Choto wins Garifuna Cycle Classic
Good evening I’m James Adderley and welcome to this big time dish of Sports Monday right after Garifuna Settlement Day, celebrations weekend. Some twenty-eight riders suited up for the seventy-mile Garifuna Day Cycle Classic, which got off Sunday Morning at eight-fifteen.
Some five miles after the start at mile thirty en route to Dangriga through the Hummingbird Highway, these five riders make the breakaway: Richard Gabourel, Lovell from the BDF, Teddy Vasquez, Ariel Rosado and Albert Vasquez. This early in the race the chase bunch is too far away, making sure they keep sight of the lead bunch.
At the Belmopan cut-off the big five remains intact as they turn into hills. As you can see, Albert Vasquez, who fell victim to a puncture, is out of the lead pack, which is reduced further to three when Richard Gabourel gets gobbled up by this climb on this hill. For Lovell from the BDF, the hills become unbearable and he gets dismissed from the trio.
Nevertheless, Belize’s best hill climber Shane Vasquez moves up to fill that vacancy and former teammate Jose Choto tags along. The chase bunch also keep their hopes alive by staying close when they wheeled over the Sibun Bridge.
This is Rosado struggling up the Gap, the most famous hill on the Hummingbird and maybe you could even walk faster than Rosado?s pacing – nevertheless Teddy Vasquez hangs on to his man.
Some five miles out of Middlesex, Rosado tries for the solo flight, while Shane Vasquez and Jose Choto catch up with Teddy Vasquez.
The inevitable occur and Rosado is wheeled in to expend the lead pack to four. Passing by the famous Del Oro Citrus Company, Shane Vasquez continues to provide the pacing and picks up a station prize for the effort. And it’s still four riders passing the Southern Regional Hospital heading in to Dangriga Town.
Now here’s the big finish on Front Street Dangriga. It’s Shane Vasquez with the early lead. Jose Choto challenges on the outside and he prevails in a cruel clash to take the Garifuna Day Cycle Classic in three hours thirty-six minutes, forty-two seconds. Ariel Rosado runs third and Teddy Vasquez pulls up fourth.
Ernest Meighan then wins this sprint for fifth, Hugo Rustrain, the Guatemalan pulls up sixth, Quinton Hamilton seventh, Kareem Flowers eighth, Jeffrey Zelaya ninth and Mateo Cruz rounds out the top ten.
James Adderley
?The last time you got the attention of the nation, you were winning in Chetumal. Today it seems like all the young guns came out. Is a revolution going on, and what part does Jose Choto play in this mix of things??
Jose Choto, Winner
?Well I was training very hard because that?s the first part and with the support that I have right now, that?s what I needed.?
James Adderley
?When did you know you were going to win this race??
Jose Choto
?I didn?t know I was going to win it, but I said that I was going for it with all my energy. I thank God also that he game me all this strength.?
Shane Vasquez, Second Place
?Today most of my teammates weren?t in that good form apart from the Guatemalan who rode with my team today and myself. When I did the second attack in the race and so on, I had to work so hard on the race all the way. My little brother was up there with me, but he couldn?t help me because he wasn?t in good form and I had to do it…?
James Adderley
?I understand today though that this was your race to win. That all the hard work in the hills, you were the one who pulled it off.?
Shane Vasquez
?Indeed, I did work hard in the hills, but the sprinting was something for me. I thought that when I came up to the tape, I won it, but I free wheeled and that was it.?
Ariel Rosado, Third Place
?From the start for the first few miles, the whole thing was together, then Shane?s little brother moved off and I went to get him and the next thing I knew, we were organizing a breakaway. We made it to Belmopan and we still had a three-minute gap. We decided that we better work because that was the best thing to do. The three guys that were with us got dropped and we were by ourselves for a little while, then Shane was coming with Choto and I dropped Shane?s little brother in the hills and I ran for about fifteen miles by myself hoping I could finish the race, but it didn?t work out that way.?
James Adderley
?Four of you came into town, there was a sprint for first place, tell us about that.?
Ariel Rosado
?Honesty, I was praying that I would get it because I know I am a very good sprinter, can be at times, but from out there my legs were locking up. I had them massaging my legs and right before the tape I felt the speed, but I also felt the muscles just locking and I had to free wheel and hope that my partner Choto who was right behind me would take it and it worked out perfectly.?
Turning to the football scene, week three of the BFL competition found Yabra Dolphins playing host to Lazio Jumex at the MCC Grounds Saturday night.
The visitors struck first when Lewis Ashton picks up this centre and smokes the net for the 1-zip lead. A couple minutes later Lazio takes a 2-zip lead when this corner kick somehow reaches Daniel Thomas and he smokes it.
However, the Belize City team comes back in second half. The Dolphins striker gets taken down inside the eighteen and the penalty call is made.
This is the conversion and say what you might, the Dolphins do get on the scoreboard. The Dolphins then pick up their second of the match when this cross finds Merlin Diaz and this one ends in a 2-2 score.
In other results from the Regent Insurance Cup Tournament, Sagitun beat Caye Caulker Turquoise 2-1. Legends Real scorched Metro Stars 1-zip. Jube burned Belmopan Bandits 1-zip. Kulture Yabra and Juventus battled to a 1-1 stalemate, while Acros and Griga Tropical settled for a scoreless stalemate inside Dangriga in a ballgame that?s saw the goalkeeper break his elbow. We hope that he will recover.
