The shocking drink-driving conviction of renowned cyclist Fernando Gaviria has sparked a blunt and brutally honest reaction from his former sports director, Brian Holm. Holm, who worked with Gaviria between 2016 and 2018, revealed his disappointment and surprise at the news, calling Gaviria the 'laziest rider I’ve ever met.'
In an interview on the Café Eddy podcast, Holm expressed his frustration with Gaviria's behavior, highlighting the contradictions that defined his early career. Despite being a generational talent, Holm struggled to motivate Gaviria, who often failed to live up to his potential. Holm's comments underscore the frustration felt by those who witnessed Gaviria at his explosive best, including Tour de France stages, Giro wins, and his reputation as the most feared sprinter in the world.
The incident occurred on October 22, 2025, shortly after Gaviria's challenging season with Movistar. Police in Monaco stopped him for reckless driving and traffic violations, and his blood alcohol level was measured at 2.40, five times above the legal limit. In court, Gaviria admitted his mistake, acknowledging that he had slept for a couple of hours before driving and that he shouldn't have taken the car. He received a two-month suspended prison sentence, a €5,000 fine, a two-year driving ban in Monaco, and three additional minor fines.
Holm's reaction comes at a critical time for Gaviria, who was preparing to relaunch his career at Caja Rural – Seguros RGA after three seasons with Movistar. However, the off-bike controversy has overshadowed this transfer, which was supposed to represent a fresh start. Gaviria is coming off the worst year of his career, scoring just 125 UCI points, and will race outside the WorldTour for the first time since 2015.
