Tonight, the roughly 90 cyclists participating in this year's Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, are in various stages of readiness: some will go for the garland, while others just hope to hang in there and complete the 144 mile ride. Today, a far less celebrated part of the tradition took place in the city with the annual parade of cyclists. And, as per tradition, only a few came out. But we did get a chance to speak to the president of the Cycling Federation as well as a few riders, among them, American John Delong. A pickup truck ran him over on the western highway before last year's race and he told us how he and his team have recovered.
Deon Leslie, President - Cycling Association
"It's something that we brought back as tradition having a parade through the principal streets of the city, so the fans can see who is here, who is riding on whose team, because not everyone follows cycling through the entire season - majority of people tuned in for the Cross Country and within the season we have people changing teams and what's not. So it's something to highlight the sponsors of course, to highlight the riders, to highlight the sport in general to see which foreigners have come in so far. So it's something just to big up the race and we've done it since we've gotten in 4 years now and we hope it continues."
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
"One thing that many people are asking for, is that the Belizean riders take home the victory or keep the garland here in Belize. What are your thoughts on that? Many people are saying 'wi no wah no foreigners win it dis year.'"
Deon Leslie, President - Cycling Association
"You hear that sentiment echoed everywhere and I agree with it as a Belizean. Of course we want a local boy to keep the garland home, but the foreigners are a very integral part of this race, because they change the dynamics of how the race is ridding, they change everything, so we appreciate them coming here, we appreciate them racing with us, we learn from them, similarly they learn from us. We have a good relationship with them, but I strongly believe that we will have a Belizean winning this year. I say that every year. They ask me who I think will win - whoever wins that's holding a Belize passport - I am riding with."
Herman Requena, Team Alliance
"I am riding from since 1999 until now. The training is very good."
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
"A part from that training, I know that you all participate in other races as well leading up to the cycling classic, how were those and your performance in those practice races, do they show what you can bring to this year's race?"
Herman Requena, Team Alliance
"Well in most of those practice race, I try to keep a down low, because this is the biggest one, the one I was going to ride and as in a couple of weeks I will be back in the states, so this is just the end of the season for me in Belize City."
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
"What are some of the lessons that you will bring into this race from last years' experience?"
Kevaughn Cacho, Junior Rider - 2nd year participating
"Ride with confidence and mental strength."
Darnell Barrow, 2013 Cross Country Champ
"This year 2017 it's nothing new every Belizeans are excited for this race to come and after the race, they will go on their Easter holiday and enjoy their Easter break, so I feel good."
John Delong, Cyclist
"I live in Virginia and training has been a little difficult, you know I work fulltime, so I mostly train after work. I ride a lot indoors because it's pretty cold up there, but I've been putting in some good miles and I've done a couple races over the past month and a half and have gone well. This week before I came down I did an 80-mile race in the mountains in North Carolina and I was able to get 4th place, so I was pretty happy with that. There is not much that compare to the cross country with the history, so that's why I really like coming down here and be a part of all this."
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
"Tell us how you are recovering from that incident and moving into this race with that hope and ambition that you all can pull through."
John Delong, Cyclist
"The accident was quite a scare last year and really we more hurt and shouldn't have started last year's race, but we were trying to show a little respect for the race since we had come down. Last year has been tough, the injuries I stated seeing with that accident afterwards, I had some problems with my back last fall from that accident. I think we are all finally recovered from that."
Kenroy "Smokes" Gladden, Cyclist
"Best of luck and I hope a Belizean bring it home - all of us put in the function, but the father give delighted the most. Big up and respect to all the riders."
Saturday's Race starts with a lead out, or slow ride from BTL park, to Leslies Imports - where the starting gun will sound..
The race returns to the city about 6 hours later.
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