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. He turned out to be Charles Lewis, who smashed Zauner's record and evoked memories of strong performances from previous champions. When McCannon led a team of Americans back to Belize in 1991, the nation pinned its hopes on Lewis to defeat them. He came through, breaking his own record and restoring the nation's pride. 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. Adding to the memories was a pair of exciting and controversial finishes. In 1993, Roque Matus thought he had the race won, similar to Edward Miguel in 1961, and stopped riding after crossing the finish line at the BTL Park (formerly Ramada Park)-only it wasn't; this allowed Maheia to attack and win. The line was apparently left over from municipal elections work earlier that year. In 1994, the scene shifted south to the Yabra area. 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. The oncoming peloton could not avoid the melee and a huge spill developed which was blamed on the broadcasters.