Mexican wins Cross Country Classic
Good evening, I’m James Adderley with this week’s splash of Sports Monday so we’ll jump right into the eighty-first running of the Annual Cross Country Cycle Classic.
Imagine Belize in 1927 when Elston Kerr won the inaugural ride, this picture of color, numbers, high tech machines and a forty man invasion of foreign competitors would have been only a thing of dreams back then. But this is 2009 and this field of one hundred twenty-three riders are off to capture the most prestigious prize in Belizean cycling, The Holy Saturday Race that runs from Belize City to San Ignacio and back covering some one hundred forty miles. Even before the race reaches mile ten, a group of some fifteen riders have executed a break away. However, the pelathon remains unperturbed at this point knowing full well that the rabbits will run, the strong will survive. Of course, when Marcos Salas of Costa Rica and Marco Antonio Rios of Mexico step out of the lead group with a decisive move, things were never the same again.
In fourth at Roaring Creek, this duo used joined forces to share all the station prizes from La Democricia to San Ignacio and back and might be needing a twenty foot container each to take their bounty back home. Even more disconcerting to the legion of Belizean Cycling fans, was the fact that Marcos Salas of Costa Rica had blaze to a brand new halfway record when the duo descend the Hawkesworth Bridge in a time of two hours, thirty-one minutes, twenty-nine seconds. Thus the word was shouted down to big names on the local scene-get those guys or get left behind for real. Four brave souls answered the call led by Giovanni Leslie of Santino’s and his American teammate Frank Travieso along with Carlos Lopez of Mexico and Jose Choto of Team Zamir. Their hard work pays off as they reel in the lead duo around mile forty-one and now we’ve got a brand new ballgame. But wait a minute another Mexican, Carlos Manuel Hernandez, has made it across and he has also brought back Marco Antonio Rios to make it a six man run. Three miles later the early front turns are missing-leaving Carlos Lopez, “Froggy” Lesli, Frank Travieso and Jorge Choto in the four man lead.
We’re now at mile thirty-one on the way to the finish line and the lead is five-Choto, Travieso, Hernandez, Lopez and Leslie. Mercifully too many preemies has eliminated Rios out of the big prize. Carlos Hernandez then breaks up on the road, the amalgamation and decides to run alone some ten miles from the tape. His compatriot Carlos Lopez is the only rider who can answer this challenge. And just outside the entrance into Belize City, Lopez over takes Hernandez in a Mexican showdown. The two continue together through the streets of the Metropolis. And then Lopez says ‘Adios paisano’ as he speeds away from Hernandez on the descent at Belcan Bridge, here in the city. Here is Carlos Lopez of Mexico grabbing the 2009 Cross Country title, uncontested at the tape a time of six hours, one minute forty-two seconds; a professional cyclist and a past Mexican National Champion. We say nuff respect, amigo.
In the meantime, Carlos Manuel Hernandez holds on to the roll in second one minute later tired but happy with nobody on his trail. Belizeans becomes even more disappointed when Cuban-American Frank Travieso riding for Santino’s to his third place two minutes, forty-three seconds behind the winner, unchallenged for that position. The two Belizeans who were bickering on the way to the tape give the fans their fist glimpse of a sprint that counts. Jose Choto on Team Zamir edges out Giovanni Leslie for fourth place as Froggy rounds out the top five in 09. To the victor the spoils, to the Belizeans a rude awakening.
In other sporting news, the poor and Famous Culture Club presented a four team juvenile basketball marathon at Pen Road Court yesterday. Pen Road used the home advantaged to grab top honours by beating Jerusalem 30-26 under the double elimination format and then Sunset handled Jerusalem 29-15 to grab second place. Meanwhile folks, the red hot inter-office basketball competition continues to roll inside the Civic Center. Tomorrow, Wednesday, C.S.B. forces Home protector, Guardian Housing goes up against Kolbe Foundation and B.W.S Pressure tackles Brodies. On Friday’s night ticket Central Bank battles Home Protector, Customs clashes with the Police and K.H.M.H takes aim at the Port Of Belize.
Hey folks, that’s our show for today. We invite you back same time, same place, next week. Jah over all, I’m James Adderley.
