Posted: Friday, April 18, 2025. 1:32 pm CST.
Honduras Luis Lopez won in 2024 setting a new record. Photo Credit: Belize Tourism Board
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Belize’s most prestigious cycling race, the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, returns for its 95th edition tomorrow, April 19, with a 139.9-mile journey from Belize City to San Ignacio and back. The event brings together the country’s top cyclists and international contenders, all vying for glory in one of the most anticipated sports spectacles in Belize.
A Night of Tradition Before the Big Race
In keeping with tradition, Holy Thursday evening saw a lively cycling parade through the streets of Belize City, featuring riders set to compete in the Classic. The parade honours the legacy of the race and gives fans a chance to cheer on their favourite cyclists ahead of the gruelling competition.
A Look at the Previous Champions
The Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic boasts a long history of fierce battles and remarkable victories. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Belize-American Justin Williams emerged victorious in 2015 and 2018, securing his place in Belizean cycling history. Darnell Barrow took the title in 2013, while Giovanni Choto won solo in 2012.
International riders have also claimed the championship over the last few years, with Mexico’s Juan Pablo Magallanes triumphing in 2014 and Guatemala’s Alejandro Padilla securing victory in 2016, followed by his brother Julio Padilla in 2019. The pandemic forced the cancellation of the race in 2020 and 2021, marking an unfortunate pause in tradition.
When the race returned in 2022, Hassani Hennis of Anguilla became the first-ever Caribbean winner, signaling a new era in the competition. In 2023, Belizean Oscar Quiroz reclaimed national pride by securing the win, followed by Cory Williams in 2023 and Luis Lopez of Honduras in 2024.
Photo Credit: Ordonez Bike Shop/Blazers/Cycling Federation of Belize
Who Will Conquer the Classic This Time?
As the 95th edition of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic looms, Oscar Quiroz, Derrick Chavarria, Cory Williams, Carlton Robinson, and Jyven Gonzalez are expected to be among Belize’s strongest contenders.
Quiroz, riding for 501 Valvoline, won in 2023, establishing himself as a serious challenger. Meanwhile, Luis Lopez, last year’s champion from Honduras, holds the course record, completing the race in 5 hours, 39 minutes, and 25.418 seconds—a staggering feat. He returns determined to defend his title.
The competition will be fierce, with strong international riders, particularly from Guatemala, Mexico, and the United States, posing a formidable challenge. Belize’s cycling fans are eager to see whether local riders can reclaim the garland once again.
The Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic remains the pinnacle of Belizean cycling, promising high-speed drama, endurance, and strategic racing as the best athletes battle for glory.
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The post Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic set for a high-speed 95th edition appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Friday, April 18, 2025. 1:32 pm CST. Honduras Luis Lopez won in 2024 setting a new record. Photo Credit: Belize Tourism Board By Rubén Morales
The post Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic set for a high-speed 95th edition appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
