La Ruta Organizers Unveil 2007 Course
Organizers of Costa Rica's famed La Ruta de los Conquistadores mountain bike race unveiled an updated course Monday. For the first time in the event's 15-year history, there will be a fourth day of racing.

"We included a new stage on day 2 that will link the finish venue of day 1 with the start venue of day 3," said La Ruta race director Luis Viquez during a press conference in San José.  "Now we will truly cross Costa Rica from coast to coast."

Day 1 will depart from the Best Western Jacó Beach Hotel on the Pacific Coast, and finish 96km later at El Rodeo horse farm, 20km west of San José. This is the same route used in the 2006 race, save for a few modifications. The last dirt road climb of the first day route, known as La Pita, has been replaced by a paved ascent. That was done in part to cut down on finish times, which were unusually high because of the long, muddy La Pita ascent that forced nearly all contestants off their bikes a year ago.

If for some reason the new route cannot be used, plan B will send the race over an almost-flat gravel trail, which connects check point 3 at San Pedro de Turrubares and the finish venue. However, the most attractive - and demanding - section of this stage, the Carara National Park Jungle, remains.

"We wanted to make an event for all sorts of people, not only for the best pro racers," explained La Ruta media manager Luis Rueda.

Day 2 will begin at El Rodeo, before tracing a 72km route up and over the mountains around the Central Valley. The finish will be at the TerraMall Shopping Center, 15km east of San José. Race founder Roman Urbina designed the new stage. Participants will need between six and nine hours to finish.

The third and fourth stages will be the same as in years past. Day 3 starts at the TerraMall before sending riders on the 30km ascent to the event's highest point, the Irazú Volcano at 3010 meters above sea level. From there it's a blazing fast downhill to the coffee town of Aquiares.

The final day starts in Aquiares, and concludes 120km later on the Caribbean beach of Playa Bonita. The day's highlight is the infamous trestle crossings and train tracks.

All told, the 2007 La Ruta de los Conquistadores will cover 356km with approximately 11,500 meters of climbing, as competitors retrace the path of the Spanish Conquistador across Costa Rica.