It’s now less than two weeks until the Costa Rican stage race La Ruta de los Conquistadores challenges riders to four days of arguably the toughest riding you can pay for, with 377km (234 miles) and 14,000m (46,000ft) of climbing, it’s no walk in the park.

Registration has now closed though, if you were hoping for a last minute entry. 430 riders from 30 countries having signed on the dotted line. “Now we have the final start list. More than 400 people is registered for the event so I think we will have a nice 16th edition of La Ruta, plenty of emotions and hard competition,” says Customer Services Chief Erick Esquivel.

Last minute course marking has finished this week, taking the organisers seven days to mark up the full 377km route. “The course is ready and waiting for the Conquistadors,” says Checkpoints Coordinator Hugo Alvarado. “Although it has been a really rainy season the muddy sections seams to be in pretty good shape. However, that’s something about La Ruta… You never know! It might change from day to another.”

La Ruta de los Conquistadores 2008 will kick-off at the Best Western Jacó Beach resort on November 12 5.00am local time. Among the riders will be BM member Matthew Barton – if technology permits he’ll be keeping us updated with his progress. Best of luck!

Find out more at www.adventurerace.com.