s.
3.   Fabricio Quirós CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 9 s.

Sprints Classification
1.   Eduardo Garita CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) 10 pts.
2.   Jean-Michel Lachance CAN (TDQ-GTH) 9 pts.
3.   Marco Guillén CRC (Grupo ICE) 9 pts.

Teams Classification
1. BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS (Costa Rica) 36:57:51
2. Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue (Costa Rica) a 4 s.
3. Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia (Colombia) a 10 s.

Full results here.