It's no longer just a race, its an institution.
The cross country cycling classic is the oldest and longest running sporting tradition in Belize and also our proudest.
The 76th running for the roses takes place this Saturday. But with foreign cyclists winning 6 out of the last 8 classics, the question is not who will win or in how many minutes but rather whether it will be a Belizean or a foreigner.
Everyone has an opinion on it and in their last prep before the big day, we got some answers from the big names this morning.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Since Jawmaine's win back in the 2001 cross country classic -; Belizeans have been disappointed twice...but in 2004 Belizeans hope that jawmaine can claim his third garland and- two days before the Holy day on the Western Highway - the heat and pressure are on.
Ernest "Jawmaine" Meighan, Two Time Champion
"I feel confident and feel fit and ready for this race."
Keith Swift,
"Do you feel pressure on you?"
Ernest "Jawmaine" Meighan,
"Well naturally going into cross country every year I am someone to watch and I am already used to it so it doesn't really matter."
Keith Swift,
"They have said the Belizean who can win the prize would be yourself, Ariel Rosado, Quinton Hamilton, Ian Smith, and a couple others. What you think about that?"
Ernest "Jawmaine" Meighan,
"Well I see it like six guys who I think can really win for Belize and other than that the rest of guys just really the hang on trying to win couple station prizes."
Leslie Sanchez, Cyclist
"I feel very great going into Saturday's race because its going to be my first cross country riding with the big guns."
Keith Swift,
"How do you feel going up against those big guns?"
Leslie Sanchez,
"I think the big guns have their experience over me but I'm still going to defeat the challenge."
Keron Ysaguierre, First Cross-Country Race
"Well I feel like I can do my best in this Saturday's race. I am pretty much 50/50 right now but I will try my best."
Keith Swift,
"You think you prepared?"
Keron Ysaguierre,
"Yeah I am prepared because I put in a lot of hard work and training."
Raydine Lawson, Jamaican Cyclist
"I feel very confident and I think I can make it through."
Ariel Rosado, Cyclist -; Team Santinos
"It's anybody's race -; whenever you start a race of course it's anybody's race because you never know what is going to happen. There is always what we call, lucky bounces, lucky breaks and people who you never expect might end up on top."
"I feel pretty good and I am more confident in my team. We are riding pretty well, Jawmaine has won the last major race and Mateo has stepped big time this year. I haven't been having the best year ever but the team has been riding pretty well."
Santino Castillo, Team Santinos
"I feel that the race will be won by a Belizean and it will either be Ariel, Mateo, or Jawmaine who have all been riding very well this year.
And ‘very well' are the chances for upstart 16 year old Marlon Castillo. This junior rider has yet to look back since his win in the New Year's day race. It's his first cross-country and it could be his best.
Keith Swift,
"You're only 16 and this is your first cross country, how you feeling?"
Marlon Castillo, Junior Cross-Country Champ
"Well everyday I train with my team and coming up to this cross country I think I will be a good help for my team."
Keith Swift,
"How do you feel riding on a team with guys like Ariel Rosado and Jawaine?"
Marlon Castillo, "I feel great and thing cause they teach whe you don't know and thing and show how to train and those things."
Still Castillo will be one of about 115 riders peddalling a grueling 144-miles under a broiling sun. This is where a rider's team comes in - to help him through a torturous journey. But while the big names can boast of being in the big teams -; riders not aligned with the major teams say size does matter, and being small makes that 144 miles harder to trek.
Linden Garnett, Independent Cylist
"We who are not in big teams and have to help out ourself it will be a big difference for us because its 50 dollars to enter the race and we don't know if we will even make that back."
Keith Swift,
"You think because you are not aligned with a team it will affect your performance?"
Linden Garnett,
"Yes because the rest of team like Santino's and Smilings they havr the numbers over us."
Controversy aside -; the date is set-; Holy Saturday a race for the garland, and others, just the glory of having ridden proudly in this legendary event:
As is tradition, all cyclists paraded through the city's streets this evening. 17 local teams are participating and 7 foreign teams. Included on those foreign teams is 2003 defending champ Chris Harkey and 2002 champ Eduardo Uuribe.
Though we missed him on the road this morning, we got to speak with Harkey this afternoon as he rode past our studios.
Chris Harkey, Defending Cross Country Champ
"I feel okay, I don't you can ever be ready for this race. You just got to wait and see what the race allows you to do because it is such a hard race."
Keith Swift,
"You're the guy to beat because you are the defending champ. What kind of pressure that puts on you?"
Chris Harkey,
"It doesn't put much pressure on me. It's totally new race and a new start so we see what happens when we get out there."
Keith Swift,
"You are riding in a team with only foreign riders which is different than last year, do you see that affecting you?"
Chris Harkey,
"I don't think so. We all race together good in the US and we will use that to our advantage down here so we will see."
Harkey and a group of Americans ride with Team Hincapie -; an international team - one or a few teams which are foreign by name, but believed to be affiliated with and funded by local team owners. The accuracy of that report will be known on Saturday when it should be every team for itself.
Channel 7 will break for the Easter Weekend from Good Friday April, 9th through to Easter Monday April 12th.
The next 7NEWS Broadcast and site update will be Tuesday April 13th.
7NEWS produced for Broadcast by News DirectorJules Vasquez
Edited for the Internet by Keith Swift