On April 4, 2026, one of the Western Hemisphere’s most enduring cycling competitions wrapped up with a familiar name standing atop the podium: British rider Jim Brown of the Miami Blazers successfully defended his 2025 title to secure back-to-back victories at the 96th Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, Belize’s marquee cycling event.
The race, which has held a cherished spot in Belize’s annual Easter calendar since its founding in 1928, follows a traditional route that tests riders’ endurance and skill across more than 100 miles of Belizean terrain. Starting promptly at 6 a.m. from Digi Park in central Belize City, competitors traveled northwest along the scenic George Price Highway to the western town of San Ignacio before turning back to complete the full circuit and finish back in Belize City.
Now recognized officially as the longest-running cycling race in the Western Hemisphere, the 2026 edition drew a deep international field that drew top amateur and semi-professional riders from across North and Central America, including local Belizean athletes alongside competitors from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. In total, more than 70 elite riders lined up at the starting line to compete for a substantial prize pool that included over $27,000 in cash awards for top finishers, plus more than 100 additional spot prizes combining cash and in-kind donations from local and regional sponsors.
Brown, who crossed the finish line ahead of the entire competitive pack to reclaim the winner’s coveted ceremonial garland, first claimed the title in 2025 with a finishing time of 5 hours, 45 minutes and 40 seconds. His repeat win cements his status as one of the event’s most successful recent international competitors.
Beyond the competition, the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic remains a core community tradition in Belize, drawing tens of thousands of spectators each year to line the route, cheer on riders, and gather for Easter celebrations with friends and family. The event is organized by the Cycling Federation of Belize, which gained official recognition from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) after its formal registration in 2014, and holds a national license from Belize’s National Sports Council to govern competitive cycling across the country.