Jim Brown Clinches Victory for Miami Blazers in Cross Country Classic

The much-awaited Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic has come to an end. As you might already know, British rider Jim Brown clinched the victory for his team, the Miami Blazers. The first Belizean rider finished in fourth place, just like in 2024. Tonight, we’ll hear from the champion and other riders who performed exceptionally well under the scorching heat. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Ninety-Fifth Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic saw British Cyclist Jim Brown from the Miami Blazers emerge victorious. This was Brown’s first time riding the race, and he completed the entire ride in five hours, forty-five minutes and forty seconds.

 

Jim Brown, Winner, 95^th Cross Country

“Super difficult to be honest. I am really not use to this hot weather, so that was really difficult part of it for me. But, I will take the win.”

 

Marion Ali

“Tell us how the ride went, where you made the decision to make a breakaway and how difficult it was to hold that?”

 

Jim Brown

“To be honest, I was not feeling good at all in the middle part of the race, in the early middle part of the race. I told Kory, our team leader, I said to him I am not in a good day, I will just try to and follow moves and hopefully we can set the race up for you. So I took it upon myself to follow the defending champion because I saw him ride away and then two more came across. We were a good working group and I think the cohesion was not good behind. We just took off and that was that.”

 

At mile twenty-seven, heading into Belize City, Brown was a part of a four-men breakaway group leading the race with a one minute time gap.  Defending Champion, Luis Lopez was among the four riders. No Belizean was present

Luis Lopez was dropped at mile twenty-six, while three riders pressed on.

5:55:21 As the race headed into Belize City, the leading trio became a duo. Jim Brown secured the victory with a thrilling sprint finish, while Alfredo Bueno from Legions of Los Angeles took second place.

 

Alfredo Bueno, Second Place, 95^th Cross Country

“It was hot, very lots of bad luck. I was kind of on the back foot all day. I just stayed locked in my mind and ended up riding to every move I missed. I ended up riding with Jim that ended up being the one, so I am pretty happy with my racing tactics today.”

 

Mation Ali

“What happened, why Jim beat you at the tape.”

 

Alfredo Bueno

“I think there is a simple answer to that. He is just better. This guy has won races way. I actually felt pretty good and he did too. Me and him felt fine. It is just like in these types of races he is superior in every way. He has done well in flat races in the past also.”

 

Tenis Star Rider, Omar Espinosa finished in third place, rounding off the top three.

 

Omar Espinosa, Third Place, 95^th Cross Country

“In Spanish”

 

The results mirrored last year, with no Belizean rider finishing in the top three. Just like in 2024, the first Belizean to cross the finish line came in fourth place. This time, it was G-Flow Rider Derrick Chavarria, who was warmly embraced by Cycling Federation President Glenn Flowers at the finish line.

 

Derrick Chavarria, Fourth Place, 95^th Cross Country

“Yeah, so I am fourth place and the strategy honestly we slip up the get somebody in that key break away around mile thirty-one and form there everything gone south. If we had a representative I would have been proud. But nonetheless we have to go back on the drawing board and start again for next year.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez