36th Vuelta a Costa Rica - 2.5

Costa Rica, December 17-29, 2000

1999 Results    Preview    Teams    Past Winners

The Stages

  • Prologue - December 16: Velódromo Nacional (Parque de La Paz) ITT, 1 km
  • Stage 1 - December 17: San José - Limón, 162 km
  • Stage 2 - December 18: Circuito Limón-Puerto Viejo, 133 km
  • Stage 3 - December 19: Cahuita - Guapiles, 137 km
  • Stage 4 - December 20: Alajuela - Bagaces, 176 km
  • Stage 5 - December 21: Liberia - Nicoya, 104 km
  • Stage 6 - December 22: Samara - Nicoyam ITT, 38 km
  • Stage 7 - December 23: Puntarenas - Tibás, 129 km
  • Rest Day - December 24
  • Stage 8 - December 25: Circuito Presidente, 93.6 km
  • Stage 9 - December 26: Cartago - Pérez Zeledón, 114 km
  • Stage 10 - December 27: Pérez Zeledón - Golfito, 203 km
  • Stage 11 - December 28: Río Claro - Buenos Aires, 124.8 km
  • Stage 12 - December 29: Pérez Zeledón - San José, 142 km

Preview

63 riders from 11 countries will take part in the 36th edition of the Vuelta a Costa Rica, that starts on December 16 with an unofficial prologue in the Velodrome Nacional in the Parque de La Paz. This will only serve to choose the yellow jersey, but from there the first official stage will take the riders 162 kilometres from San José to Limón. Then it is a further 1500 kilometres until the finish in San Jose on December 29.

There are more flat stages in this year's edition of the Vuelta, making the mountain stages even more important. The toughest climb, Cerro de la Muerte will still be in the race, as well as the 1,200 m Fila de Cal. On December 22, there will be a 36 kilometre time trial from Sámara to Nicoya (stage 6) and this will be very important for the more powerful riders to make up time on the mountaineers.

Although Costa Ricans will make up nearly half of the peloton (27 riders), they will find it difficult to overcome the Colombians, Mexicans and Venezualans in particular. Last year's overall winner, Miguel Arroyo is riding for the Mexican team, and will be well supported by his teammates. Colombians Víctor Herrera, Álvaro Lozano, Israel Ochoa, Julio Bernal and Gregorio Ladino will all be threats. However, Federico Ramirez and Jose Adrián Bonilla, both riding for Cafe de Costa Rica-Pizza Hut, may be able to bring the jersey home for the first time since 1996.

Teams 

Amnet Televisión

Roberto Ballestero (CRc)
Daniel Rodríguez (CRc)
Aléxander Miranda (CRc)
Lindsay Varela (CRc)
Timo Scholz (Ger)
Inti Hughes (CRc)

Té Frío con Limón Dos Pinos

David Maldonado (CRc)
Jorge Coto (CRc)
Germán Muñoz (CRc)
Warren Calvo (CRc)
Robert Núñez (USA)
Julio Bernal (Col)

Café de Costa Rica - Pizza Hut A

Federico Ramírez (CRc)
José Adrián Bonilla (CRc)
Paulo Vargas (CRc)
Rolando González (CRc)
Álvaro Lozano (Col)
Omar Pumar (Ven)

Café de Costa Rica - Pizza Hut B

Carlos Salazar (CRc)
Marcos Rodríguez (CRc)
Mauricio Castro (CRc)
Luis Morera (CRc)
Geovanny Vargas (CRc)
Raúl Gómez (Col)

Adidas Pipasa INS Jaisa A

Ricardo Villalobos (CRc)
Pablo Araya (CRc)
Marconi Durán (CRc)
José Montero (CRc)
Wendy Cruz (Dom)
Israel Ochoa (Col)

Adidas Pipasa INS Jaisa B

Nieves Carrasco (CRc)
José Francisco Quirós (CRc)
Roberto García (CRc)
Luis Villanea (CRc)
Gregorio Ladino (Col)

Panamá

Mario Ríos (Pan)
Edwin Ortega (Pan)
Guillermo Zerda (Pan)
José Luis Torres (Pan)
Jais Soira (Pan)
Federico Núñez (Pan)

Venezuela Triple Gordo

Carlos Ochoa (Ven)
Federico Muñoz (Col)
Rodolfo Camacho (Ven)
Tony Linares (Ven)
Gílmer Vásquez (Ven)
Alirio Contreras (Ven)

Colombia

Uberlino Meza (Col)
Héctor Valenzuela (Col)
Víctor Herrera (Col)
Jair Bernal (Col)
Raúl Saavedra (Col)
Ubaldo Meza (Col)

México

Miguel Arroyo (Mex)
Armando Vigueras (Mex)
Miguel Meza (Mex)
Manuel Hernández (Mex)
Cristian Valenzuela (Mex)
Alexis Rojas (Col)

Ecuador

Héctor Chiles (Ecu)
Erick Castaño (Ecu)
Darwin Chulde (Ecu)
Wílmer Portilla (Ecu)

Past Winners 

1999 Miguel Arroyo (Mex)