Still, they are the most dominant family in cycling - and Giovanni attributes it to their competitive training regimen. They all live close to each other in Cayo and all train together. Choto told us that right now, though, training is the last thing on his mind, he's trying to recover from a race that even surprised him in how it played out. Here's what he had to say when he sat down in our studio this morning:..

Jules Vasquez
"Since Saturday, what has happened?"

Giovanni Choto - 2012 Cross Country Champion
"Well, I mostly stay at home, and I feel tired. I want to recover."

Jules Vasquez
"What is your body feeling like right now?"

Giovanni Choto
"Well, I am slightly dehydrated and a bit burnt out, but I'll recover by the weekend, hopefully."

Jules Vasquez
"Is this how you usually feel after a race, or was this an especially exhausting race for you?"

Giovanni Choto
"This one was really exhausting because I ran for too long. I don't usually do that."

Jules Vasquez
"I spoke to Mike Lewis, and he was saying that a large part of victory depends on luck. Success in the cross country depends on luck. Do you feel that you had luck with you on Saturday?"

Giovanni Choto
"Yes, I am sure that I had luck, and I thank God for it, and I am sure that my team worked hard to allow no one to bridge across to me because if someone came across to me - well, I was already out so. They would have let me go, so I just thank God for the luck, and to my team for working so hard for me."

Jules Vasquez
"Was that the game plan when you all broke away at Mile 7? Was that the plan for you to shoot ahead, or were your legs just feeling good?"

Giovanni Choto
"I was feeling good, and when the attacks happened, I ended up in the front, so I decided to take the chance because I had to go for some of the station prizes. You can't just make everything go away."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it your greatest ride ever?"

Giovanni Choto
"Yes, that is my biggest race. I think that it is the biggest race for any Belizean to win. And I just hope that next year, we come back and a Belizean wins it again. It doesn't have to be me - but a next Belizean. I already got it once, and I wanted it just once, so I am happy enough already."

Jules Vasquez
"When you were coming to Cayo, did you fear that just like what happened in 2006, you'll be caught."

Giovanni Choto
"Well, I thought that I would have been caught because It's too far. I wasn't expecting to reach the end. I went saying that I just - hopefully, I reach the next station prize, all the way until I ended up reaching Belize. When I reached Belize - I don't know - I was happier than ever."

Jules Vasquez
"Certainly, on the way back, you saw the time gap going down. I remember by Hattieville, it was as little as 2 minutes, from as many as 7 minutes. Were you concerned then that was it, and you had a good race, and that they'll now catch you?"

Giovanni Choto
"That's exactly what I had in my mind. I thought that was it. When it went from 2 minutes, and in the 1 minute and change, I already thought that I was caught."

Jules Vasquez
"So, how do you explain the fact that you weren't ever caught? What could have gone wrong in the pack that - did they never really organize an effective chase against you?"

Giovanni Choto
"Maybe, they must have started slowing down, and the gap was already close. So, they must have wanted the next man chase to allow them to rest, reach fresh, and attack when they caught me. They may have slowed down, and I wasn't slowing down. I was just steady. So, they gave it to me, and I had to take it."

Jules Vasquez
"Explain what was your ride with Allen Castillo like in terms of him riding with you all the way back - he got all the way to Georgeville. Why did you eventually abandon him?"

Giovanni Choto
"Well, Allen and I were working evenly. I think that Allen's problem, because Allen is very strong, and I was glad that I got away with Allen because he was willing to work. I think his problem was that I didn't see him eating much. I was eating a lot and drinking a lot of fluids, and I didn't see him doing that. Cross Country gets you nervous, you get the break; he must have gotten the break and wasn't thinking about that. I did tell him to eat more, but maybe it was too late because that was more down the road."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you prepared now that you will be a national figure? Wherever you go, people will recognize you. They will shout for you; they think of you as a hero."

Giovanni Choto
"Well, I don't know. I will just continue to train for the rest of the races and train harder because I already see that we can win big races. So, we have to train harder and take it more seriously, and try to win the other races coming up."

Jules Vasquez
"Did you feel encourage by the fact that the first Belizean across the line gets $15,000?"

Giovanni Choto
"Well, I was thinking about that, but what really made me feel like pushing was when the big crowds of people on the road were cheering me on. It really makes you feel like pushing to reach that finishing line because you know that everybody wants a Belizean to win. I wanted a Belizean to win also, and it came my way, so I was happier."

Jules Vasquez
"You were the Belizean. So, did you get a little bit of goosebumps? I know that when I saw the race coming into the city on tape, and I saw you by the Cemetery Road, and you see all the people with the flags. At that point you must have been completely exhausted, but you got a little bit of energy from the crowd."

Giovanni Choto
"Yes, you get a little bit of energy from the crowd because your mind tries to push you more. Your muscles are already tired, but your mind pushes you more."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you have anything planned to do with your winnings?"

Giovanni Choto
"Well, I was building my house, and I am not finished yet. That's supposed to give me a big hand to help me finish my house. I'll help my mother, father, and my family to allow us to get along a little bit better."

And though he doesn't look a day over 16, the 23 year old Choto is married and has a two year old child. He works with his brother Jose in a bike shop in Santa Elena. They all got their start tiding from another Choto brother, Joaquin.

Choto finished the cross country in six hours, 16 minutes and 45 seconds, which is eight minutes slower than last years' time. He was two minutes and 12 seconds ahead of the main pack.