One of Belize’s most enduring and beloved national sporting traditions is just around the corner, and event organizers have taken a key step to build anticipation for the upcoming milestone edition. The Cycling Federation of Belize has officially revealed the course for the Annual Parade of Cyclists, the iconic kickoff event held in the days leading up to the 96th running of the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic.
The parade will kick off at Digi Park, located in Belize City, before weaving through a number of the city’s busiest central thoroughfares: organizers confirmed the route will pass through Albert Street, Regent Street, and Central American Boulevard, before completing a loop that brings riders back to the starting line at Digi Park on Newtown Barracks. This pre-race procession has long been a core part of the lead-up festivities for the nation’s most prestigious cycling competition, giving spectators an up-close chance to engage with participants before the main event.
The Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic holds a unique place in Belize’s sporting calendar, tracing its roots all the way back to 1928. What began as a local race has grown into a celebrated regional attraction, drawing not only top amateur and professional cyclists from across Belize but also competitive riders from neighboring nations across Central America.
As its name suggests, the main race is always held on Holy Saturday, the day preceding Easter Sunday. The event traditionally gets underway at 6:00 a.m. from Belize City, with competitors heading west along the scenic George Price Highway toward San Ignacio Town in the Cayo District. Upon reaching the turnaround point in San Ignacio, riders face the challenge of retracing their route all the way back to the finish line in Belize City. The full course stretches between 140 and 144 miles, one of the longest continuous cross-country cycling races in the region, making it a grueling test of both physical endurance and tactical race strategy for every participant.
Over its nearly century-long history, the Cross Country Classic has evolved from a small sporting contest into a cherished national cultural tradition. Every year, tens of thousands of spectators line the full length of the course, from the city streets of Belize City to the rural stretches of the George Price Highway, to cheer on competing riders and celebrate the event. To ensure a fair competitive landscape for athletes of all ages and skill levels, the race is divided into multiple distinct prize categories, including Elite, Under-23, Masters, and junior divisions. For the overall winner, the top prize is the coveted Cross Country garland, a symbol of cycling excellence in Belize.
For cycling fans across the country, the annual pre-race parade serves as the official start of the race weekend’s excitement. It gives local supporters and cycling enthusiasts an early opportunity to see their favorite riders and team delegations up close before they take on the grueling 140-plus mile challenge, building widespread anticipation for this year’s milestone 96th edition of Belize’s most iconic race.