Following the 27th annual La Ruta de los Conquistadores multi-day mountain bike race, which traverses Costa Rica coast to coast — from the Pacific to the Atlantic over a three day-period — Spartan and organizers of the historic race have announced a partnership between the two endurance brands. Spartan has acquired the La Ruta event and brand, and the current founders and organizers, Roman and Florencia Urbina, will continue to operate the main event. This further marks Spartan’s expansion into new avenues of sport and fitness.

“From the day I set out to follow the steps of the Spanish Conquistadors — Juan de Cavallón, Perafán de Rivera, and Juan Vásquez de Coronado — more than 27 years ago, La Ruta has organically grown into the event it is today, and we’re excited to work with Spartan to continue the tradition while taking the event to the next level,” said Roman Urbina. “Similar to La Ruta, Spartan is an authentic brand that turned into a global movement, and we could not ask for a better partnership.”

As part of the acquisition and partnership, Spartan will work closely with the La Ruta founders to bring the format of the three-day adventure mountain bike race to regions across the world. Future plans will also turn the flagship La Ruta event into a gated championship, with a pre-qualification feeder system through the brand’s global events. The 2020 event will be the last with open registration.

The partnership is another move for Spartan to expand and grow its business outside of obstacle course events. It launched a traditional trail running series in 2019, Spartan Trail, which is expanding across the globe as well.

“As we expand Spartan to all avenues of fitness and endurance sports, mountain biking is a natural fit, and beyond that, La Ruta has built an incredible event that shares our values for grit and determination,” said Spartan founder and CEO Joe De Sena. “Roman and Florencia have created one of the toughest endurance events on the planet, and we can’t wait to share their vision with the world.

"Much like we did with the introduction of Spartan Trail, we look forward to bringing the Spartan community together with La Ruta’s — and the global mountain biking community — to introduce and grow each through shared passion and experiences.”

La Ruta began when Roman Urbina, an elite Costa Rican athlete and adventurer, gathered a group of 17 friends to retrace the steps of the three conquistadores who, in the 1560s, began a 20-year journey through the beautiful and treacherous mountains of Costa Rica. When it was done, Roman emerged more convinced than ever that hard challenges can engender truth, understanding, and self-knowledge and push anyone to greatness. Determined to turn the trip into an annual epic event, he created La Ruta, and the rest is history.

For more information on La Ruta, and to register, click here.

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