Holly Breck
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can change the direction of my sails to reach my destination” – Jimmy Dean
Name: Holly Breck
Nickname: Breck by Breck, Holla Holly Berry, Lil B
D.O.B.: May 27th 1992
Birth city and state: Santa Ynez, Ca
Current City: Santa Ynez,Ca
Height: 5’7”
Specialty: Sprinting
Previous sports: Motocross
Years racing: 5
Colleges attended: Santa Barbara City College
Degree: N/A
Holly started riding a bike in 2010 as a training source for her professional motocross racing and quickly fell in love with the sport. She started racing a bike in 2011 winning 30+ races and upgrading from a cat 4 to a 2 in one season. 2012 she started riding for Incycle and raced her first Pro 1-2 season getting her upgrade to a cat 1. As well as racing on the road, Holly also races mountain bikes and cyclocross. She’s completed Leadville trail 100 twice and the first year set the youngest women’s finisher under 10 hrs. She has also raced some Enduro races in the women’s Pro class taking a couple podiums and a top spot.
While racing her bike, Holly works 2 jobs and goes to school part-time. She works at her local bike shop in town and for the city of Buellton in their youth department. She also helps in a program called Trips for kids where they take kids on mountain bike rides, surf trips, etc. She attends school at Santa Barbara City College part time and her major is kinesiology.
Career Highlights
- 2012 Dana Point Grand Prix NCC crit 2nd
- 2013 Tour de Murrieta 3rd overall
- 2014 Barrio Logan Grand Prix 2nd
- 2015 805 crit series 2nd overall
2015
- Valley of Fire stage race 4th overall
- Budweiser Sequoia Cycling Classic 7th
- Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix 7th
- 805 Criterium Weekend Omnium p/b Explore Lompoc 1st
- San Luis Rey Road Race 3rd
- Tour of Utah Women's Edition 19th
- The TSG Realty Gateway Cup 21st overall
2014
- US Cup /Kenda Cup Bonelli Park 1st ( Mountain bike)
- US Cup/ Kenda Cup Fontana City National 1st (Mountain bike)
- 805 Criterium Weekend Hancock Twilight 3rd
- US Cup Big Bear Shootout 1st (Mountain bike)
- Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix 6th
- Ontario Series Overall Winner
What inspired you to become a bike racer?
I don’t really have a direct answer to that, other than the fact that I’m a pretty competitive person. I don’t like not fulfilling my goals that I set out to do so Im going to say my drive to become a better bike “rider” turned me to become a racer. Also too that the people I hung out with raced locally so that definitely had a big influence on me as well as the curiosity of just seeing how much stronger I could get on a bike.
Who is an inspiration to you in your life, both on and off the bike?
I actually have a lot of people who have inspired me throughout my life, either by helping me in one way or another, coaching me, giving me little insights in racing or just about life in general. My family is a big part of my inspiration, my older Brother, Benny Breck, My coach Patrick Caro, my friends and teammates. All of them I have made a memory with and to me that’s an inspiring thing.
Favorite meal when training?
Oh man, so tough because I LOVE food but something “breakfasty” would definitely have to be my favorite. Breakfast burrito, like eggs, almond butter and honey is my go to.
The best thing about being a bike racer is?
The traveling and seeing different parts of the world by far! I hate being in one spot for too long. Obviously I love coming back home but I love going to new places, seeing new things, meeting new people. Especially doing it with people you love to be around makes it that much better. Those experiences are the best.
What is your biggest accomplishment on the bike?
Biggest accomplishment would have to be winning my first pro 1-2 crit this year at the 805 crit series. It was my home town race, so to do that with my friends there was so awesome. Also getting to do the Tour of Utah for the first time and getting top 20 was a pretty big accomplishment for me too. Never thought I’d ever get to do that so for myself that was an awesome experience.
Favorite place you’ve raced your bike and why?
Either Wisconsin for Tour of American Dairyland or Missouri for Gateway. The amount of racing was incredible for ToAD. 11 days of competitive racing, very enthusiastic spectators and great prize money. For Gateway, the courses where so different from each other and the racing was really fast and competitive.
Favorite cross training or off season activity?
Motocross, Mountain Biking, Gym workouts, camping
Best tip for a new bike racer?
Learn as much as possible, act like you know nothing, take it all in and have fun. If it isn’t fun then it’s not worth your time or money.
What are one of two things that you do daily that are the key to your success?
Have fun with whatever it is that you are doing. Don’t turn it into work, otherwise you’re not going to be excited for what’s to come.
If you weren’t bike racing what would you be?
Hmmm, I’ve always liked to play soccer so that would’ve been my other sport but as in a real job probably a P.E. teacher for elementary kids or an athletic trainer.
What is something that nobody would know about you?
I am terrified by heights, spiders and snakes. I hate cheese but love pizza and I had 2 pet deer growing up.
TWENTY16 has an emphasis on education with the initiation of our Junior Scholarship program in 2015. https://teamtwenty16.com/education.htm
Why is continued education important?
I think it’s always important to keep learning no matter what. Young, middle aged or old I think it’s never too late to learn something new. It’s what keeps us young and on our toes, but really education leads to money and money leads to power and freedom to do whatever it is that you want. Education is important.
What does Ridebiker Alliance mean to you?
I think it’s one of the coolest things out there. It’s a step in the right direction for the up and coming riders and just for support purposes as well. I’ve only been in the seen 5 years have meet a lot of amazing fun people and the more we can get people out on bikes and having a great time the better off we will all be.
Favorite things to do off the bike:
- Motocross
- Camping
- Travel
- Mountain bike
- Go on adventures with friends and family
Top 10 warmup/pre-race songs on your iPod:
- Downtown -Macklemore
- Thrift shop -Macklemore
- 679 –Fetty Wapp
- Bleed it out- Linkin Park
- concerto –Swallon Members
- feel right – Mark Ronson
- Hooligan – Big B
- Feelin Myself – will I am
- Im just a girl – No doubt
- Billie Jean – Micheal Jackson