Guatemalan wins big cycle race

Good evening I’m James Adderley and you’re locked into the first
offering of Sports Monday for the year 2001. We certainly want to take
this opportunity to our many fans around the nation a peaceful and
prosperous New Year. Now to the business at hand, the Krem/BEL Cycle
Classic blasted off from Corozal Town Monday morning, where some fifty
riders made a bid to be the biggest man in Belize on New Years Day and
win the five thousand dollar prize.

Tan-tah-dah-dah-tan-tah-dah-dah as the bugle boy fires up the
pelathon for the eighty-mile ride. The bunch stays intact, but exiting
Orange Walk Town the dreaded one, Paul Trapp threatens to run along with
a bunch that includes Jeffrey Zelaya and Mirari Cano. Around mile
thirty-five, Shane Vasquez of Cayo and the Mexican Angel Calaam make
their move.

After catching the lead pack at Crooked Tree cutoff, Shane Vasquez
tries to run alone. However, hard on his heels is the Guatemala rider
Miguel Perez as both then share the lead.

At mile seventeen and a half, Ernest Meighan and Quinton ?The
Baddest? Hamilton expands the lead group to four, but it’s Shane Vasquez
winning the station prize. Thus at Ladyville it?s four riders coming to
Belize City, Vasquez, Meighan, Hamilton and Perez.

Meanwhile, people if you don’t understand the crowd support cycling
has–then this picture tells that tale as the numerous fans await the
finish at the Belcan Bridge.

However, at the sprint to the tap its only two riders on the pace.
Miguel Perez raises up on the outside. Vasquez tries to respond, but the
day belongs to Miguel Perez of Guatemala, who did not know this race was
designed for a Belizean to win. He takes the five thousand dollar prize.

Shane Vasquez pulls up second, Quinton Hamilton take third in
uncontested fashion. Ernest Meighan, victim of a puncture around mile
five pulls up fourth, Angel Calaam takes fifth, while Mirari Cano
settles for sixth. Now watch big Mike Lewis beat the field for seventh
place forcing Calman Williams in eighth, Andrew Smiling into ninth and
Mateo Cruz into tenth.

Miguel Perez, Winner

?I did not expect to win. I was working so a Belizean could win,
but I thank God for the way it turned out because I did not train much
for this race.?

Shane Vasquez, Second Place

?I ride with Miguel Perez a lot of races in Guatemala City and he
is one of Guatemala?s best sprinters. What I wanted to do, I am not a
sprinter, I?m a pacer, so I wanted to let go the pacers so that I can
come in alone.?

?I had fresh legs in the sprint, believe me, but I did one
mistake, I was too much in a light gear. If I had been in a heavier gear
I would have did good because I have more strength than speed.?

Quinton Hamilton, Third Place

Me and Jermaine were at the back, so I just took a breather from
there. I made a lot of adjustments from out there to the tape, so I
couldn?t catch Shane. Shane saw me coming and he knew he is not a
sprinter, so if I reached to the front automatically they lose in a
couple seconds, so he used his head and I?m glad for that.?

Ariel Rosado, Former Champion

?Honestly, I?d saw the whole team messed up. Anybody could look
and see we had the strongest team, a nine-man team with five defending
champions, and look how we performed. Me and Mateo Cruz are the only two
up there in the early part of the race covering attacks, trying to keep
that race together and when finally the breaks do look to go, we?re
tired and the rest of the team is not responding.?

Turning to the ladies side of the Krem/BEL classic, we didn’t get any
pictures, but the W belongs to Karen Rosita, who beat out Amelita
Knowles, Anamarie Bennett, Cross Country champ Violet Morrison, who
might have spent herself going for the station prizes, and Norma Nunez
in that order.

Very quickly turning to the football scene, in the BFL from over the
weekend in the Regent Insurance Cup, Sagitun blocked Jube 4-nil. Kulture
Yabra rolled over Metro Stars 3-1. Builders Bandits of Belmopan burned
Acros 1-zip. Juventus takes out Texaco Dolphins 2-zip. Real Verdes
burned Griga Tropical 2-1 and obviously the sub-champion has now gone to
six straight losses. Lazio Jumex beat Caye Caulker Turquoise 2-1.

That?s out show for the day; we certainly invite you back next week
Monday.