_{(l to r) Irene Baki – 2nd Place; Jade Stevens – Champion; Francine Gigli – 3rd Place}

by William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Sun. Apr. 13, 2025

American cyclist Jade Stevens of the Major Motion team from Los Angeles, California, won the 34th annual Women’s Cross Country Cycling Classic organized by the Cycling Federation of Belize (CFB) on the George Price Highway on Sunday morning, April 13.

Jade Stevens clocked 3:55 on her 70-mile ride from the Coronation Park in San Ignacio to the finish line in front of the Digi Park in Belize City to win the $3,000 first prize from PUMA Energy, as well as $500 in other prizes, the champion’s trophy from the CFB, and garland of roses from Florasol. She also won a $500 first prize in the Masters category.

_{Irene Baki – 2nd Place, Junior Champion, and 1st Belizean}

The first Belizean rider, 16-year-old Junior champion Irene Baki of the Williams Racing Development team clocked 3:58:09 as she rode in 2nd, to win the $1,500 prize from PUMA Energy, a medal honoring past champion Eric Haylock donated by David Gomez, and a gift basket from the SanCas Company Ltd. She also won a $500 prize as the first Under-23 rider. She had paced solo for many miles of the race to win a gift basket station prize at Mahogany Heights and a $250 station prize at the Belize Zoo. Stevens broke away from the chase group at the Belize Zoo to close the gap with Baki and catch her at Mile 28. This duo soon opened up a 10-minute gap on the other riders, and they shared the remaining prizes on the way to the City, with Stevens pacing most of the way.

_{Liani Choto – 4th Place and Youngest Rider}

Francine Gigli of the Lovell Cycling Club was 3rd in 4:15:00, with Youth rider Liani Choto of the Troyer’s Treats team hard on her wheel to place 4th in 4:25:01. Gigli won a $1,000 prize, a medal honoring Eric Haylock, and a gift basket from the SanCas Company Ltd.; while Choto received a $500.00 cash prize from PUMA. She also won a $300 cash prize from Belize Empower Movement as the youngest rider in the race, and a gift basket from Vega’s Imports.

_{Top 6, (l to r) Chelsey Gillett 6th, Liani Choto 4th, Irene Baki 2nd, Jade Stevens – Champion, Francine Gigli 3rd, Gabrielle Lovell 5th.}

Masters rider Dr. Gabrielle Lovell MD of Lovell Cycling rode in 5th in 4:21:44 to win a $300.00 cash prize for 5th place from PUMA, and a $300 second prize in the Masters category. Junior rider Chelsey Gillett of the Imani’s team rode in 3 minutes later for 6th place.

Francine Gigli had sprinted away from the main group to win a station prize at the top of Busman Arnold Hill. Jade Stevens soon took over the pace and swept most of the station prizes on her way to the City.

Nine women began the race but two riders of the Lovell team and one from the Imani’s team did not finish the course.