Races Mountain Bike Ramirez takes stage two, Sonntag stays in lead By Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor published 18 November 2010 Parra repeats in women's race, extends overall lead Comments Image 1 of 92The volcano was dusted with ashes that'd fallen on its tree-covered slopes(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Welcome to the Turrialba volcano.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Chickens en route.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)A rider heads toward the volcano.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)The clouds were spectacular from up high on the volcano(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Breathtaking views on day 3 in central Costa Rica(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)A national park surrounds the volcano(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Ben Sonntag gets ready for the downhill, where he made back some time.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Ben Sonntag at the summit(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Angela Parra wins her third stage at La Ruta(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Luis Mejia Sanchez and Federico Ramirez(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)The racers could shower right after finishing.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Rebecca Rusch(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Luis Mejia and Federico Ramirez at the front(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Luis Mejia sets the pace at the front.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)The two leaders(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Ben Sonntag held onto his yellow jersey on day 2.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Alex Grant climbs on pavement.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Milton Ramos used a stick as a fix after he broke his derailleur.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Luis Mejia and Federico Ramirez(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)The peloton at the start(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Women's leader Angela Parra ready for day 2(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Federico Ramirez has his game face on prior to the start of stage 2(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)A La Ruta racer(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Different colored jerseys are worn by various age group leaders(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Rebecca Rusch(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)The chase group(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Alexander Sanchez(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Going up(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Louise Kobin had a good stage 2.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Women's leader Angela Parra has won both stages so far(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Sam Schultz chows down on a sandwich(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Federico Ramirez's socks are part of his Pizza Hut team kit.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Eddy Perez(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)A racer at La Ruta(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)The drivetrains got a work over today and many racers complained of poor shifting due to the mud.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Federico Ramirez talks to the media.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Federico Ramirez is interviewed after his stage win.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Last year's winner Manual Prado in the mud.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Sam Schultz(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Ismael Ventura unsucks his chain.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Racers on a steep climb.(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Luis Mejia deals with his flat tire(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Two riders climb on stage 2(Image credit: Lead Adventure Media)Milton Ramos leads Sam Schultz.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Eddy Ramirez on a climb(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Luis Mejia Sanchez discovers he has a flat.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Luis Mejia Sanchez is sidelined briefly by a flat.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Luis Mejia Sanchez waits for help from a passing racer.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Race leader Ben Sonntag, Blake Harlan and Rebecca Rusch share post-stage stories while catching the shuttle to their race hotel.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Sam Schultz looks for another, lower gear.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Ismael Ventura climbs on La Ruta day 2(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)The main chase group on day 2(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)This is what your shoes look like after covering a sunny stage at La Ruta.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Ismael Ventura walks up a climb.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Alexander Sanchez pushes his bike.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)A dwelling en route(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Louise Kobin after stage 2.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Louise Kobin finishes.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Angela Parra finishes.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Racers transport their belongings from stage to stage in race-issued red bags(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Alex Grant, who is fluent in Spanish, is a big hit with the Costa Ricans.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Stage winner Federico Ramirez after the finish(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Alex Grant on a climb.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Race leader Ben Sonntag and teammate Alex Grant.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Luis Leao Pinto rode to fourth.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)At times racers had to share the course with cows.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Racers passed plenty of great views during day 2 of La Ruta.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Federico Ramirez and Luis Mejia Sanchez take a break at the front after a long climb.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)A view during stage 2(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Some riders chose to run the slippery downhill.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Racers climbed above the clouds.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Alex Grant on a climb.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Race leader Ben Sonntag on a climb.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Women's leader Angela Parra(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Rebecca Rusch rides in third.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Sometimes there were chickens along the course.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Ben Sonntag sets his pace on a climb.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)Rolling out at the start. It was cloudy and barely light.(Image credit: Sue George, Mountain Bike Editor)