7 News Belize

Pedal By Pedal Breakdown of Cross Country
posted (March 29, 2016)
If you're a patriot - this past Holy Saturday wasn't exactly a day that made your heart swell with pride. First, at midday, a Guatemalan won the cross country, easily, while his brother was second - worst of all? The Belizean they beat, Joel Borland is a young Coast Guard officer. And then it only got worse by 5:00 pm, a BDF Staff Sergeant had been ambushed by Guatemalan bandits in the Chiquibul and shot multiple times. By nightfall, the flag inside your heart was definitely flying at half mast? But how were two Guatemalan brothers able to beat everyone else, and to do it so easily? Well, our Codie Norales was out on the road on Saturday and he saw just how it unfolded. Kwame Scott has this report:...

Sign in on Princess Margaret Drive at the BTL Park started from 4:30 am - we see National under 23 Champion Giovanni Lovell in his Belize jersey.

2013 Champion Darnell Barrow, last year's second place finisher Scottie Weiss, defending 2015 champion Justin Williams and perennial contender Julio Padilla, two time Cross Country Champion Chris Harkey, veteran Fitzgerald Joseph, a blast from the late 80's and 2005 champion Bill Elliston.

At the line - past champions were called up to lead off the race which left from BTL Park in a rolling leadout at 10 minutes to 6:00.

The race featured five past champions Chris Harkey, Bill Elliston, Shane Vasquez, Darnell Barrow and of course, Justin Williams

The sound of car horns and sirens made the city know that the race was rolling - this year it featured 83 riders , 17 of them foreign comprising 8 Mexicans, 3 Guatemalans, 5 Americans and 1 Jamaican.

They would attempt to ride all the way from Belize City to Cayo and back, and less than 5:40:12 - which is the current record set in 2008 by American Ryan Bauman.

Onlookers with Belizeans flags gave the riders early morning encouragement

And rounding the Flag Monument roundabout - the 82 riders were cruising

At Leslie's imports you could hear the sound of the starting gun, and the riders bolted the first station prize at Cavetubing.com is easily taken by Mexican Luis Balam. With the southeast breeze in their backs, the early attacks were relentless.

Around mile 4 one of the Padilla brothers attacked but he's followed very closely by Tarique Flowers of Team Benny's and a few other riders.

Around Old Belize, three riders successfully separated themselves from the main pelothon for the first decisive breakaway of the day.

As we head toward Burdon Canal Bridge, the three riders are: Richard Santiago of Team Digicell, Guatemalan National Team Rider Alejandro Padilla and defending champion Justin Williams riding for team Belize Link Up.

Around mile seven, we see the sights and sounds of the main peloton of riders - the Belizean flag was hoisted high at mile 9; as the three leaders attempt to extend their lead by keeping a brisk pace and taking turns at the front.

At Hattieville, Richard Santiago claims the station Prize and some 40 seconds later, the main peloton led by Jessmar Guerra of Benny's.

Around mile 17, you can see Justin Williams putting his everything into this run - could it be a repeat of last year's historic ride?

At Rockville, Alejandro Padilla takes the station prize and the breakaway rolls on the chase group at this time is being led by Quinton Hamilton.

Around mile 28, Justin Williams refuels and hydrates. At La Democracia the gap is 58 seconds, and Padilla takes yet another station Prize.

Erwin Middleton, Kent Bob Gabourel and Team Cancun Mexican Godinez are tying to break away from the chase group.

Around mile 32, Padilla is taking refreshments from his service vehicle. Around mile 35, Herman Requena of SMART takes a pull and then moves over for Chris Harkey but then the attacks came and the breakaway has been caught

And now there's a new configuration with David Henderson of Team Benny's Attacking John Delong Of Starlight and yes we have a race.

Around mile 37, Julio Padilla attacked, Joel Borland and Brandon Cattouse were the only two that could hang onm and just like that we have our second significant breakaway. And in about 60 seconds, they had established a decisive 25 second gap.

And heading towards the Jaguar Paw cutoff, the three new leaders are Joel Borland of Team Digicel, Brandon Cattouse of Team C-Ray, and Guatemalan Julio Padilla.

Angel Tzib of Team Becol and Mark Staine of SMART are tying to make a move to catch up to the leaders.

Around Cotton Tree - the breakaway is now 43 seconds in front and at the Never Delay junction, Joel Borland sprints for and wins the thousand dollar station prize donated by BNE, and Padilla is not impressed, as a matter of fact, he's upset and counters with an attack of his own - after which the two exchange words.

But mercifully, the three leaders come back together and resume working together, slowing the pace while they accept service from the neutral support.

At Roaring Creek Brandon Cattouse takes the Prize and about a minute later the main peloton comes into view - still about 4 dozen riders in the hunt.

Leaving Teakettle, the two Belizean riders are sharing water as they attempt to extend their lead, heading across Brick Wall.

Powering towards Mount Hope, the officials say the gap is 39 seconds and the leaders push on.

At Mount Hope, Julio Padilla displays his skills in the hills as he paces the break towards Cayo.

Some 40 seconds later, Ron Vasquez, Kent Bob Gabourel and a Mexican Rider follow

And then comes the main pelothon led by Scotty Weiss, Oscar Quiroz and Justin Williams.

At Cayo, the halfway point Columbus Park San Ignacio, Julio Padilla is the first riding across the Hawkesworth Bridge followed by Joel Borland and Brandon Cattouse.

And less than a minute later, a group of four led by Bill Elliston, Jesus Godinez, Nissan Arana and Alejandro Padilla are trying to catch up with the leaders.

After them Angel Tzib is trying to make a move, and here comes the main group of riders - about 55 of them - as they whip around the park to the ovation of optimistic onlookers.

At "Go-Slow" we caught up with the Padilla Brothers just after stopping to answer nature's call - trying to catch up to the leaders - who are now 6 men strong. They have no problem doing that and go straight on the pace.

With the lead now being 1:35 and the breakaway 6 men strong, and it features the Guatemalan Padilla Brothers, Julio and Alejandro, Brandon Cattouse, Joel Borland, Nissan Arana and Bill Elliston.

Coming around Brick Wall, Nissan Arana of Westrac Alliance leads the breakaway of 6. Heading towards Camalote, the Guatemalans appear to be dictating the pace, with Alejandro Padilla goes into his aerodynamic descent position at the Belmopan roundabout, the breakaway of 6 is led by 2005 Cross Country Champion, American William Bill Elliston.

Some two and a half minutes later, Belize's National Under 23 Champion Giovanni Lovell is attempting to bridge the gap to the lead group on a suicidal solo run.

Another two minutes behind him is Liam Stewart, Ron Vasquez and Mexican Luis Alberto Balam are making a move.

Another two minutes later, the main peloton appears to be moving with a sense of urgency, but they are as many as 6 minutes behind.

Around mile 46, the defending cross country champion Justin Williams attempts to take up the challenge to lead the chase, but he seems to be getting absolutely no assistance.

Back at the front, around Cotton Tree, the 6 man breakaway pushes on towards Belize City featuring Alejandro Padilla, Brandon Cattouse, Nissan Arana, Joel Borland, Julio Padilla and Bill Elliston all working on cohesion.

Around Jaguar Paw, the work that the six man breakaway is putting in is starting to pay off, as the gap is now 5 minutes 25 seconds.

Julio Padilla has to use his skills to get back with the main pack after briefly falling back for refreshments, but around mile 29 there is a new configuration, the Padilla brothers attacked and only Joel Borland could hang on - leaving Nissan Arana, Bill Elliston and Brandon Cattouse in the dust.

And now we see the lead trio, two Guatemalans and one Belizean driving unto Belize City - the hopes of a nation resting upon the 21 year old's slender shoulders Joel Borland won the KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic and was second in the Digicel Valentine Tour.

Meanwhile the Padilla Brothers - Julio finished this race sixth in 2013, while Alejandro finished 20th in 2013 and second in 2014. In 2013, had it not been for mechanical difficulties within the last few meters, Alejandro Padilla was well on his way to winning the cross country.

As we head towards Belize City, we see three riders with two different flags working together - continuous hydration is a must.

The heat is on and they face a strong headwind from the southeast.

At Rockville, the three are still together and Julio Padilla takes the prize.

As we head towards Hattieville the trio have established a two minute 15 second lead between themselves and the other 3.

At Hattieville, the lead trio continues to roll and it's beginning to look more and more like the winner would emerge from this group.

Now, in any sporting contest - two-on-one always results in advantage to the team with the majority - and, out here on the western highway, the Padillas had Joel Borland in a cycling sandwich.

And at mile 10, they seized on that advantage, with Alejandro attacking first, forcing Joel unto the pace, Julio Padilla then attacked Borland - who, weakened by having to stay on the pace, answered, or at least tried to, but it was too much for the lone Belizean rider.

Out front, the Padillas, kept up the cadence, two brothers with their eyes on Belize's richest sporting prize.

The onlookers were mute as the leaders passed through the mile 8 community to deafening silence.

But the green socks and the "Guatemala" logo emblazoned across their thighs communicated carefree effortlessness.

At the Burdon Canal Bridge, the two riders appear to be fresh, even with 135 miles behind them.

At the Chetumal Street roundabout - the brothers showed no sign of letting up

And entering the city there is a scattering of applause, for fans who know they will have to wait some minutes before a Belizean rider appears.

Unto Princess Margaret Drive, today there would be no mechanical failure, no attacks, a coast to victory…

And the brothers passed the line with their hands held high, first and second place in the 88th cross country,

Joel Borland crossed one minute fifty eight seconds later - a valiant effort but not enough on this Holy Saturday.

Almost six minutes after Borland, there was a dramatic sprint for fourth where Brandon Cattouse bested Bill Elliston, Scotty Weis, Nissan Arana, and Belizeans Robert Stewart, Henry Moreira, and Ron Vasquez.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize