Costa Rica Sports News – There is a bicycle tour going on currently in Costa Rica that includes a total of 12 teams, half local and half foreign. It’s called the International Tour to Costa Rica 2013. It runs from the 17th to the 29th and includes 1,530 kilometers spread out in 12 stages.
The international teams are from Russia, Colombia, Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, and Cuba. They total 46 cyclists. The other 42 are Costa Ricans who are sponsored by local companies. The race started in the hot and humid Caribbean province of Limon, passing through Puerto Viejo and Bribri.
Last year’s winner, Colombian Oscar Sanchez, will not defend his title this year. The Cuban teams are usually best in the flat stages and the Colombians excel in the mountains. This year they will travel to the Pacific through the rainy areas in the north and center of the country and then proceed to San Jose to finish the race. They will ride at sea level and in San Ramon, which is 1,120 meters above sea level. The last part of the challenge is to climb the Cerro de la Muerte and make a rapid descent.
The competition has taken place every year, since its creation in 1965. The first winner was Jose Luis “El Negro” Sanchez, from Costa Rica. Since 2005, the race has been part of the International Cycling Union’s Continental Circuits. In Spanish it is called the “Vuelta Ciclista a Costa Rica.” It is ranked 2.2 by the Union Cycliste Internationale.
The event is organized by the Federacion Costarricense de Ciclismo.
