7 News Belize

Racers React To Justin’s Dominating Victory
posted (April 3, 2018)
And while those were the top finishers across all categories - there is only one garland - and it went on the broad shoulders of Justin Williams - the first two time champion since 2004. After the race he told us the relief he felt in knowing he'd kept the garland at home:...

Justin Williams, Two time Cross Country Champ
"Today I came out early. I don't have a team so I kind of have to take a lot of risk in letting everyone race early. This year it felt pretty good. It seemed like all the Belizean guys are riding selflessly. They looked like everyone was on the same page and that's always really nice to see when I come out here and everyone is racing for the pride of the country. I didn't think I'd go solo. I thought someone would come with me like one of the Americans or Mexicans. They didn't and I'm grateful. My dad said that the Belizean guys at the back kind of just marked everyone out the race, which I'm super grateful for. I come out here every year and I have respect for those dudes."

Reporter
"Anything you want to say to the Belizean public, to your family or to your fans?"

Justin Williams, Two time Cross Country Champ
"Yes I just want to think everyone for coming out and making this race so special. It's something different than racing at home. When I race in America it doesn't feel the same. I just want to thank all the riders that came with their heart out on the road. I want to thank all the people that came out this year."

Patrick Raines, Second Place - HSCCC
"I want to say congrats to him, he won the garland good for him. I know it was frustrating for him last year so I think he came really prepared this year and it definitely showed what he did to us."

Reporter
"You had to want to win. At what point did you realize 'I can't win, I can only compete for second'."

Patrick Raines, Second Place - HSCCC
"The first time we were on Justin's wheel and he took about a two minute pull and there was only 4 of us. We regrouped and he went again. He put a big gap on us, that's when first place was gone and I had to start thinking about 2nd place."

Reporter
"Was he actively trying to shred you guys?"

Patrick Raines, Second Place - HSCCC
"Yes even was phenomenal, he was great."

Reporter
"You think you can win next year?"

Patrick Raines, Second Place - HSCCC
"I don't know about that, I would be lucky to be second again. I would be really happy about that."

Rudy Rincon, Third Place - HSCCC (translated)
"He said that he came in 13th last time and he feels very good that this time he came in second. He actually expected this, he thought about it well and said he deserve a good placing. He came with his mind set that yes he will get a good placing in this one. He didn't go because he realized that his team stayed behind and he needed his team to come with him. He stayed back a little hoping that they would come. Then he realized that they weren't coming."

Giovannie Lovell, 5th Place - HSCCC
"I am really disappointed about my position. I could have done better, if I had rode a defensive race. I am kind of glad that a Belizean won and not a foreigner so we did good today. I am really disappointed in myself because I know that I could have won today. I'm still fresh and I should have rid a more defensive and aggressive race."

Reporter
"So you felt you should've been in an earlier break?"

Giovannie Lovell, 5th Place - HSCCC
"I should have been in an earlier break and maybe I could have gotten a win. I should've followed Justin Williams when he went."

Reporter
"You thought he went too early?"

Giovannie Lovell, 5th Place - HSCCC
"Yes I thought he went too early, so we thought that we would've caught him back down the road because he had 5 fanners there so he would've burned himself at an early stage so we could've caught him. I didn't notice he was so strong and on a different level than us so congrats to Justin Williams."

Chris Harkey, Finished 21st - HSCCC
"You had plenty of Belizean riders out there to escape and win in the same race Justin just won. Justin got caught into a game right there where we had a situation if we chase him again or we don't. I have got to admit I told Justin before the race and we had a little agreement and I stuck to my deal. I gave him a little gap to see what happen. We were trying to let the Mexican riders try do what they can do to get close and when they couldn't do it, we looked up and said lets race with what we've got. I love all these Belize riders but until they start working together no matter what team they're on, taking care of one another, they have got to take care of each other to get to the end if they want a chance to win."

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