Strong Showing in Chetumal

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here and I start 1st with an apology. There has been literally nothing happening in racing in Belize, as is typical after the Cross Country for the season to taper off. On the horizon looms the National Road Championships, June 21st - ITT and June 28th Road Race. With that said, we took the team across the Mexican border this past weekend to participate in the 1st ever Clasica Depredadores in Chetumal on June 14 as a preparation race for the guys.

The race was well organized and big congrats should go out to the Depredadores Team of Chetumal for putting a very good race together, excellent course (tougher than many imagined), great prizes, hospitality, accomodations, 5 different levels/categories of races....congrats to them, good job!!!

The eilte race started at 9:00 a.m. and was supposed to be 90 miles however with an almost 8 mile lead out (neutral start) and 4 laps over a 1.5 km circuit the guys all clocked close to 102 miles on the day. All of our guys raced under the Sugar City Boyz banner today and though we were short some key guys like Roger, Mateo and Quinton (who is serving a suspension for using banned substances) we still managed to take a solid squad comprised of the 4 Choto brothers, Jose, Raf, Pete, and Giov, as well as Hernan Ochaeta and new acquistion Arnides Rivas (see pic below) who rode his 1st race in our colors and did a yoman's job of eventually helping Giov make it over to the break.

As expected the competition was hard and intense in light of the fact that some big name Mexican talent was there such as Carlos M. Hernandez (2nd in the Cross Country), teammates Carlos "Chicote" Valdez, Mario Rios, as well as Donizetti Vasquez, Canadian powerhouse Brian Barkhouse, Omar Trompa, Chino...and noted Belizeans such as Nissan Arana, Brandon Cattouse, oh and did I mention Team Santino's took their entire 9 man elite team.

The early break saw Rios, Barkhouse and Greg Lovell (Santino's) manage to get a lead of about 1:30 on the chasers which they would hold until little after the 1/2 way mark. In the chase group of 15-18, we had good numbers - Jose, Giov and Pete who had been in the early moves from the get go. With about 40 K to go the race really took shape with the high level riders putting their stamp on the race. Eventually with 20 K to go and after several attacks by the likes of Donizetti and Nissan, Rios and Chicote, some of the Santino guys, the lead groups would disintegrate to about 10 guys...two of which were ours in Giov and Jose.

Entiring the final 4 lap circuit Giov just could not stay on anymore and faded slightly off the back never being able to quite get back on. Jose was out numbered and isolated againsted the host team Depredadores (Hernandez, Vasquez, and Rios) as well as the ever dangerous Barkhouse, and Belizeans Nissan and Greg...all of whom have stronger kicks to the line than he does.

With a lap and 1/2 to go on teh final circuit Manolo Hernandez made his move and would never be caught giving the home team Depredadores the win. Two guys tried to catch him but ended up battling it out for 2nd, which would go to Barkhouse and Chino taking 3rd. The remainder of the lead group then sprinted it out for the remaining podium prizes and Rios (Depredadores) outkicked Arana, Lovell and Jose in that order giving Jose a had fought 7th place on the day.

After the race, we all kicked back, soaked in some Mexican cuisine and beers, went back to the hotel and packed up for home. All in all not a bad day of racing which should give the guys a solid foundation heading into the Nationals in the weeks ahead. More updates and info coming soon...I promise!!!