The 6th Annual M&M Engineering Tour of Belize 2008 climaxed yesterday with Belizean veteran Ernest “Jawmeighan” Meighan of Team Red Bull thrilling fans with a spectacular win in the final Stage 6 of the five-day event. Jawmeighan was the only Belizean to win any of the Stages of the race.
The overall champion of this year’s event, the cyclist with the least cumulative time over the five days of cycling was Chilean Carlos Oyarzan riding for Team Tecos, a team composed of seven Mexican riders along with Carlos and a Cuban rider.
Stage 1 on Wednesday, February 13, from Belize City to the Mexican border and back to Orange Walk, a distance of 198 kilometers, was won by the overall champion of the event, Carlos Oyarzan of Team Tecos.
Stage 2 on Thursday, February 14, from Orange Walk to Burrell Boom, and then to Belize City, a 105 km run, was taken by American Bjorn Selander of the USA National Team.
The Team Time Trial, Stage 3, held on the same day, Thursday, was also won by the USA National team.
On Friday, February 15, Stage 4, going 130 km from Belize City to Benque Viejo, saw American Michael Olheiser of the USA Herring Gas Cycling Team taking top honors.
Stage 5, on Saturday, February 16, from Benque Viejo to Dangriga and to the Gap, a 182 km run, went to Lizandro Ajcu, a Guatemalan rider belonging to Team Santino’s.
And on the last day of the Tour, Sunday, February 17, when it seemed the foreigners would take everything, Belize’s own Ernest “Jawmeighan” Meighan stepped up in Stage 6, a 145 km ride going from San Ignacio to Benque Viejo and then back to Belize City, where he crossed the finish line with arms raised in victory to end the Tour.