The 79th running of the annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic is set for Saturday. Over one hundred riders, about 30 of them foreign, have signed up for a chance at the garland and the history books. Last year Cayo's Shane Vasquez became the first Belizean to win the race since Ernest "Jawmaine" Meighan won in 2001. So the question going into this Saturday's race is the same as it has been for the past two decades: will the garland remain on the shoulders of a Belizean rider? Today we were up at dawn with some of the cyclists who are based in Belize City. Keith Swift has a preview.
Keith Swift Reporting,
At dawn this morning about 50 cyclists took part in what's called a speed ride, from Belize City up to mile 14 on the Western Highway and back. For most of these riders it was their last ride before Saturday morning's big dance.
And leading the big dance on Saturday morning will be Marlon Castillo. In February the 19 year old cycling phenom won a back to back victory in the Tour de Belize and he placed second in Krem's New Year's Day Cycling Classic. But for this shy cyclist - all of that is just window dressing. What he really wants is the garland.
Marlon Castillo, Team Santino's
"The Tour de Belize just came up and its getting big but Cross Country is the biggest race. Its like what Jawmaine said last night, if you win that you go in the books so that is what I want to try and do, win Cross Country this year."
But to ride off with the garland, Marlon Castillo will have to fend off veterans such as his teammate from Santino's Mateo Cruz and Comfort Air's Mike Lewis. Mateo Cruz says he is ready for his first victory while Mike Lewis says he is ready for another one.
Mike Lewis, Comfort Air
"We will win this thing man, outright, easy, no problem."
Keith Swift,
What makes you so confident?
Mike Lewis,
"I feel good enough for myself. If you don't feel good enough for yourself you don't go out there. If you know you can't win better not fool yourself. I know I can win and that is why I am going out there."
Mateo Cruz, Team Santino's
"I have been training hard since November and the last two races I won so I think I am peaking right now and mentally and physically I am ready. My expectation is to go and win because its been a long time now and I think now is the time. It is my turn."
Another veteran cyclist hoping for his first win is Robert Mariano from team Benny's Megabytes. After Saturday's race - Mariano will park his bike and retire after 20 years of cycling. He plans to go out with a
bang.
Robert Mariano, Benny's Megabytes
"This is my last year of Cross Country so I intend to come in the top two or top three."
Keith Swift,
So you'll be retiring?
Robert Mariano,
"Yes you have to take care of your business. Bicycle doesn't really pay in Belize. You just do it for the fun and health."
Keith Swift,
So you're hoping to finish big this year?
Robert Mariano,
"Yes I will try and go out with a bang so that people could say at least I did something in cycling on a whole."
Of course the Cross Country is now more about teams than it is about individual riders and no team is more well resourced than the riders in white and black from Team Santino's.
Santino Castillo, Team Santino's - Owner
"The team is one of the best teams I've ever put together. They're well trained, well prepared. I am counting on the entire team. We have a team of ten this year, two Guatemalans. We have support riders like Denny Molina who came up from mountain bike. We have Adrian Fox and George Lovell. I am hoping that at all times in the race, in any given break, I will have either Marlon Castillo, Mateo Cruz, Jawmaine, Froggy Leslie, or Greg up there and once any of them are up there - I am prepared to gamble it on any of them because they can win the Cross Country."
Ernest "Jawmaine" Meighan, Team Santino's
"My expectations is for one of our guys, one on the team, because we've all trained together, we know what each other can do and who will be the sprinter for the team and who is the strongest guy. Marlon is the strongest guy on our team right now and Mateo so we'll see more or less down the stretch."
One young upstart who was proven himself down that stretch is Leslie Sanchez from team Comfort Air. In his two years of riding the Cross Country he has placed eighth both times.
Leslie Sanchez, Comfort Air
"What I will try to do is try to ride smart and try to be in the top ten again for my third year."
Keith Swift,
What do you call riding smart?
Leslie Sanchez,
"Well just try to catch the right break."
And on Saturday we'll know if Sanchez or which one of these other riders will get that break at victory and a chance at immortality.
Marlon Castillo, who is considered the odds on favorite to win this year from the city bunch, finished 12th last year. That is his best and only finish in the Cross Country.
