The Elite/Masters division shoved off at 9:21 a.m. During this time of the year and during the commencement of the first Classic of the year the canefields in the northern districts are often flecked with fire and shrouded in smoke as the peloton passes, in preparation for the sugar industry harvest. And this year the southeast winds pushed the cyclists backwards, or blasted the bunch to bits from the side, but mostly just slowed them down as they trudged towards Belize City.

The KREM New Year?s Day Classic is fast becoming a sprinter?s classic. The change from the original route (Corozal Town to Central American Blvd. ? 84 miles) in 2003 has given it a proper identity. This race is symbolic of the idea that the sprinters should be given proper identity, and the idea that the sprinters should have a classic of their own. There were 56 Elite and 26 Masters riders taking the start.

This year the tables were turned on us. It is said amongst the foreign competitors who come to battle with our riders, that a certain level of fear is driven into local contenders during the race takeoffs. While the early attackers were busy hunting the early prizes, Chris Harkey and Scottie Weiss, both Americans from the Guinness Seahawks, were busy planning their counter.

The 16-man strong breakaway that occurred in the first two miles of the race was wheeled in at San Joaquin. Immediately another 13-man group attacked and gained a strong lead. Only a 4-man group responded to the now Harkey-Weiss on slot lead. These were Jeffery Zeyala ? Benny?s Megabytes, Kenny Gladden ? Total Sports, Keith Enright ? Guinness Seahawks and Colin Mejia – unattached. In the breakaway ahead, the American tandem were riding like possessed demons. Their determinations was now to stretch the lead by all means. Meanwhile the lackluster pack had no idea of what they were up against. By the time the word was relayed to them, it was too late to mount any meaningful pursuit.

The Harkey-Weiss alliance achieved what they were after. Split the pack apart and cut it to size. Our riders used to rely on the fact that riders to the north beyond Mexico City were usually on their winter holidays. But today this is not so.

By the time the race reached Libertad Junction; a mere 8 miles into the race, it was out of reach for the peloton. Or it seems that that was the mindset. It was now a race between 16 riders: David Colanche, Jose Choto, Marlon Castillo, Mateo Cruz and Giovanni Leslie ? Santino?s; Scottie Weiss, Chris Harkey, and Keith Enright ? Guinness Seahawks; Jeffery Zeyala and Quinton Hamilton ? Benny?s Megabytes; Roger Troyer and Keron Fernandez ? Sagitun; Hugo Rostrain ? Western Spirits; Colin Mejia ? unattached; and Greg Lovell ? Team Lovell.

When the race reached Mile 39, Castillo reached the lead two. When the dust settled it was the Harkey?Weiss tandem with Marlon away. At Mile 15 another attack by Marlon divided the tandem. Weiss and Castillo were now going home man to man – Weiss versus Marlon and vice versa.

There were no wrinkles in the equations until the sprint. It had to go to the photo. In the end Weiss edged out Marlon by a tire width. It was that close. Chris Harkey placed 3rd. The remaining positions are as follows: 4thJeffery Zeyala; 5th? Jose Choto; 6th? Roger Troyer; 7th? Hugo Rostrain; 8th? David Colanche; 9th? Greg Lovell; 10thMateo Cruz; 11thQuinton Hamilton; 12thKeith Enright; 13thGiovanni Leslie; 14thColin Mejia; and 15thCharles Lewis.

The Female event had its moments when young Shalini Zabaneh attacked at Sand Hill. She was on a solo flight home when it was foiled by Team Lovell?s pursuit. After she was caught at Mile 10, the event went home to a sprint.

Their sprint was most electrifying with Alicia Thompson taking top honors, while Marinette Flowers and Gabriel Lovell rounded out the podium.