Former Caribbean Junior Cycling Championships silver and bronze medalist, Christopher Holder is on the comeback trail to resurrect his once celebrated career.
After a three-year hiatus, the 20-year-old Team Coco’s cyclist who returned from a 30-day training stint in the high altitude country of Colombia last Tuesday and placed third in the final leg of the 62-mile three-stage event on Sunday, has the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil on his radar.
“I was not training for three years because I did not have a bike but thanks to QB (Ian ‘QB’ Davis, owner of Team Coco’s) I am back and working hard to achieve the goal of competing at the next Olympics,” said Holder yesterday who placed ninth overall in grueling 171-mile three-stage road race after just three months of training.
“The high altitude training was really good for me,” stated Holder who journeyed to Colombia with his club mates, Junior Sportsman of the Year, Paul DeNobrega, Raynauth Jeffrey and Raul Leal.
“It helped me a lot with my breathing and stamina, I’m not at 100 percent at the moment but I’m definitely returning to top form and the podium finish in the third stage is evidence of that.
“I lost eight pounds although Colombia is cold so I was really training hard, I’m at 180 (pounds) right now and I want to lose like 20 more and reach top form.”
The talented rider mentioned that he is about 60 percent fit and added that if he did not miss the final break in the first stage with Jeffrey and Leal who placed fifth and sixth overall in the three-stage event he might have been in the top six.
Holder also told this publication that some of his short term goals include medaling at the Senior Caribbean Championships later this year and also to finish in the top three overall in October’s five-stage road race.
As a 14-year-old in 2007, Holder copped a silver medal at the Caribbean Junior Cycling Championships and pedaled to a bronze finish three years later.
Both Jeffrey and Leal also intimated that the high altitude improved their stamina and climbing.
The three-stage road race was won by Barbadian, Jamol Eastmond in six hours,58 minutes and 13 seconds, a mere 20 seconds ahead of Jeffrey who turned 19 yesterday and 16-year old Leal (6:58:33).
