Portugal’s Luis Leao Pinto (Skotiabank) won the opening stage of La Ruta held on Thursday from Jaco to UTN Atenas in Costa Rica. He won the race ahead of Colombia’s Luis Mejía (Coopenae Movistar) and Spain’s Joseph Betalú (Constructora ARPO Specialized).
Attacks between two riders continued between San Pablo and San Pedro de Turrubares until Mejia fell off pace. At Escobal, Leao Pinto had built a lead of nine minutes.
Article continues below"I put effort on the climbs but did not expect to have this advantage and I hope it stays. Mejia is a great rider. My legs hurt today but Costa Rica is a country where I feel great and I love it,” Leao Pinto said.
Despite the convincing victory, Leao Pinto said he has not won the race yet, "the race has just begun, it's mountain biking, it is unpredictable, you can be forward today and tomorrow many things that can happen to leave you out of the race, then every day we are trying recover well.”
Brief Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luis Leao Pinto (POR) Skotiabank | 4:35:31 |
| 2 | Luis Mejía (COL) Coopenae Movistar | 0:10:27 |
| 3 | Joseph Betalú (ESP) Constructora ARPO Specialized | 0:14:28 |
| 4 | Héctor Riveros (COL) Constructora ARPO Specialized | 0:15:02 |
| 5 | Eddy Pérez (CRC) Seven Capital | 0:17:19 |
| 6 | Paolo Montoya (CRC) Specialized Team | 0:21:14 |
| 7 | Ibon Zugasti (ESP) Where is the limit ProBike | 0:26:11 |
| 8 | Diyer Rincón (COL) Constructora ARPO Specialized | 0:26:12 |
| 9 | Deiber Esquivel (CRC) ScotiabankDos PinosDeloitteCiclo Guilly | 1:04:42 |
| 10 | Todd Wells (USA) Specialized | 0:31:48 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angela Parra (COL) CoopenaeEconomyMovistar | 5:56:21 |
| 2 | Xiomara Guerrero (COL) Specialized Team | 0:28:32 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rodney Burgos (CRC) BM | 5:33:22 |
| 2 | Carlos Trujillo (COL) Individual | 0:08:26 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willy Quirós (CRC) Individual | 5:56:21 |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pablo Leiva (CRC) Aerodiva | 5:47:21 |
-
'It made news worldwide' - Jay Vine still dealing with pain after infamous kangaroo crash but back in action at Volta a Catalunya
Wrist pain management still required but Tour Down Under GC winner says he has 'come a long way' as he races in support of Almeida and McNulty -
As it happened: Experienced Dane is the fastest to the line on stage 2 of Volta a Catalunya 2026
Magnus Cort outpaced Noa Isidore and Francesco Busatto to take the win -
Volta a Catalunya: Magnus Cort sprints to stage 2 victory after peloton catches breakaway in final kilometre
Noa Isidore goes second and Francesco Busatto in third ahead of GC leader Godon -
Breathing support and extended hospital stay required as Debora Silvestri continues recovery from Milan-San Remo crash
Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi racer went over guardrail, fracturing five ribs and shoulder
