Gallery: 2012 La Ruta de los Conquistadores, stage 2

Women's race leader Pua Mata passes a couple of uninterested spectators on stage two of La Ruta on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Men's race leader Paolo Montoya drives a chase group early in stage two of La Ruta on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Costa Rica's Dennis Porras soloed his way to victory at stage two of La Ruta on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Five-time La Ruta champ Lico Ramirez works to chase down Dennis Porras early in stage two. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

American Alex Grant dangles behind Paolo Montoya's chase group as the riders hit yet another climb in La Ruta. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Costa Rican riders, including race leader Paolo Montoya and local hero Lico Ramirez, make their way through a vociferous crowd on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Alex Grant uses a little body english to make his way through a crowd of stage-two spectators on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Race leader Paolo Montoya takes a look over his shoulder to see what veteran Costa Rican rider Lico Ramirez is up to. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Three-time Vuelta a España winner Roberto Heras adjusts his saddle height prior to stage two of La Ruta de los Conquistadores on Friday. Photo: Jamie Bate

A team support person readies a water bottle at one of the feed zones during stage two of La Ruta. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Riders make their way toward Irazú Volcano during stage two of La Ruta on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Five-time La Ruta champ Lico Ramirez guts it out during the 20th anniversary of La Ruta. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Dennis Porras up and out of the saddle on his way to winning stage two of La Ruta on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

A lone rider starts the 13km descent off the volcano on Friday. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

A rider learns that what goes up must come down during La Ruta de los Conquistadores. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

The Costa Rican media follows La Ruta closely every year. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

A rider starts the descent off the volcano above the clouds. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

A rider enjoys a bit of sun during stage two, which at the higher elevations say a heavy fog and cold temperatures. Photo: J. Andres Vargas | Lead Adventure Media

Pua Mata fields questions from the Costa Rica media following stage two on Friday. Photo: Jamie Bate