The race begins at 6:00 AM (previously 5:00 AM) on Holy Saturday morning, near Mile 2 on Belize's George Price Highway, a favorite road for cycling events.

Cyclists race to the western town of San Ignacio, in the Cayo District, turn there and return to Belize City, finishing at the Marion Jones Sports Complex (formerly the National Stadium) with two laps on the asphalt track (more recently on flat straight portions of Princess Margaret Drive and Marine Parade while the Complex is under renovation).

He pitched an idea for a sort of cycling "expedition" to San Ignacio, testing the cyclists' ability to cope with a then-badly built Western Road (now George Price Highway), to the Governor, who immediately pledged support and offered a cup as a prize to the winner of the race.

Other prominent Belizeans Monrad Metzgen spoke to, including medical officer Lieutenant Colonel James Cran, Matron L.M.

Roberts of the Public Hospital, Royal Bank of Canada local manager Charles Beattie and Frans Dragten all donated money and trophies to the cause.

Among the participants were two Cayo men, Cyril Simmons and Leonard Neal, who covered the journey between the two districts to prove it could be done and were specially commended for their daring.

Comments issued back and forth among the populace about the overall good humour of the expedition and its participants were praised for being pioneers and behaving modestly in spite of their achievement.

Donald Lightburn was the first winner on the Belize-Corozal circuit (in 1935 and 1936), followed by Jose Sosa in 1937 and 1938, Ben Sanchez in 1939, Goldburn Ferguson in 1942 and Aston Gill in 1947 (his 3rd victory).

Cross Country Classic Winners 1929-1950 Beginning in 1951, a young cyclist named Jeffrey O'Brien would become arguably the most dominant champion ever.

In 1961, brother Edward thought he had the race won and raised his hands in the air accordingly, only to be disqualified in favour of Vernon and Arthur Miguel.

In 1972, Cayo's Anthony Hutchinson, nicknamed "The Tank", demolished Calderon and the Miguels for his first title on the Western Highway, then repeated in 1973 ahead of Kenrick Halliday, then an unknown.

"Doc" returned with a vengeance in 1977 and 1978, breaking a record set by O'Brien nearly a half-century before-on the day Halliday was born- but could only watch as Parks devastated the peloton in 1979 when he led the race from start to finish.

Teammate Lindy Gillett set a record and became the youngest winner of a Classic at 18 in 1983; Robert Mossiah and Matthew Smiling took titles in 1985 and 1986, respectively.

Ward Zauner broke Gillett's record in his 1987 win; Steve Steward and David Licker swept the top positions in 1988, and Frank "Mac" McCannon took the roses in 1989.

These American winners rode a faster pace and were better sprinters, but Belizean sports fans figured they had the right person to beat them-if they could find out who that was.

Cross Country Classic Winners 1974-1989 A panicky local Association restricted international competition in 1990, turning the race into a sort of contest for a "Great Belizean Hope" to bring down the Americans.

Lewis' effort began a sort of Belizean "renaissance" that lasted through 1995, as brother Michael, Collet "Bunas" Maheia, Orlando Chavarria and contenders Nigel Matus, Fred Usher and others defended Belize's honor.

After Charles Lewis claimed first place over American Bobby Lee, brother Michael began the sprint for third- and crashed into a slow moving truck belonging to local communication company BTL and holding broadcasters from KREM FM covering the finish.

After two failed breaks on the return journey in cool weather, a nine-man field entered the Complex; in such circumstances defending champion Vasquez would have no advantage in a sprint.

Mexican Antonio Rios and Costa Rican Marco Salas outran the field after an early breakaway and led the pack in and out of San Ignacio to Belmopan.

Mexicans Omar Garcia and Donizetti Vasquez dominated the first leg of the 2010 race on April 3, but on the return, the Belizean heavyweights hit back.

But in 2012, Giovanni Choto would end the Belizean run of futility as he stood up for 134 miles, 75 of them alone, staying out in front all day and earning himself a place in the annals of history.

The Junior and Female versions of the event began in the 1990s and rode on the same day as the big race, though over a shorter distance and finishing earlier.