Reid eyeing podium at Caribbean Jr Cycling Champs

Despite finishing a disappointing eighth at the Easter International Cycling Grand Prix, in Trinidad and Tobago in April, Kingston Criterium Junior champion, 17-year-old Brandon Reid, said the experience was an eye-opening one.

He learnt a lot from the experience and has been taking steps to make the necessary improvement and he is now eyeing a podium finish at the Caribbean Junior Championship later this year.

'EYE-OPENING'

"That experience (Easter Grand Prix) was an eye-opening one. In the first race, my position wasn't good and I did not place well. But in the second race, I went to the front and led for most of the way, but the guys came back and covered me in the last 150 metres.

"So I now know that I have a lot more improvement to make. I need more training and I have been going to the gym and doing some more miles, but I'll be back again next year and I will do better," he said.

With the local circuit providing little competition for this young rider in his category, his next international test will be the Caribbean Junior Championship where he will again face riders like Easter Grand Prix winner Jabari Whiteman of Trinidad and Tobago, among others. But he believes he is putting in the work and will get his just reward when the time comes.

"The Easter Grand Prix is not until next year again, but I will be going to the Caribbean junior Championship in June to represent the country and I expect to get a podium finish because I have been getting more power in the legs to get that quick muscle fibre going. There are some opponents I have to watch, but as long as I put in the work, it will pay off," he said.