Two fierce and tireless mountain bikers rode strong for four days of the Ruta de los Conquistadores race to capture the winning trophies. Costa Rica's Federico “Lico” Ramírez won the Men's division, while Susan Haywood, from the United States, won the Women's, according to a statement posted on the race's Web site.

Each won three stages of this four-day race that started in the central Pacific town of Jacó and crossed the country to end in the Caribbean town of Playa Bonita, Limón.

This marked the fourth win of the Ruta de los Conquistadores for Ramírez, while Haywood took the trophy during her first time competing in this event.

She finished the race in 22 hours, 50 minutes and six seconds, with fellow U.S. rider Louise Kobin coming in second and Tica Alejandra Carvajal coming in third.

Ramírez's time was 17 hours, 40 minutes and 21 seconds, with Costa Rican Paolo Montoya finishing right behind him and France's Thomas Dietsch coming in third.

One of the toughest spots in the race was the final push to Limón, when riders were hit with thick humidity and rain. Race organizers were forced to change the course to avoid crossing the unstable bridge over the Matina River and adding a few more kilometers of paved highway instead.

Another obstacle came along the railroad tracks bikers had to cross 10 kilometers before the finish, where rain had turned the land surrounding them into a waist-deep swamp, the statement said.

Next year's Ruta de los Conquistadores is scheduled for Nov. 12-15, 2008.

-Tico Times