Santino bows out of cycling

He has been a fixture on the local cycling scene for a quarter of a century. But this week, Santino Castillo, sponsor of the sport’s biggest team, announced that he’s bowing out…at least for the next year. In a letter sent to president of the Belize Cycling Association, Gerald Garbutt, Castillo cites family commitments as having a major part to play in his decision to withdraw from active participation. At the start of the season, Castillo had said that if he did not have a Cross Country title to defend next year he would retire as a sponsor at the end of November 2004. And when American Chris Harkey walked away with the Holy Saturday title, it helped to confirm Castillo’s decision to pedal off into the sunset. But while he has decided to call it quits, Santino’s exit from the cycling scene was not without a parting shot at the Association and his rivals. “The way the rules now govern Cycling in Belize, it will be a long time before a Belizean cyclist wins cross country again,” he writes, saying that many sponsors find it more convenient to import talent rather than spend time and money developing local riders. When contacted this evening, Cycling Association President Garbutt said while Castillo’s presence will be missed, his decision to withdraw from cycling will have little effect on the sport. Garbutt says many of the riders who have been with Santino over the years are already being recruited by other clubs and sponsors. And besides, according to Garbutt, he does not believe that Santino’s competitive spirit will allow him to stay away from cycling for very long.