Caitlin Conyers is determined to use her Commonwealth Games heartbreak as the catalyst to enhance her Olympic qualification prospects at the Caribbean Championships this weekend.

Conyers contemplated quitting the sport after her debut Commonwealth Games ended in bitter disappointment when she was denied the opportunity to compete after testing positive for Covid-19, but the 32-year-old is now desperate to make up for lost time.

“The hardest part of the Commonwealth Games was not having the opportunity to represent Bermuda,” Conyers said. “It’s hard looking back on that because I know I can’t ever get that time back.

“They were the hardest weeks of my cycling career and I still come close to tears when I think about it. I came close to throwing my bike away after the Games and forgetting about cycling altogether, but I’m happy I didn’t.

“I’ve got a strong support system around me and my coach has been reminding me that I have that potential and that I’ve just suffered some really bad luck this year.

“I feel good again. Thankfully, I’ve regained my fitness after Covid and I’m back to the level I was at before the Commonwealth Games. The championships are definitely an opportunity to make up for lost time and prove a point, including to myself.”

Conyers is preparing to compete in the Dominican Republic as part of a seven-rider squad alongside Kaden Hopkins, Conor White, Gabriella Arnold, Nicholas Narraway, Liam Flannery and Alexander Miller, with the team hoping to improve on an impressive performance last year in the combined Pan American and Caribbean Cycling Championships, in which Bermuda won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze.

Conyers led that medal charge after winning the time-trial and finishing third in the road race, and she is again hoping to outline her prowess as one of the Caribbean region’s standout female cyclists.

This time around there is added incentive with a good performance enabling her to qualify for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan Am Games as well as the opportunity to garner crucial UCI points for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“There is definitely a lot riding on this championships,” added Conyers, who will be competing in the elite women’s time-trial and road race.

“It’s a huge opportunity for a number of reasons and definitely a key race for this region. Not only does it count for qualification for the Central American and Caribbean Games and the Pan Am Games, but there is also UCI points on offer towards Olympic qualification.”

While Conyers remains hopeful of retaining her title in the time-trial, she is well aware of the task at hand, particularly the challenge from Trinidad & Tobago’s Teniel Campbell, who clinched an impressive sixth-place finish in the time-trial at the Commonwealth Games.

“Obviously, I’d love to match what I did last time and win gold again,” Conyers said. “The time trial is definitely the race I’m targeting more but it will definitely be more difficult this year.

“The level will be very high, particularly with Teniel Campbell competing, but I’m feeling fantastic. It’s a great opportunity to test myself against some of the best in the region.

“You always want to beat the best but even if I don’t, it’s a great chance to see where I stand in comparison.”

As well as targeting personal medal success, Conyers has also backed the Bermuda team to again punch well above their weight and challenge for medals.

“All of us are definitely capable of getting on the podium,” she added. “It’s been incredible seeing the guys progress over the past few years. We have a really strong team and there’s no reason why we can’t challenge again.

“We also all know the course really well. Both the time-trial and road race use the same course, which are the same as they’ve used before. It’s a fast and flat course, so pretty straightforward. I’m confident we can have a strong championships.”