Riders Chase Glory in 96th Cross Country Classic  

The longest‑running cycling race in Belize once again took center stage this Holy Saturday. Riders from Belize and abroad lined up before sunrise for the 96th installation of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic, a race defined by endurance, tactics, and tradition. News Five’s Paul Lopez followed the action from start to finish.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Before most of the country was awake, the stage was already set. In the cool early hours of Holy Saturday, cyclists gathered at the starting line, preparing for one of the toughest endurance contests in the region, the Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic. As the starting gun sounded off on the George Price Highway, the tightly packed peloton surged forward, immediately settling into a fast, controlled pace. With dozens of miles ahead, the riders knew the real challenge was not the early speed, but conserving enough energy to survive the long haul. Through the early stages, Mexican Rider for Canel’s Java Ignacio Prado broke away and swept up a dozen station prizes all the way up to the mile sixteen. He was then caught by Costa Rican Rider Sebastian Calderon and Mexican Heriberto Gutierrez. Both riders lead the race all the way into San Ignacio cleaning up about forty station prizes combined along the way. Calderon dropped Gutierrez in San Ignacio and rode solo all the way to mile forty-six just outside of Belmopan. Calderon single handedly claimed an additional thirty station prizes. Rolling into Belize City the lead peloton decreased to eight riders. The last mile was slow and steady, until British Rider, Defending Champion, Jim Brown broke away from the pack and sprinted towards the finish line, followed closely by the other seven riders. In the end, Brown secured his second consecutive victory. Ignacio Prado finished in second place, while Belize’s Jyven Gonzalez secured the third position. He was the first Belizean to cross the finish line. Notably, it was a record-breaking year for eleven riders, including three Belizeans. Eight of the eleven finished under eight minutes of the record time. We heard from the top three riders.

 

Jim Brown, Champion, Cross Country Cycling Classic

“Absolutely cooked, absolutely cooked. The heat just gets to me, but apart from that I am good.”

 

Shane Williams

“How was the head wind heading back?”

 

Jim Brown

“Actually I did not mind it. I think the wind in the face cools you down a bit. And it made the race harder. If you made a bit of a gap people are less willing to chase.”

 

Shane Williams

“What were you thinking about that last mile when all of you were together?”

 

Jim Brown

“I am always confident in my sprint but I do feel like guys out here are fast. I was not super confident but I was by myself and it worked out.”

 

Shane Williams

“How did it feel this time?”

 

Jim Brown

“Just as good as last time. The people are passionate here. It makes you feel good how passionate everyone is and how everyone loves the race. I am just proud to be here and proud to win again.”

 

Jyven Gonzalez, 3^rd Place, Cross Country Cycling Classic

“I love it because the country really take this race serious. This race just hard. It is super unpredictable. Anything could happen in the race. This is my fifth time riding the cross country and five out of five times I never ride this race and it goes smooth. But I signed up for this and it is cycling. Today was really tough for me and I never felt good at all.”

 

Shane Williams

“I understand you had bike problems.”

 

Jyven Gonzalez

I had a rear wheel puncture at mile thirty-five and as I caught back the field my front wheel puncture. I nuh wah like I blew my top for a while and I have to apologize with my service crew. I got frustrated with myself. But it is cycling and sometimes it is tough. Cycling wont be on your side all the time.”

 

From the starting line to the final sprint, the 96th edition once again lived up to the hype. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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