December 22, 2009 (Oreamuno, Cartago, Costa Rica) – Colombian Julián Rodas, of team Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia- won this Tuesday’s seventh stage at the 45th Vuelta Ciclista Internacional a Costa Rica, but defending champion Gregory Brenes -BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS- is still the overall’s head.

Both riders were on the day’s breakaway along with Janier Acevedo (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) and Juan Carlos Rojas (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) which finally defined the most likely candidates to this year’s title. The four covered the 144 kilometers course with the same time of 4 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds. Today’s routed joined the communities of Guápiles, at the Caribbean province of Limón, and Oreamuno, in Cartago.

They overcame the category 2 mountain port of La Victoria together and crystallized a significant gap on the rest of their possible contenders. It seams like names as José Bonilla, Marconi Durán and Henry Raabe will now have to push harder to be back on the aspirants’ list.

The day’s result perfectly shows the general balance of La Vuelta until now. Brenes leads the individual classification with a total clock of 23 hours, 47 minutes and 12 seconds. Acevedo is only 10 seconds behind, while Rojas and today’s winner Rodas share the same 14 seconds disadvantage.

A mistake can decide the final outcome and it might take place tomorrow at stage number eight, the feared and traditional climbing time trial of the Costa Rican Tour. This 2009’s 13,6 course is going to be completed between the city of Cartago and the rural community of Santa Rosa de Oreamuno, located at the low lands of the Irazú Volcano.

This is one of the biggest challenges of La Vuelta because of its 20% gradient; the cold temperatures and the impossibility of follow other racers… It is just the men against the clock. The first ITT of the event might represent the perfect chance for the yellow jersey’s holder to get off his rivals, but it is also an opportunity for them to catch and pass the leader.

Full results also available here.

Results

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

GC after Stage 7

1. Gregori Brenes (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 23:47:12
2. Janier Acevedo (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:10
3. Juan Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:14
4. Julian Rodas (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia
5. Jose Bonilla (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 3:37
6. Fabricio Quiros (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 4:33
7. Jesus Castaño (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 5:32
8. Marconi Duran (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 5:44
9. Salas Marco (Crc) Grupo Ice 6:54
10. Federico Ramirez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 9:18
11. Henry Raabe (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 9:23
12. Paulo Vargas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 9:36
13. Pablo Araya (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 9:39
14. Cesar Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 9:50
15. Steven Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:13:52
16. Allan Morales (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 0:14:12
17. Nicolas Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:14:29
18. William Valencia (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:15:30
19. Marco Salas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:16:29
20. Jose Montero (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 0:19:25
21. Eddier Godinez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 0:20:28
22. Alexander Sanchez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 0:23:51
23. Alexis Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:24:06
24. Carlos Hernandez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:24:22
25. Josue Gonzalez (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:25:51
26. Mynor Lopez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:27:05
27. Juan Solis (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:27:19
28. Roman Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:27:43
29. Enrique Artavia (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:29:08
30. Moises Hernandez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 0:32:16
31. Hersson Jimenez (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:33:53
32. Cory Wallace (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 0:38:12
33. Daniel Korevaar (Ned) Amsterdam Team 0:39:39
34. Carlos Pulgarin (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 0:43:31
35. Allan Cordero (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 0:44:37
36. Guillermo Gonzalez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 0:44:54
37. Diego Flores (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:46:15
38. Erick Perez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:47:03
39. Mariano Herrera (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:51:18
40. Daniel Rodriguez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 0:52:48
41. Luis Rojas (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 0:55:42
42. Alfredo Flores (Gua) Guatemala National Team 0:59:06
43. Noe Alvarez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 1:06:29
44. Jan Lof (Ned) Amsterdam Team 1:08:23
45. Dion Beukeboom (Ned) Amsterdam Team 1:08:49
46. Lars Van Devall (Ned) Amsterdam Team 1:09:45
47. Eduardo Garita (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1:11:11
48. Gilbert Tencio (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1:11:16
49. Douglas Offer (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1:13:20
50. Alfredo Sanchez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 1:13:41
51. Cody Camming (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 1:14:51
52. Johan Barahona (Crc) Grupo Ice 1:16:32
53. Randall Aguilar (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 1:18:21
54. Jonathan Camacho (Crc) Grupo Ice 1:20:26
55. Giel Nijs (Ned) Amsterdam Team 1:24:34
56. Vicent Veilleuz (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 1:25:14
57. Jeroen Kers (Ned) Amsterdam Team 1:26:56
58. Miguel Rojas (Crc) Grupo Ice 1:27:08
59. Marco Guillen (Crc) Grupo Ice 1:30:45
60. Renan Gonzalez (Crc) Grupo Ice 1:33:00
61. Charles Thibault (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 1:44:37
62. Pablo Leiva (Crc) Grupo Ice 1:52:22
63. Dirk Van Der Craats (Ned) Amsterdam Team 1:56:16
64. Luis Alvarez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 2:03:28
65. David Vargas (Crc) Grupo Ice 2:06:18

Mountains Classification

1. Janier Acevedo (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 24 pts
2. Juan Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 16
3. Gregori Brenes (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 14
4. Carlos Pulgarin (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 8
5. William Valencia (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 6
6. Jan Lof (Ned) Amsterdam Team 6
7. Giel Nijs (Ned) Amsterdam Team 6
8. Pablo Araya (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 6
9. Hersson Jimenez (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 5
10. Roman Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 4
11. Alfredo Sanchez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 4
12. Julian Rodas (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 3
13. Cesar Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 3
14. Luis Rojas (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 2
15. Marconi Duran (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 2
16. Henry Raabe (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 2
17. Eduardo Garita (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1
18. Jose Bonilla (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1

Sprint Classification

1. Eduardo Garita (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 18 pts
2. Marco Guillen (Crc) Grupo Ice 17
3. Douglas Offer (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 10
4. Julian Rodas (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 8
5. Jan Lof (Ned) Amsterdam Team 8
6. Giel Nijs (Ned) Amsterdam Team 5
7. Charles Thibault (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 5
8. Juan Solis (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 5
9. Hersson Jimenez (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 5
10. Roman Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 5
11. Cesar Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 5
12. Luis Rojas (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 4
13. Alfredo Sanchez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 3
14. William Valencia (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 3
15. Nicolas Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 3
16. Mariano Herrera (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 3
17. Paulo Vargas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 2
18. Jose Bonilla (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 2
19. Enrique Artavia (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1
20. Jonathan Camacho (Crc) Grupo Ice 1
21. Carlos Hernandez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 1
22. Carlos Pulgarin (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 1

Points Classification

1. Julian Rodas (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 65 pts
2. Juan Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 63
3. Gregori Brenes (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 59
4. Henry Raabe (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 55
5. Janier Acevedo (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 54
6. Jose Bonilla (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 50
7. Fabricio Quiros (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 50
9. William Valencia (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 47
10. Pablo Araya (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 33
11. Paulo Vargas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 30
12. Carlos Pulgarin (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 26
13. Douglas Offer (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 26
14. Federico Ramirez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 26
15. Steven Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 25
16. Jesus Castaño (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 19
17. Marconi Duran (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 19
18. Eduardo Garita (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 18
19. Marco Guillen (Crc) Grupo Ice 17
20. Jeroen Kers (Ned) Amsterdam Team 16
21. Nicolas Castro (Col) Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 16
22. Marco Salas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 16
23. Cesar Rojas (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 15
24. Allan Morales (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 11
25. Alexander Sanchez (Crc) BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 11
26. Jan Lof (Ned) Amsterdam Team 8
27. Salas Marco (Crc) Grupo Ice 8
28. Mariano Herrera (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 6
29. Charles Thibault (Can) Tour D’Quebec-GTH 5
30. Giel Nijs (Ned) Amsterdam Team 5
31. Roman Villalobos (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 5
32. Hersson Jimenez (Crc) Plycem-JPS-Orbea 5
33. Juan Solis (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 5
34. Luis Rojas (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 4
35. Alfredo Sanchez (Crc) Bufete Guzmán & Álvarez-Exceltec 3
36. Mynor Lopez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 1
37. Carlos Hernandez (Gua) Guatemala National Team 1
38. Jonathan Camacho (Crc) Grupo Ice 1
39. Enrique Artavia (Crc) Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 1

Team Classification

1. Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia 71:01:59
2. BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS-Powerade 4:46
3. Plycem-JPS-Orbea 0:10
4. Citibank-Economy Rent A Car-Blue 0:13:17
5. Guatemala National Team 1:26:36
6. Grupo ICE 1:45:10
7. Bufete-Guzman & Alvarez-Exceltec 2:06:53
8. Amsterdam Team 2:16:42
9. Tour D’Quebec-GTH 2:42:57