The 77th running of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic takes place this Saturday. It is the single most epic porting event in Belize and this year, it has become more than a race; it's a battle for national pride and bragging rights. It's been 3 years since a Belizean won the race and so this year the question is not who will win but rather if a Belizean will or can. Most agree that for that to happen these cyclists will have to put their country before their team. So will they? Keith Swift tried to find out.
Keith Swift Reporting,
On their last long ride before Saturday's Cross Country Classic, there was no mistaking the pressure weighing heavy on the backs of these local cyclists to bring back home the garland. And that pressure is perhaps greatest on the last Belizean to win the race - Ernest Jawmaine Meighan.
Ernest Meighan, Team Santino
"We know the Belizean public they really attacking us the past 3 years and we really don't want to go through another year of embarrassment. I know I am one of the number one cyclist going into this race but we got a lot of Belizeans who are in real good condition and this is the first time I ever see Belizeans in such good condition so hopefully I think a Belizean will win this year."
Words echoed by his teammate and perennial favorite Mateo Cruz who sprinted into third place last year.
Mateo Cruz, Team Santino
"I whole a heap of pressure because from last year people have been criticizing the Belizean cyclists and people don't really know the politics of this game. I think that we the cyclists have been cheating the public for a good race. I think that when the foreigners are here, the biggest thing is to win, and the Belizean public wants a Belizean to win and that pressure is serious. I am so fed up with the competition right now because everybody, especially Belizeans, they are riding for Santino's to lose and when the field is riding for Santino's to lose, they don't care who goes down the road and then we end up with a foreigner winner. But I will try to relinquish all pressure this Saturday coming right here. I think I stand a very good chance with the experience I have winning this race. For the past 5 years I have been in the top 5 and if it wasn't for that breakaway with Chris Harkey last year, I would have stand a better chance. So this year I prepared mentally, physically, and nutrition wise I been training in the gym and I think I am ready."
The other cyclists are also ready to re-nationalize the Cross Country. In fact that has been the philosophy behind team Bennys Megabites.
Orson Butler, Bennys Megabites
"This year our team had trained towards to suit the foreign competition so we believe that this year, if not our team, a Belizean could possibly win this year."
Robert Mariano, Bennys Megabites
"For me it is not a lot of pressure because we put in our workout. We don't train for the Belizeans, we train to try and beat the foreigners because as you notice we are not one of the major teams. We don't have any sponsors and we don't intend to have any foreigners on our team because we want to beat them and that is our goal because all of our sponsors are from Belize and we would want the Belizean people try to help out our sponsors as in buying their products and stuff like that. That is why we have pure Belizean sponsors so we want to bring back the garland home."
Orlando Chavarria valiantly brought it home 10 years ago. 10 years later the veteran cyclist says there is one thing needed on the Western Highway on Saturday to ensure a Belizean victory.
Orlando Chavarria,
"I just hope that the Belizeans help Belizeans because they have some Belizeans that is very selfish and don't want to help each other. So I just hope that we just work together and hopefully a Belizean will win."
And to ensure that - will these cyclists make the ultimate sacrifice on Saturday and put their country before their team? The answers may surprise you.
Ernest Meighan,
"Coming to a situation like that, I know we want a Belizean on our team to win but if push comes to shove and there is a Belizean upfront who is not on our team but he has the break, it will be Belizeans first so we will go to help whoever is out front. Hopefully we want one of our team members there but if we don't have one of our team members there, we will support who is the first Belizean to cross the tape."
Orson Butler,
"I would do anything for a Belizean to win right now. Its been a long while since a Belizean has won this Cross Country and I believe its time for the garland to come back home."
Robert Mariano,
"To have to look at it both ways that it all depends on what kind of situation you get in. If I have to sacrifice to let one of my teammates win, as a Belizean I would. To win we should win as a country rather than lose a country."
Mateo Cruz,
"To be honest I can't really answer that question because I have sponsors that I at the end of the day have to answer to. If my sponsor come to me and tell me Mateo you can't really take a Megabites up there - probably a Megabite is sitting on me, BTL is sitting on me, Smiling is sitting on me - at the end of the day when the history book come up they won't say a Megabite win or a BTL win because Mateo Cruz helped them. The bottomline is that that person will enter the history books. My sponsor Santino wants a black and white to win, a Santino to win, and its very unfortunate the game is played that way."
Orlando Chavarria,
"It will be like team riders versus team riders at the end. It will all be mixed up. To really ride for the country the government will really have to put some big support, financially, in the cycling and really put a team riding with Belize flag on their backs and things like that. We really need some big support from the government to make the Belizean cyclists ride for the country."
And that is the choice facing these cyclists - team or country which is the difference between distinction and dishonor.
The race begins at 6 Saturday morning. And if you are wondering if repeat and defending champ Chris Harkey will defend his title, we'll have a full recap of the race on Tuesday.
