Belmopan, Belize 11 April - (Belizean.com) Mexican rider Carlos Lopez has won the 81st running of the prestigious 140 mile Belize Cross Country Cycling Classic. Lopez who hails from the Mexican state of Chiapas won the race in a time of six hours, one minute and forty one seconds beating out 99 other professional cyclists representing 22 teams from various countries incuding Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Cuba and the U.S.A.
Second place was taken by fellow Mexican Carlos Manuel Hernandez and third place by Cuban Frank Travieso.
In a broadcast interview Carlos Lopez said that hard work, the strategy of fellow rider Carlos Manuel Hernandez - and good luck - helped him win the race. "This is my first visit to the beautiful country of Belize and I am so happy to have been able to place first," he said. Second place winner Hernandez suffered a punctured tyre near the end of the race but determinedly rode in on his rim close behind his compatriot.
Lopez broke away from the main peloton of riders in a small group of about twenty riders eight kilometres into the race which starts at sunrise in Belize City, goes by the capital Belmopan, on to the town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District, and then back to Belize City.
The race is traditionaly held on Holy Saturday and is the top cycling event in Belize. Thousands of Belizeans turn out and line the Western Highway to view the event which includes numerous station prizes along the route. The prizes range from cash up to $1,000. and even includes livestock such as a bull.
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