In its 15th year, the BTL Digicell Cycling Classic is seen as one of
the key warm-up races leading up to the Cross Country. The race goes from San
Ignacio to the Benque Border and then back to Belize City. That course takes
it through the rugged hills of Western Belize – a proving ground that
separates contenders from pretenders early on. And the field was wide open for
Belizeans as only four foreign riders participated. 7News was at the starting
line in San Ignacio on Sunday morning.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
In the minutes before th4e race, riders were getting their equipment ready and 
at just a few minutes to 9:00 Marlon Castillo wore his game face at the line
while contenders like Jose Choto, Byron Pope, Brandon Cattouse and the man who
has won this race two times Ernest Meighan were all prepared. At 9:00, 65 riders
including only four foreigners started out from the San Ignacio Hotel headed
to the Benque Border.
This is how they looked coming into Benque Boulevard as Leroy Cassasola was
in the lead. Turning at the border, Shane Vasquez leads a group of five. And
coming down Benque Boulevard, Christina McNish and Giovanni Choto are in the
lead while the pack was seconds behind. At the station prize at Succotz Hill,
Giovanni Choto is in command.
And coming down San Ignacio Hill, what the riders call cement hill, Greg Lovell
was in front of the main pelathon. The high speed downhill led to a Guatemalan
Miguel Perez and Dandy Ordonez taking a spill. And coming out of Cayo, the Choto 
Brothers Jose and Giovanni still enjoy a comfortable lead.
And for the station prize at go-slow, Jose Choto and he has been joined by
5 other riders including Darnell Barrow, Leroy Cassassola Peter Choto, Mexican
Gilberto Santiago and Marlon Castillo. The Warrie Head, the breakaway was still
intact.
Coming around the infamous Brick Wall, the breakaway had expanded to seven 
and they were working efficiently together – while the pack behind was
on the chase.
But by the time the leaders reached Camalote, the group of 7 had been trimmed
down to 5 as Darnell Barrow and Leroy Cassasola both from Santino’s had
been dropped from the breakaway. Marlon Castillo took the station prize at Roaring
Creek and at mile 43, the time gap is two minutes and nine seconds.
At mile 35, the 5 man pack is working like clockwork – working so efficiently
that at mile 33 – the time check says the time gap had expanded to three
minutes fourteen seconds. With the grueling pace, by mile 27, Peter Choto couldn’t
hang on anymore and the lead group was down to four, Marlon Castillo, Giovanni
Choto, Gilberto Santiago and Jose Choto.
By the time the race reached Hattieville, Marlon Castillo had gone solo and 
for the homeland memorial prize, Marlon is all alone. And going to Burdon Canal
Bridge at mile 6 it was a thumbs up for Marlon Castillo. Coming in at the finish,
Marlon Castillo of Team Zamir raised his hands in triumph – smashing the
record that had stood for 13 years – taking 7 minutes off that record.
Giovanni Choto also of team Zamir finishes in second and in third is Mexican
Gilberto Santiago of Sugar City Stars 0 while Jose Choto of Western Spirit finished
fourth. With this commanding victory, Castillo proved that he is in top form
heading into the Cross Country and he explained how he managed to come in all
alone.
Marlon Castillo, Winner
“First of all yes it was a hard race, we got away and we opened three 
minutes. We were already out there and I told my team mate I am out here three
minutes and I don’t expect them to catch us back. So I stayed the push
the break, talk to them, and I put all of my effort already and I didn’t
want the break to get ketch. I stepped on it because we were at 3:17 and I was
watching the time check and they were closing it so I decided Jose Choto was
playing a lil possum so I said I will test the waters and see what he got so
I ended up coming to town by myself.”
Jairo Campos of team typhoon finished fifth beating out Greg Lovell of Santino’s
who finished sixth while C-Ray’s Brandon Cattouse finished seventh and
Indeco’s Erwin Middleton was eight, Guatemalan Luis Santizo finished ninth
Domingo Lewis of Santino’s rounded out the top ten.
In the junior category first place went to Juan Jose Cuellar of Team
Smart – Deezan Spence of Clear the Land was second while Daniel Choto
of Cayo High Road finished third. On the female side, Shalini Zabaneh continued
her female dominance. Second was Gina Lovell and Jane Usher finished third.
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