Regional News
Christopher pulled, Fahie wins 2nd Gold.
By Rudebwoy
Sep 9, 2007, 23:42

Olympia Fahie smiles after recieving her 2nd gold medal in as many days.

Christchurch, BARBADOS-Olympia Fahie stood on the top spot of the podium for the second consecutive day after winning the Caribbean Junior championships road race today. Again with no competition from the field, Fahie was able to ride away from Barbados’s Crystal Springer on the 3 lap of the 9 lap race to claim her 2nd gold medal in as many days.

“I am happy today. I still wish that I had more of a challenge, but I am happy,” Fahie stated. “It was a hard race because the boys were really pushing it on the hill. I know that I was going to win but I wanted to see if I could beat some of the boys.” The race was fast from the gun as the 3 girls raced in the category with the juvenile boys seeing that it was only 3 of them. Said BVICF President David Thomas, “I wanted her to be challenged so I asked the commissar to put her in the race with the juniors, but he suggested the juveniles. I think that it worked out better for her as she was able to stay in there with them for about 2 laps. She was still able to beat about 6 or 7 of the boys and that is good for her, but she needs to really lose some weight though because her only real weakness is going up hills, and that’s only because she is too heavy. A lot of the coaches that saw her for the first time were really impressed with her strength, but stressed that she’s too heavy. It’s the weight that’s her biggest hindrance. If she could lose it she would be a terror.”

The weekend did not turn out the way the Darel Christopher Jr. had envisioned. After yesterday’s time trial, Christopher was hoping for a better day today (Sunday). The day started well for Christopher, as he was challenging the main field for 4 laps of their 12 lap race. But on the 5th lap Christopher was nowhere to be seen for the next 2minutes. “Man those guys were attacking on the hill hard,” Darel said. “I would follow then somebody attacked again. We were doing 16mph on the hill in the big ring and I just couldn’t hang in.” When asked about Darel,”I don’t know what happened to him” Thomas stated. “We thought that he had flatted or crashed when we didn’t see him on lap 5. And with this being a championships once you get lapped the race director pulls you. I am disappointed that happened because he was riding very well for a few laps there…he was being aggressive and following wheels, but I hope that he learns that at this level you have to be one with your bike….if you want to be successful then you have to train hard and consistently.

Darel Christopher attacks the peleton early in race.

I don’t know maybe our expectations were too high especially seeing that they were in Atlanta for 6weeks preparing for these championships. But the key is to take the disappointments and learn from them then come back stronger and wiser.”

Olympia leads Barbados's Crystal Springer.

The BVICF President was happy for their cyclists but reminded them that now everybody will be gunning for those titles. “I congratulate both of my cyclists, but I hope that Olympia know knows that everybody will be after her. She now has the distinction of being the Caribbean’s Junior Women’s ITT and Road Race Champion!”

The race was won by Antigua’s Jyme Bridges.

Barbados's Springer in the peleton with Olympia(hidden) on her wheel.

www.flickr.com bvicycling's Caribbean Cycling Championships2 photoset

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