371:, also located in Cartago. During this stage competitors ride 79 kilometers (49 miles) approximately. The elevation gain of day two is of about 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). The altitude change is 1,291 metres (4,236 ft) over sea level, to 3,025 metres (9,925 ft) over sea level, to 607 metres (1,991 ft) over sea level. The climate during the Perafán de Ribera stage consists mostly of wind and rain, with a temperature range of 5–8 °C (41–46 °F), and drastic climate changes. Hypothermia is usually a problem during this stage. The terrain is 20% pavement, 20% volcanic rocks and ash, 30% steep uphill and 30% technical downhill.
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331:(Costa Rica's capital). During this stage competitors ride 110 kilometers (68 miles) approximately. The elevation gain of day one is of 3,400 meters (11,200 feet) approx. The altitude change riders experience is from 12 metres (39 ft) above sea level, to 650 metres (2,130 ft) above sea level, to 1201 meters sea level, to 490 metres (1,610 ft) above sea level, finishing at 855 metres (2,805 ft) above sea level. The
375:(4,236 ft) above sea level, the ride is a never-ending ascent until competitors reach 3,025 metres (9,925 ft). Then it levels off, passes the Turrialba Volcano, and starts one of the fastest and longest downhills in Costa Rica, finishing in the town of Turrialba at an elevation of 607 metres (1,991 ft). On this day, it is very important to have well-functioning brakes and be prepared for
403:. On this stage, riders cover a distance of 120 km (75 mi) approximately. The elevation gain of this stage is of 800 meters (2,600 feet) approximately. Riders go through and altitude change of 618 metres (2,028 ft) over sea level, to 845 metres (2,772 ft) above sea level, down to sea level. The climate during the Cristobal ColĂłn stage is
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A mechanical tent for any bike related troubles is put up as well. A massage area is also available. There is also medical care at each of the finish lines. The services included to all racers are the lunch buffet, the showers and the bicycle wash. Extra charge is added for the mechanical revision and the massage.
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approximately 12,000+ feet. That's why Day 1 is known by competitors as the "make it or break it day". Riders must expect all kinds of riding conditions this day: mud, gravel, asphalt, and loose rocks. Temperatures will be very high in the lowlands, as high as 40 °C (104 °F) and cooler in the mountains.
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At the end of each day, riders arrive to the finish line where they find all the amenities they might need. There is a buffet for lunch that includes every food group so competitors can choose what exactly they need after a long day of racing. There are men and women showers, and a bicycle wash area.
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The actual race was started in 1993 by Román Urbina, a renowned athlete and adventurer, also nominee for the mountain bike hall of fame for his work with La Ruta. Along with some friends, Urbina decided to follow the steps of the
Spanish conquistadors on his mountain bike for fun, realized how great
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Stage 3 goes through a series of climbs and down hills for a total elevation gain of about 2700 feet, mostly during the first half of the ride. The last half is mainly flat. Despite the relatively small amount of climbing, this is a hard, long 120 km, frequently with hot coastal temperatures,
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La Ruta's day one starts at 6:00 am and gives competitors until 5:30 pm (11.5 hours) to complete the 110 km route before being picked up by the rescue truck and disqualified from the overall results. From sea level, riders climb numerous hills that hit riders with a total elevation gain of
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Day 2 also starts at the crack of dawn and racers have until 5pm to finish. The 79 kilometres (49 mi) feature a fearsome climb of about 6,000 feet, from Tres RĂos straight up the IrazĂş Volcano, with the high probability of bitterly cold weather much of the day. Starting at 1,291 metres
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La Ruta de los
Conquistadores is very well placed as a strong sporting event in Costa Rica, with media coverage in the main television stations and the main newspapers. This coverage follows each stage of the race and usually gets the first page of the country's most important newspaper,
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If a racer does not finish a day's stage in the amount of time given, they will be picked up by a rescue truck and will be taken to the finish line of that particular day. They are welcome to ride the next day's stage but their cumulative times will not enter in the overall results.
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La Ruta de los
Conquistadores racers are covered by a basic insurance from the INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros), which is the National Insurance Company in Costa Rica. Also, the organization of La Ruta de los Conquistadores requires riders to be covered by a personal insurance.
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La Ruta de los
Conquistadores has prize money for the elite and women category finishers, the amount of money varies each year. For the elite and women finishers, along with the winners of each category, there are varied prizes in cycling products such as rims, helmets, etc.
219:, located every 25 kilometres (16 mi) through the race course. There is a time limit for reaching each aid station, such that if a racer does not make it in time to that certain aid station he or she will be picked up by a rescue truck and taken to the finish line.
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La Ruta de los
Conquistadores is an individual point-to-point mountain bike multi-stage race. Racers may wear matching jerseys for camaraderie or support, but at the end of the day each racer will be judged individually by their time in each one of the stages.
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and strong climate changes. The event is also open to amateurs, having a 12-hour window to finish each stage. If competitors do not finish a stage, they are still welcome to race the next day, but their cumulative times will not count on the overall results.
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La Ruta de los
Conquistadores' organization consists of four full-time employees, and 3 part-time employees during 10 months of the year. During the month before La Ruta, and during the three days of the race itself, there are more than 100 people employed.
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The first fifty riders cannot receive any type of aid outside of the aid stations, situated every 25 kilometers. The rest of the riders can receive aid from support teams, and even stop at small businesses and get refreshments or whatever they need.
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La Ruta de los
Conquistadores works mainly with the Alcci (Asociación Lucha Contra el Cáncer Infantil, or "Association for the Fight against Children's Cancer" in English). Alcci works to raise funds for children's cancer research.
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Coast over the course of three days. It is an individual race, covering approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) of terrain. First staged in 1992, the three-day race tests athletes with its 8000 (approx.) meters of
156:
La Ruta de los
Conquistadores, also widely known simply as La Ruta, was born in an effort to call the attention of the media, both nationally (in Costa Rica) and internationally, to the importance of the
215:
The race has a three-day point-to-point format, which means each racer must make it from start to finish in a certain amount of time. There are four check points per day, and these also serve as
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Internationally, La Ruta de los
Conquistadores has been featured in more than 150 magazines during its 21 years of existence. Some of the magazines that have covered La Ruta are Bike Magazine,
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500 competitors over three days can make. This is the reason why if a competitor is seen disposing of garbage somewhere that isn't marked for garbage disposal, he or she will be disqualified.
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and a motorcycle are situated at each of the finish lines, in case of any accidents during the course of a stage, the ambulance will go and pick up the injured competitor.
407:, which means it will be hot and humid, with a temperature of 35 °C (95 °F) and up. The terrain consists of 35% paved roads and 65% gravel roads and train tracks.
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in check. With 500 riders moving from town to town, the organization has to take into account the food and water provided to them, as well as their comfort and safety.
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La Ruta gives a percentage of the inscription money to the foundation, which varies every year. La Ruta and Alcci have been working together since 2009.
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The third day of La Ruta de los
Conquistadores begins in Turrialba, Cartago and ends in Playa Bonita ("Pretty Beach" in English) in the province of
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Coast. The complete trajectory is of approximately 400 kilometers, although it varies slightly each year. It follows the footsteps of the
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detergents and oils are used in the bicycle wash and mechanic tents. Residues are separated and taken to the recycling plant.
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Day one of La Ruta de los Conquistadores is named after Juan de CavallĂłn, a very important conquistador in Costa Rica.
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43:
1051:"Stage 3: La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." AdventureRace. La Ruta De Los Conquistadores, n.d. Web. 11 February 2013.
1045:"Stage 2: La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." AdventureRace. La Ruta De Los Conquistadores, n.d. Web. 11 February 2013.
995:"Stage 3: La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." AdventureRace. La Ruta De Los Conquistadores, n.d. Web. 11 February 2013.
920:"Stage 2: La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." AdventureRace. La Ruta De Los Conquistadores, n.d. Web. 11 February 2013.
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983:"Stage 1:La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." AdventureRace. La Ruta De Los Conquistadores, n.d. Web. 11 February 2013.
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Stage 1:La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." AdventureRace. La Ruta De Los Conquistadores, n.d. Web. 11 February 2013.
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Each year, La Ruta de los Conquistadores is planned at the end of the last one. It takes a whole year to get the
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crossing rivers, valleys and climbing mountains. The highest point of elevation in the three-day course is the
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Hoad, Richard, and Paul Moore. The World's Toughest Endurance Challenges. Boulder, CO: VeloPress, 2012. Print.
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289:(the Costa Rican Cycling Federation). Pro Riders tend to be in the Open category while being federated.
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La Ruta de los Conquistadores is an eco-friendly race. The organization is highly conscious of the
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of the country. La Ruta began as an ecological expedition following the paths of the Spanish
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of an event it could be, and turned it into an international event since its first edition.
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De Tarso, Paulo. "La Ruta De Los Conquistadores Costa Rica." Bike Action 2006: 86–89. Web.
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De Tarso, Paulo. "La Ruta De Los Conquistadores Costa Rica." Bike Action 2006: 86-89. Web.
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volcanoes was diverted, with organizers citing too much volcanic activity as the reason.
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This stage begins on the Pacific Coast in the beach of JacĂł, located in the province of
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Cruz, Gilbert. "Top 10 Endurance Competitions." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 26 February 2013.
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Cruz, Gilbert. "Top 10 Endurance Competitions." Time. Time, n.d. Web. 26 February 2013.
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Urbina, Roman. "La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." Personal interview. 11 February 2013.
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Urbina, Roman. "La Ruta De Los Conquistadores." Personal interview. 11 February 2013.
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1060:"La Ruta Goes Global." Bike Magazine November 2006: 32. Web. 11 February 2013.
1004:"La Ruta Goes Global." Bike Magazine November 2006: 32. Web. 11 February 2013.
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scattered showers, tropical vegetation and very long, flat straightaways.
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The route traverses Costa Rica in three days, from the west coast town of
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122:. La Ruta de los Conquistadores consists of crossing Costa Rica from the
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1063:"Off The Front." Velo News February 2011: 6–7. Web. 11 February 2013.
1013:"Off The Front." Velo News February 2011: 6-7. Web. 11 February 2013.
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932:"Conquering River, Jungle and the World's Toughest Bike Race"
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There are eight categories in La Ruta de los Conquistadores:
107:("The Conquistadors' Trail" in English), known as the first
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The second day of La Ruta de los Conquistadores begins in
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and tools are available to assist in formatting, such as
957:"F.A.Q. - AdventureRace - la Ruta de los Conquistadores"
148:, took inspiration from La Ruta de los Conquistadores.
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https://www.cape-epic.com/fans/hall-of-fame/milestones
379:. At 10,000 feet (3,000 m) with wind and rain,
327:and ends in Hacienda El Rodeo in the province of
222:In 2015, the route which took riders up and over
339:, ranging from 30–35 °C (86–95 °F).
1087:Recurring sporting events established in 1993
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35:, which are uninformative and vulnerable to
285:license or are officially federated by the
184:during their expeditions around 1653–1660.
50:and maintains a consistent citation style.
281:The Federated Racers are those who have a
256:Female (all women regardless of their age)
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460:is in charge of the medical coverage. An
92:Learn how and when to remove this message
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383:is a risk, as it can get near freezing.
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287:FederaciĂłn Costarricense de Ciclismo
212:, at 3,300 metres (10,800 ft).
479:La Ruta de los Conquistadores uses
42:Please consider converting them to
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930:Juliet Macur (8 December 2016).
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390:Finish line closes up at 5:45pm
350:Finish line closes up at 5:45pm
46:to ensure the article remains
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363:, located in the province of
335:during day one of La Ruta is
105:La Ruta de los Conquistadores
418:Finish line closes at 5:45pm
174:Juan de CavallĂłn y Arboleda
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355:Stage 2: Perafán de Ribera
316:Stage 1: Juan de CavallĂłn
483:in all of their trucks.
468:Environmental conscience
395:Stage 3: CristĂłbal ColĂłn
182:Juan Vázquez de Coronado
114:of its kind, is a multi-
200:to Bonita beach in the
1077:Mountain biking events
415:Stage starts at 7:00am
387:Stage starts at 6:00am
347:Stage starts at 6:00am
456:During the race, the
259:Open: 18–29 years old
474:environmental impact
274:Non-federated racers
178:Pedro Afán de Ribera
1082:Sport in Costa Rica
643:Jose Adrian Bonilla
377:cold weather riding
528:, Bike Action and
458:National Red Cross
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859:Postponed to 2021
690:Tomas Frischknect
544:Number of racers
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736:Manuel Prado
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234:Race concept
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159:conservation
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146:South Africa
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68:Citation bot
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941:12 December
381:hypothermia
1071:Categories
967:2014-12-16
868:References
815:Luis MejĂa
804:Luis MejĂa
759:Todd Wells
325:Puntarenas
248:Categories
239:Individual
120:Costa Rica
48:verifiable
519:La NaciĂłn
500:Charities
481:biodiesel
462:ambulance
438:logistics
432:Logistics
369:Turrialba
361:Tres RĂos
268:50+ years
228:Turrialba
202:Caribbean
144:event in
142:Cape Epic
33:bare URLs
526:VeloNews
329:San José
277:Fat Bike
128:Atlantic
37:link rot
365:Cartago
333:climate
161:of the
152:Origins
126:to the
124:Pacific
541:Winner
491:Prizes
448:Medics
311:Stages
180:, and
57:reFill
512:Media
401:LimĂłn
224:IrazĂş
192:Route
167:fauna
163:flora
116:stage
31:uses
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593:1997
582:1996
571:1995
560:1994
549:1993
538:Year
226:and
198:JacĂł
165:and
112:race
65:and
588:50
577:40
566:30
555:17
302:Aid
283:UCI
1073::
988:^
976:^
934:.
909:^
876:^
532:.
521:.
176:,
970:.
945:.
95:)
89:(
84:)
80:(
76:.
74:)
70:(
63:)
59:(
39:.
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