Lack of Development is Hurting the Cycling Sport

Kaya Cattouse

Cattouse has for years clamoured for the need for investment to develop the sport in Belize and has embarked on her own to train high school students in cycling.  At the same time, there are other events organized by the Weekend Warriors and smaller races are put on by private and corporate citizens to keep the sport alive. The Cycling Federation of Belize, according to Cattouse, is responsible for only a limited number of races annually, which is not enough to develop cyclists. So while training is not outlined in the mandate of the federation, the lack of it has hurt the industry and the enhancement of the sport.

Kaya Cattouse, Female Cross Country Champion 2019

“When we moved from association to federation, I believe that’s where we maybe—for a lack of better terms—made a mistake. A federation is not responsible to hold races per say. They are not mandated to do that. But me as a cyclists, I am not mandated to hold youth events, but I see a need for it. Just as well as the people in our federation see the need for a lot of things that they aren’t doing. And maybe you aren’t mandated to do it as a federation, but if you have the interest of the athletes at heart, you would definitely find a way to do things that you aren’t mandated to do. I mean just having one measly classic once a month maybe nine months for the year; that is not enough. There is no way, no how our cyclists will develop doing those kinds of practices. They see the need for it and they do not find a way to make that better.”