Women cyclists race in record numbers
For decades, cycling in Belize has been a male-dominated sport. But this year, the women are determined to take their rightful share of the road. The female assault begins with Sunday’s B.T.L. Valentine’s Classic, which has attracted more women than ever in search of a thousand dollar first prize. Early this morning News 5’s Marion Ali was out on the road and spoke to a few of the contenders.
Marion Ali, Reporting
Violet Morrison won in the female category for the Miller Classic in December and placed second in her class in the New Year’s Day race. She says although anything can happen on the road, training does play a major role.
Violet Morrison, Cyclist
“On Wednesday I normally want to put in a long ride, which covers probably about fifty to sixty miles. And on the weekend, on Saturday, you want to put probably about that same amount, and on Sunday you try to put in about seventy miles, which you work on endurance. That’s basically what I do. During the week you need a rest day, and those are Tuesday and Thursday. I also work on my speed, working on how the race simulate, whereby those guys pick up the speed and they put down the speed. So I basically work on that, try and fit in with the guys.”
Claudette Maheia is a new comer who has been training for only five weeks in preparation for her first race on Sunday.
Marion Ali
“What are your chances of winning?”
Claudette Maheia, first-time contender
“Huh! I can’t say. That remains to be seen. Anything can happen in a race, but I always take into consideration the other cyclists who have done this before. The other cyclists are in very good shape I will admit, so it’s going to be a challenge for me for sure.”
Marion Ali
“So who are the ones to look out for?”
Claudette Maheia
“Everybody. I’m not taking anybody for granted. Everybody is riding well.”
Reigning female Cross Country champion Anamarie Bennett is encouraged by the number of contenders this time around.
Anamarie Bennett, Female Cross Country Champion
“We’ve always had a lot of females out here, but when it comes to the major races somehow they don’t show up. It is the biggest ever for a race and I hope it continues through to Cross Country so that we could have at least about ten female cyclists riding.”
Meanwhile, the Belize Cycling Association is also looking at ways of enhancing the sport for the women cyclists and have formed a committee to do just that.
Dr. Clara Cuellar, Female Cross Country Committee
“If we step out there and help with things like ensuring they have the service they need on the road and quality of traffic control before, during, and after the race, help with fund-raising to manage the race, fund-raising to ensure that they get prizes that are worthy of their hard work in the training, that would only motivate more.”
“We’re looking at Sunday as an opportunity to go out there and learn the things because the committee got together for the first time last week. We need to learn the things quickly that we need to do to plan for a better female Cross Country Classic.”
And in terms of learning the road, the male cyclists are always ready to lend great support.
Claudette Maheia
“I have not met a male cyclist who has not been helpful to anyone of us. From a flat tire to when to change gear, to just trying to motivate you to do better. The male cyclists are very helpful.”
The race begins at nine Sunday morning and includes four categories: the male elite, male non-elite, women and juniors. The females will race from Belmopan to Belize City, while the male elites will pedal from San Ignacio to Benque and then back to Belize City. The non-elites and the juniors will ride from San Ignacio direct to Belize City. Altogether, over seventy cyclists are expected to ride in Sunday’s race, with eight women already registered. Marion Ali for news 5.
First prize for the male elite class is fifteen hundred dollars. The junior winner will take home three hundred dollars, while the top award for the female category is a thousand dollars, courtesy of Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia.
