October 31, 2007 — Here is the confirmed list of “pro” racers that will try to conquer the 2007 La Ruta de los Conquistadores taking place this year from November 14-17. La Ruta is turning 15 this year and some of the best racers in the world will try to take this special trophy back to home. Nevertheless, two editions have passed since the last time a Costa Rican competitor won it, so local riders will be making every effort to recover what was theirs during the first 12 years.

Despite the stiff competition, all entrants are real heroes just for finishing La Ruta’s demanding course. Some of them stand out from the rest, however, because of their international results and current world rankings. The fame they have gained over the years and their racing prowess put them in our local and non-local list of favorites to win the 2007 La Ruta de los Conquistadores.

Thomas Dietsch
Country: France
Team: Bianchi
Highlights:
-07: 1st UCI XCM Ranking
-07: 1st XCM World Cup
-07: 3rd XCM World Championship
-06: French XCM National Champion
-03, 04: European XCM Champion
-04: 2nd XCM World Championship

Andreas Hestler
Country: Canada
Team: Rocky Mountain-Haywood
Highlights:
-95, 97: Canadian National Champion
-94, 95, 2000: Canadian National Series Champion
-96: Cactus Cup Winner
-96: Olympian, Team Canada
-2004, 05, 06: Trans Rockies Winner
– 07: BC Bike Race 2nd Place

Deiber Esquivel
Country Costa Rica
Team: IBP Pensiones
Highlights:
-2005: Pan Am MTB Champion
-05: 7th La Ruta de los Conquistadores
-06: 4th La Ruta de los Conquistadores
-06-07: XCM National Cup Champion

Max Plaxton
Country: Canada
Team: Rocky Mountain-Haywood
Highlights:
-02-07: Canadian National Team
-07: 35th UCI XC Ranking
-07: 1st U-23 Pan Am, Argentina
-06: 3rd Espoir MTB World Championships NZL
-06: 1st Espoir MTB World Championships BRA
-06: 1st Espoir MTB National Championships

Federico Ramírez
Country: Costa Rica
Team: BCR-Pizza Hut-Powerade
Highlights:
-07: 2nd Overall Trans Rockies
-06: 4th Overall Trans Alp
-06: 3rd La Ruta de los Conquistadores
-05: 3rd Overall Trans Alp
-07, 06, 05: XC National Cup Champion
-97, 98, 2002: 1st La Ruta de los Conquistadores

Sandro Spaeth
Country: Switzerland
Team: Texner BMC Acqiris
Highlights:
-06: 2nd Trans Alp

Manuel Prado
Country: Costa Rica
Equipo: Sho-Air La Ruta
Highlights:
-07: 1st Sea Otter Classic XC Semi-Pro
-07: 1st Sea Otter Classic TT Semi-Pro
-07: 2nd Overall NMBS-NORBA National Series
-07: 1st Place Overall California State Series
-07: Several wins NMBS-NORBA Nationals
-07: 3rd Overall BC Bike Stage Race
-06: 1st Solo 24 Hrs Orange County
-06: 13th La Ruta de los Conquistadores

Paolo Montoya
Country: Costa Rica
Team: Mancosta Lee Cougan (ITA)
Highlights:
-07: 3rd U23 XCM World Championships
-07: 56th U23 XC World Championships
-07: 11th Pan Am XC
-07: 1st Brecsia Cup #3
-07: 1st U23 Gunn Rita Marathon
-04: 1st La Ruta de los Conquistadores

Tinker Juárez
Country: USA
Team: Cannondale
Highlights:
-4 Time US 24 Hour Solo Champion
-3 Time NORBA XC Champion
-2 Time Olympian USA
-Gold Medallist, Pan Am Games
-ABA BMX Hall of Fame
-Mountain Bike Hall of Fame
-Three top 10 finishes in World MTB Championships

Thomas Zahnd
Country: Switzerland
Team: Stockli-Craft
Highlights:
-06: 1st Eurobike Extremes Overall
-06: 2nd Trans Alp
-06: 2nd International Marathon St. Wendel
-06: 3rd Marathon Swiss Championsship
-06: 3rd Roc d’ Azur Marathon
-06: 10th UCI XCM Ranking
-07: Stage winner Cape Epic
-07: 22nd XCM World Championship

Susan Haywood
Country: USA
Team: Trek-Volkswagen
Highlights:
– Pro since 1998
-98-07: 4 times NORBA Nacional winner
-98-07: 2 Pan Am Championships
-06: 24 Hrs Solo World Champion
-07: 1st Trans Rockies

Louise Kobin
Country: Sweden / USA
Team: Sho-Air-Fusion X
-2007: 1st Alaska Ultrasport
-07: Sea Otter singlespeed 2nd
-07: 2nd Trans Rockies mixed
-07: 4th mixed Trans Alp
-06: 2nd La Ruta de los Conquistadores
-03-04-05: 1st La Ruta de los Conquistadores
-05: 3rd Power Biker-Brazil
-05: 2nd Place Norba Marathon
-03: 2nd Cape Epic South Africa

Hillary Harrison
Country: USA
Team: Giant Bikes
Highlights:
-07: 1st Trans Portugal
-07: 1st BC Bike Race
-07: 1st Trans Rockies mixed team
-06: 1st National Ultra Endurance 100 mile MTB
-02: 1st La Ruta de los Conquistadores

For a complete list of participants click here.