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So, at the end of the race on April 23rd., 2011 will another Belizean be doing the same? We'll be honest: it doesn't look great - but like Boledo, any number can play. We went out on the road today - as we have for the past 12 years for the Thursday speed ride - to see who's in it to win it:…

Jules Vasquez Reporting
Let's just say the Thursday speed ride isn't what it used to be - the brotherhood of the ride has been replaced by the obligation to team.

And so in the golden light of Dawn on this Thursday, we found elements of a three teams doing their own training:

Santino Castillo, Owner Santino's
"The three best chances we have which are clearly "Froggy" Leslie, Darnell Barrow and as well as Greg Lovell who has come back home."

Greg Lovell - Traning With Santino's
"Well I am training with Santino's right now and i want to ride with the Santino's team for the Cross Country. I haven't got a release from since I left my last team. I feel happy with this team going into the Cross Country."

Santino Castillo, Owner Santino's
"In any event even if Greg wins in a white jersey he'll be giving thanks and praise to team Santino's when he is done."

Giovanni "Froggy" Leslie - Santino's
"Well of course I have a good chance. If there is no mechanical problem and all goes according to plan, I should feel good because I've been putting in the training."

Darnell Barrow - Santino's
"Well my role on this team is to bring home the bacon. So with that my team needs to back me up, make sure that I don't suspend a lot of energy on the road and bring me to the finish line."

Jules Vasquez
"Who is the main contender on your team."

Perry Gibson, Manager - BENNY'S MEGABYTES
"Jules I have four I believe. A part for the two foreigners I believe Byron Pope and Christian McNish. I have four deep so I have four different options."

Byron Pope, Benny's
"Well this race is a real strong man race and the way the breeze is going right now you got to really pay attention so that any big group don't get away from you and you have to do all the chasing to get across."

Jules Vasquez
"Is there a particular break, a particular race situation that you all are looking for?"

Perry Gibson, Manager - BENNY'S MEGABYTES
Well if there is anything early we have to have representation because then we don't want to have to chase for the pack."

Brandon Cattouse, C-Ray
"Well we don't really gave a big team, we have an all Belizean team, four guys and me, Dion Ordonez, Ron Mckenzie and Mateo Cruz, we don't have any foreigners on our team so I think we have to play a smart role and don't exert to early and try to work down the road so that I can be early up at the front."

Jules Vasquez
"Is there a particular race situation or circumstance you are looking for so that you know when to make the break?"

Brandon Cattouse, C-Ray
"Well I think the break is going late down the road after coming out of the hills after Belmopan. I think that is the correct time to make the move with the break."

And while each team has its own strategy - out on the road - the only thing that matters is muscle - and today two veterans told us, this year - the kids don't have it:

Mateo Cruz - C-Ray
"I think that this is one of the years that the boys ate not ready."

Jules Vasquez
"You mean in terms of conditioning?"

Mateo Cruz - C-Ray
"Preparation wise we train ready, we are not race ready, you understand. Those foreigners come off of some serious race. The last race that we did was 9th March. We haven't really had any solid race and we have to have racing legs, we can't have training legs."

Jules Vasquez
"Are the riders in race ready condition?"

Michael Lewis, Former Champion
"I would advise the riders to stop go on TV to tell lies."

Jules Vasquez
"You think that a lot of them haven't train enough and are not in race shape?"

Michael Lewis, Former Champion
"A lot of them are not in race shape. They are going on TV to tell lies. They need to tell the truth."

Mateo Cruz - C-Ray
"I would say the first three two of them will be foreigners and to make a Belizean win I am telling you that we have to come together and the teams are fighting with one another."

Jules Vasquez
"You think a Belizean will win this year?"

Michael Lewis, Former Champion
"That is a hard question. It can happen, if they ride and leave the white man alone. Let me explain something to you; I am not training six months to go and ride for no foreigners. The guys that are training six months to go and ride for foreigners are a waste of time."

Mateo Cruz - C-Ray
"The way the cycling is going right now - these young guys don't have it, I am telling you. When you hear that they are coming 16 minutes ahead of you and 5 minutes and those things, we are not race ready, we are train ready. we can do 9-10 hours on the bike but when it comes to actually to push down the stretch we don't have it and that is how the foreigners is going to leave us."

Michael Lewis, Former Champion
"Like what I explain to them years ago that I don't have a problem with foreigners coming, let them come on their own and don't let them ride for Belizeans because Belizeans are lazy. When foreigners comes the Belizeans sit back and let the foreigners take over the race from them."

Jules Vasquez
"Mike, why are you always vex with these guys?"

Michael Lewis, Former Champion
"Listen to me, Belizean cyclists are liars. Man, when they do Sunday and Wednesday rides now, they go stop for breakfast. They go to mile 37 now and they stop to eat tacos for half an hour. When they go to Belmopan they stop and eat tacos for half an hour - what kind of training is that?"

And while we hope those cantankerous veterans are not proven right - come race day - as the old saying goes - any number can play:

Jules Vasquez
"Are you nervous?"

Darnell Barrow - Santino's
"Not really, very calm and patient. Just taking day by day as the days goes by."

Mateo Cruz - C-Ray
"My nervous time is when I left my house in the morning and from BelCan to the starting line. People expect a lot from you and they would cheer you on and you realize that people have a lot of love for this sport."

Jules Vasquez
"Is there a dream scenario that you've played out in your head as to how you want this race to play out?"

Brandon Cattouse, C-Ray
"Well the dream scenarios is for me coming home solo and bring home the garland for Belize."

Jules Vasquez
"You think a Belizean can or will win this race?"

Greg Lovell - Traning With Santino's
"Well a Belizean can win the race, but we have to see how it will play out."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you feel that we will have a Belizean first at the finish line this year?"

Perry Gibson, Manager - BENNY'S MEGABYTES
"It is very possible. I think more so than the past 4 years. It's very possible this year; however it is possible only I'd say 2-3 Belizeans at the most I would say."

Darnell Barrow - Santino's
"We are training on this course every day, all on weekends, during the week. We have been putting the time after the 1st of January, so I think we are well prepare this year. The wind condition will play a factor in this year Cross Country because as you can see the wind is blowing very stiff today so we will have to wait and see what will happen on Holy Saturday."

The winner of this year's race gets five thousand dollars cash and a trophy sponsored by Bowen and Bowen.