Belizeans are still nursing their wounded pride after Belize's hopes were dashed in Santo Domingo after the national selection failed to qualify for the Pan American games and ultimately the Olympics at the Centro Basket tournament. And so as the country directed its attention to the Under 15 COCABA tournament being held this past week in Guatemala, little did anyone know that there were actually two sets of young Belizean men representing the country in two different but just as important sporting tournaments.
Jim McFadzean reports on the return home of one of those groups of young men who made history for Belize and should make all of us proud.
There was practically no mention in the Belize press given to the departure of two teams of young cyclists leaving to take part in two important regional and international cycling tournaments. The return home this week of these young national heroes and their impressive performance abroad though, is reason for celebration.
Eduardo "Dito" Juan, Head of Junior Cyclists Delegation
"It's the first time in six and a half years that Belize sends a team to Guatemala and brought back something, which is very prestigious. We had to work hard we had to be consistent, we had to put our plan together so that we could achieve the green jersey and this trophy."
The group of young cyclists were accompanied by the head of the Belize delegation, former UDP Minister, Eduardo Dito Juan and their coach, Captain John Borland the Commandant of the Belize Coast Guard.
Jim McFadzean
"What does bringing back that green jersey mean to the future of cycling for these young men?"
Captain John Borland
"It means that Belize can compete at the highest level on the international and regional arena. As Mr. Juan six and a half years we've been going and taking part in this competition and we've come close before but we really dominated the green jersey competition this year and it's a huge motivational factor not only for these young athletes but the kids that are 11 and 12. The future of cycling lies within these young athletes."
The junior team of cyclists returned home having made significant achievements in both the Tour de Guatemala and Tour Canada. Reasons to beat their chests! Belize's 2010 junior cross country cycling champ, Deezan Spence won the prestigious fastest sprinter in Guatemala, and returned home to Belize sporting the coveted Green Jersey.
Jim McFadzean
"What does this mean to you bringing home a trophy and wearing the green jersey?"
Deezan Spence, Best Sprinter - Tour de Guatemala
"Well it means a lot to me and our team because we work together as one and we brought home something so we feel good. Most of the guys out there were climbers, so they couldn't sprint good so I had an advantage over them."
Jim McFadzean
"What was that advantage?"
Deezan Spence
"The speed. We had more speed over them, there are a lot hills over there so we had the speed over them."
The young Daniel Choto who comes from a family of well known cyclists returned from Canada sporting a trophy for the most aggressive rider.
Daniel Choto, Most Aggressive rider - Tour Canada
"Well the terrain is very different than here in Belize. It's mostly flat, which we don't really have flats here in Belize. But there were some slight hills and we took advantage on the hills but apart from that it was very competitive but it was also a great experience and fun also."
Jim McFadzean
"How difficult was it for you? A lot more difficult that you expected?"
Austin Armstrong, Jr. Cyclist - Tour Canada
"Yea, it was a lot more difficult than we expected because those guys out there they normally pro races and this is one of the biggest event for juniors so they showed up there. And it was real competitive. Out there is a far different level from us and we learn that we can compete with other countries as well."
Like the Junior basketball team participating in Guatemala this week, the cycling team faced the same accommodation problems. The difference is these junior cyclists had the backing of good ole GOB.
Hon. Edmund Castro
"The government of Belize through myself assist the team in Guatemala. I went out there and ask permission from the Government of Belize and the Cabinet to go out there and assist the team. Personally I was out there physically helping to ensure a victory for us with the young team in Guatemala. We ran into several problems whereby the others teams felt threaten where they broke Deezan Spence bicycle and my son Wasani gave up his bike so that we could secure victory. We were able to move them from the auditorium that they were staying at that was not really good for them; there was not proper resting area. We were able to move them to a hotel in Antigua."
Reporting for Seven News, I'm Jim McFadzean.
This has been the sixth time Belize has participated in the Tour de Guatemala, and the first time it has participated in Tour Canada.
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