Cyclists prepare for Holy Saturday
The combination of young men and tight shorts is just one of the reasons why the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic is the nation’s most popular sporting event. But behind the flash and dash, every year the event is steeped in controversy…and this year is no different.
Henry Moreira, Sunflower Team
“I look forward to do very well in this year’s cross country and I wish myself the best and all the rest of other riders. Thank you.”
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Just two days away from the 75th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, this morning the Belize Cycling Association held a press conference to promote the race. But despite their attempt at a show of unity, the cycling community is divided on a number of important issues.
Matthew Smiling, Cycling Sponsor
“There’s no such team by the name of Smiling Meats and I don’t know where the association got it from. Our team, the Guinness part of it, has been in existence with the team for over six years now. The association has received registration under the Guinness Smiling Kulture Continental, so I see it as a grave disrespect to our sponsors one, and also, I take it as intentional.”
E.J. Hill, Sports Reporter, KREM Radio
“I’m from KREM, why does it take a long time for me and the rest of my crew at KREM to get cycling results? Sometimes I got to monitor other media houses to get my results; that’s one. Secondly, I got to agree with Mr. Garbutt. Last Sunday, we had to park on the outside of the stadium, to get inside we had to run inside.”
But from the outside looking in, the real controversy is the annual argument over foreign riders. This year, each team is allowed to import two foreign riders. But as nationalistic pride clashes with the reality that the international riders consistently beat out the local boys, it’s a catch twenty-two for everyone involved.
Mateo Cruz, Cyclist
“I’m not talking on behalf of my team right now when it comes to that foreign issue, because I’m a Belizean and I think and I know that a Belizean is going to win this race. I’m riding this race for a Belizeans from my team to win and I’m riding this race for me to win. I’m a Belizean, I’m not riding this race for Uribe. Uribe has what you call experience in racing and maybe that’s why he’s so dominant over the whole Belizean community.”
But even at this late date, there has not been the official distribution of the list of foreign contenders.
Kevin Hall, President, Belize Cycling Association
“We apologize for the late distribution of this thing, but we had a lot of issues with this thing that we had to have dealt with.”
Giving rise to miles of rumours, the main one being that these two brothers have once again, been invited to ride through the Belize Cycling Association’s border treaty with the state of Quintana Roo. In 2001, their mere presence at the starting line actually delayed the race.
Douglas “Barcelona” Lamb (FILE 2001 Cross Country Race)
“All unu cyclists whew wah support this today, unu draw to the line now.”
In the confusion that followed, one by one the cyclists took the road…and later, a Belizean did wear the garland.
Wilmot Simmons, Team Cayo
“It is a sad situation as it is right now, since that we don’t even know the names of all the foreigners that are coming, and it’s only three days away. But back to the question, yes I do believe we should allow foreigners to come. We cannot keep them away; they make the race more exciting, no doubt about that. We are bringing in two. About the vetting process, yes, their names should be sent out two weeks in advance, and they should be properly vetted, which I don’t think is the situation going on right now.”
“If it boils down in the track, a Cayo man will be winning that race. It will not be a foreigner, it will be one of the young men from San Ignacio.”
Santino Castillo, Cycling Sponsor
“I think the problem is due to the fact that the Belize Cycling Association has elections every year and consequently, every new association changes the rules. I think what should happen is that they should rewrite the constitution so that it’s not changed every year. Get all the big people in cycling and stick to one thing.”
“I’ve invested in Belizeans, so it doesn’t matter to me if they bring any foreigners. I mean if they want no foreigners, I’ll race them without any foreigners.”
Matthew Smiling
“The vetting process is in place and it’s working. The only problem is that the association is not efficient enough in getting out information to you all. We know what’s happening and we try to promote our sport so that there’s no question asked from the public and also the media, but the association seems to be hush hush and doing everything last minute that’s why we are having these problems.”
And to be sure, the solutions will not come before Saturday. With competition coming from every direction, and then some, the challenge for cyclists will be not to crack under the odds.
The first five riders to cross the finish line on Holy Saturday will receive five thousand, three thousand, twenty-five hundred, two thousand and fifteen hundred dollars respectively. The station prizes add the potential for thousands more.
