The 85th Cross Country Cycling Classic - was surely one of the more memorable cross country races we've seen in years. That's because a whole pack of riders rode into the city - and the field was wide open for anyone to seize the victory. Darnell Barrow did so in a decisive sprint - and in so doing, wrote his name into history for the fastest winning ride ever by a Belizean.
One of the race favourites Brandon Cattouse was lost in the mix; he came in 11th, despite having one of the strongest pair of foreign riders on his team to carry him to the line.
That includes Luis Pullido Naranjo - one of the powerful Mexican's who set the high paced temp of the race. But, it was not to be - and last night on Lik Road, owner of the C0-Ray team and Brandon's father, Ray Cattouse named names when he assessed blame:
Ray Cattouse - Owner, C-Ray Cycling Team
"I have a lot to say; a lot of people won't like to hear what I have to say but I have a lot to say. Not to try put the blame on nobody, we lost the Cross Country, Brandon rode a hell of a good race but."
Kenworth Tillett - Talk Show Host
"How the champion, what kind of race he ride?"
Ray Cattouse
"I will get around to that; I will get around to that. Brandon rode a good race but because of people like Melvin Torre, Kwame Scott and the rest of some of the media who butcher and slaughter my boy's way of riding, one month leading up to the Cross Country. They were calling my son a shadow rider and that he doesn't have the power to show that he is a rider. It affected Brandon along the way that he wants to show them that he is no shadow rider and that he could follow the move. And that he could - and if Brandon rode the way, he rode all the time. How come they're not calling Darnell a shadow rider right now? Darnell even got on the media and said he was playing hide and seek at the back. How come they're not calling him a shadow rider? It's because that is how you win races; that is how you ride. Don't study Torres and the rest of stupid who are saying that you are a shadow rider and you can't move for yourself. Yu have shown that you can do that, and the last 22 miles of the race when it was crunch time. Now it's crunch time and Brandon sees the moves being made. It's in the back of his mind that he wants to show them that he's not a shadow rider. He can go; he can follow and he can this, that - all I wanted Brandon to do is ride like how he normally rides. But the last 22 miles of the race, it's in the back of his head, I will show them that I'm not a shadow rider. So he gets out there and he is following and he is making - yes he could; he can do it. He did it but when the last 150 yards come what happen? You don't have your legs, you left it out there trying to show, and I will say it again. I don't care if they get upset with me; those stupid people that you're not a shadow rider. You left your legs out there because of that. Listen to me; I'm with you all these years; you take your time and let them call you shadow rider and you stay pacing."
Kenworth Tillett
"So now you can say basically it's a lesson learned, I mean that"
Ray Cattouse
"It's a lesson learn, it really aggravated me."
Kenworth Tillett
"I will get back to what I asked you about the champion because obviously he followed what would have been your own plan of action and basically rode the race and watch the moves."
Ray Cattouse
"He rode exactly how Brandon rode the entire pass 3 - 4 Cross Countries; that was how he rode. He was on the tail of the pack all day, and when there was a break, he's in that break. When there's a split he- but he stayed on the back of that pack, all day he rode in the shadows."
The C-Ray team was partly sponsored by Michael Finnegan - who reportedly paid for the Mexican Riders to come in.
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