Anguillian cyclist Hasani Hennis returns to defend Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic crown

Left to right: US cyclist John DeLong and 2022 Cross Country Cycling Classic winner Anguillian Hasani Hennis – Photo Credit: 501 Boyz Production

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: Anguillian rider Hasani Hennis will be riding the 140-mile 93^rd Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, organized by the Cycling Federation of Belize (CFB), after winning the 92^nd edition on April 16, 2022, in 5:50:26.

Hennis, who last year was 10:14 shy of the record of 5:40:12 set in 2008 by American Ryan Baumann, will be aiming to take it down.

As things would have it, Hennis is now Oscar Quiroz’s teammate with the Miami Blazers. Quiroz finished sixth last year clocking 5:54:18 riding for 501 Valvoline Cycling Team.

Hennis became the first Cross Country winner from the Caribbean.

United States rider John DeLong, who did most of the work, finished second in 5:50:28.

Left to right: 2022 Cross Country Cycling Classic winner Hasani Hennis, Marlon ‘Diesel’ Castillo, US Rider John DeLong, Byron Pope – (Photo Credit: 501 Boyz Production)

Belizean Byron Pope of Westrac Alliance was third in 5:51:43, followed by Marlon ‘Diesel’ Castillo of FAL Cycling Team (5:51:48) in fourth place and 2019 Champion Guatemalan Julio Padilla (5:54:14) in fifth place.

The 93^rd Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic which will cover approximately 140 miles, according to the Cycling Federation of Belize, starts in Belize city, goes to San Ignacio, and returns, finishing by Digi Park on Barrack Road in front of the Caribbean Sea.