It's one of the biggest races of the year - and the KREM New Year's Day Classic was preceded by the biggest controversies of the year which was the suspension of four elite cyclists from the Santino's Team. But as we told you on Monday, those riders did get clearance from the Supreme Court to ride in yesterday's race and they did. It went from the Santa Elena border to Belize City - but at the end, the Santino's riders would not factor. Here's the view from the finish line.
First in was the junior winner Chris Reyes, who did a dance to celebrate while second place went to his team-mate 17 year old Jairo Ccampos - both from Team Smart Orange Walk. Reyes says it's the biggest race he's ridden.
Chris Reyes, Junior Winner
"I've ridden many nationals, Alpheus Williams and many others but the Cross Country and this race is the best I've ever won."
For the women Shalini Zabaneh came in first; though she's been dominant it was an outcome she didn't expect.
Shalini Zabaneh, Female Winner
"It was very very hard and when we broke away I decided I would settle
for third because I am not a sprinter and I didn't want the other girls to catch up so I just brought them in and maybe that wasn't a smart thing but like I said, I settled for third."
And while the women did their thing, the elite class males came roaring across the Belcan Bridge for a long sprint. Mexican German Camacho Villegas got the jump and wouldn't look back - easily besting Guatemalan Carlos Hernandez and Big Mike Lewis to claim first. He spoke through a team-mate translator
German Camacho Villegas,
"He hopes to come back with a full team for the Tour de Belize and the Cross Country and we are really really happy. We love cycling."
And he should be thankful, apart from the first place trophy, this Guadalajara resident got to take home a bull provided by political candidate Edmund Castro. How he'll get it back to Mexico is another question.
One rider, Freddy Acosta from Chetumal took home 17 station prizes.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
