December 23, 2009 (Santa Rosa de Oreamuno, Cartago, Costa Rica) – Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia’s Janier Acevedo won the seventh stage’s Individual Time Trial of the 45th Vuelta Ciclista Internacional a Costa Rica and took the overall leading with a powerful demonstration of strength. This Wednesday’s course consisted on 13,6 km of climbing with a brutal 20% of gradient.

Colombian Acevedo pedaled to achieve a time of 32:00 minutes after the route from Cartago to Santa Rosa de Oreamuno, beating his closest rivals by more than one minute. Second was former leader Gregory Brenes, of team BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS, at 1:28, while Julián Rodas, also a Greatwall’s rider, came in third with a difference of 1:39. The other local hope, Juan Carlos Rojas, of Plycem-JPS-Orbea, lost 2:17, barely enough for a fourth place.

These four riders have been the stars of the tour so far and it is pretty sure that this year’s La Vuelta’s title is going to be battled among them only. Acevedo seams to be the one with the big chances, since he is now commanding the general classification with 1:09 over past yellow’s holder Brenes. Juan Carlos Rojas is settled fourth at 2:22 with Rodas one step up in third at 1:44.

It is quite logical to think that Rodas is not going to attack on his team leader, but waiting if something goes wrong. Brenes and Rojas will have their last chances at the final three stages, with the infamous “Cerro de la Muerte” climbs and the 30 kilometers flat time trial of stage 11.

Tomorrow is the rest day for all the caravan. The racers will have the chance to take a deep breath after three continuous mountain days and celebrate Christmas with their families and friends. La Vuelta will be back next Friday with the traditional “Circuito Presidente de la República”, a circuit race held every December 25.

This year’s will be a 10 laps course which will totalize 98 kilometers, at the Costa Rican Pacific Resort of Jacó Beach.

Etapa/Stage 8: Cronoescalada Individual/Individual Time Trial. Cartago-Santa Rosa de Oreamuno. 13,6  Km.

1. Janier Acevedo COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) 32:00.74
2. Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 1:28
3. Julián Rodas COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) a 1:39
4. Juan Carlos Rojas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 2:17
5. Marco Salas CRC (Grupo ICE) a 2:32
6. Fabricio Quirós CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 2:55
7. Marconi Durán CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) a 3:04
8. Marco Salas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 3:05
9. Jesús Castaño COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) a 3:06
10. Pablo Araya  CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 3:46
11. César Rojas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 3:49
12. Federico Ramírez CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 4:06
13. Allan Morales CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) 4:14
14. Nicolás Castro COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) a 4:18
15. José A. Bonilla CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) a 4:27
16. Henry Raabe CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) a 4:30

GC after Stage 8
1.   Janier Acevedo COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) 24:19:22
2.   Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 1:19
3.   Julián Rodas COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) a 1:44
4.   Juan Carlos Rojas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 2:22
5.   Fabricio Quirós CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 7:18
6.   José Adrián Bonilla CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) a 7:54
7.   Jesús Castaño COL (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 8:29
8.   Marconi Durán CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) a 8:39
9.   Marco Salas CRC (Grupo ICE) a 9:16
10. Federico Ramírez CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 13:15
11. Pablo Araya CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 13:16
12. César Rojas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 13:30
13. Henry Raabe CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) a 13:44
14. Paulo Vargas CRC (PlycemJPS-Orbea) a 14:44
15. Allan Morales CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 18:17

Points Classification
1. Julián Rodas COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) 73 pts.
2. Juan Carlos Rojas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) 70 pts.
3. Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) 68 pts.

Mountain Classification
1.   Janier Acevedo COL (Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia) 24 pts.
2.   Juan Carlos Rojas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) 16 pts.
3.   Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) 14 pts.

U23 Classification
1.   Gregory Brenes CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) 24:20:41
2.   Fabricio Quirós CRC (BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS) a 5:59
3.   César Rojas CRC (Plycem-JPS-Orbea) a 12:11

Sprint Classification
1.   Eduardo Garita CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) 18 pts.
2.   Marco Guillén CRC (Grupo ICE) 17 pts.
3.   Douglas Offer CRC (Citibank-Economy Rent a Car-Blue) 10 pts.

Team Classification
1. Greatwall-Indeportes Antioquia (Colombia) 72:32:46
2. BCR-Pizza Hut-KHS (Costa Rica) a 8:30
3. Plycem-JPS-Orbea (Costa Rica) a 14:23