Never underestimate the strength of a woman! That's what Belize's most dominant female cyclist Shalini Zabaneh proved yesterday when she did what the male cyclists couldn't do; she kept up with a competing American cyclist and beat her out in a sprint!
It was the 21st. women's cross country sponsored by Sol Belize where 15 cyclists - including four foreigners - were registered to ride 70 miles from Cayo to Belize City.
Shalini and Sara Tussy led unaccompanied most of the way - leading to a dramatic spring at the finish line - here's how that went:…
Shalini Zabaneh
"Well the beginning was to break up the race early in the hills as usual - get rid of the weaker girls and come to the finish line. Hopefully I would win like last year, but I had help this year so coming down to the end I won."
Reporter
"We spoke to Sara Tussy just a while ago and she said you made her do all the work."
Shalini Zabaneh
"Well you have to be smart."
Sara Tussy
"She kind of let me go but i wasn't expecting her to sprint to the end, she did great. She deserves it."
Reporter
"I notice that you guys kept communicating. What were you telling each other?"
Sara Tussy
"Her team told her not work the last 5 miles. It worked for her, she had a good sprint."
For first place, Shalini won two thousand dollars plus trophies and of course, the garland. At 21 this is her third cross country victory and she says she has plans to ride for five more years.
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