KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic

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Sports & AdventureBelize City
DatesDates TBA · Usually JanuaryCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCompetition, enduranceAs Belize's first race of the calendar year
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: BZD
CategorySports & AdventureFestival type
The story

KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic in Belize City

The KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic has opened Belize's cycling season every January 1 since 1991, sponsored by Belize City's KREM Radio and run along the Northern Highway into the city. Belizean riders swept the race's first decade before foreign competitors and women joined starting in 2001, and it remains the country's second-biggest cycling event after the Holy Saturday Classic.

KREM Radio has sponsored Belize's New Year's Day road race every January 1 since 1991, an idea credited to then-station manager Gerald Garbutt, who decided the holiday needed a race instead of a rest day.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

As Belize's first race of the calendar year, the KREM Classic carries a specific status: winning it sets the tone for a rider's season, and decades of Belizean champions, from first-ever winner Michael Big Mike Lewis in 1991 to more recent national names, give it a deep local record book

02

The mystery stays covered

Its sponsor, KREM Radio, is woven into the race's identity down to the finish line, which sits just blocks from the station's own studios on Partridge Street

03

The city starts moving

Running the full length of the Northern Highway on a public holiday gives spectators an unusually accessible, low-crowd way to watch competitive cycling up close

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The race has run every New Year's Day since 1991

Water and renewal

Living ritual

sponsored continuously by KREM Radio

The sacred route

Living ritual

with the finish line traditionally close to the station's own Partridge Street location

The local code

Living ritual

Women were admitted to the race starting in 2001

Tradition 5

Living ritual

the same year a non-Belizean rider first won

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually January

Getting around

Plan arrival around the route or course in Belize City; closures can make normal travel slower.

What to wear

Light, breathable clothing and a hat or cap suit standing roadside in tropical morning sun; comfortable closed shoes help if moving between viewing points along the highway, and sun...

Safety

KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic is easier when spectators give competitors, vehicles and staff room to work.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic runs late.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

BZD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map17.50 N, 88.20 WOpen in Google Maps

Belize City, Belize District, Belize

Nearest airportBZE — Philip S. W. Goldson
TransportPlan arrival around the route or course in Belize City; closures can make normal travel slower.
Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Belize City via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Belize City, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for January.Compare faresFestival gearLight, breathable clothing and a hat or cap suit standing roadside in tropical morning sun; comfortable closed shoes help if moving between viewing points along the highway, and sun protection matters even in the early hours.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Belize and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic?

KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic is listed for Past edition: 1 January 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic take place?

The festival is listed in Belize City, Belize. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Belize City, Belize District, Belize

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually January
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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