Last Thursday evening saw us return to the glorious setting of the Regent Street Pinarello store to celebrate not only the final event of our 2023 season but also recognise our 100th event since the founding of the BDOVELO network in 2015. The last eight years has seen events including overseas tours, velodrome sessions, on and off road rides, evening events, zwift sessions and informal rides, welcoming riders of all ages and abilities.
So how do you celebrate such a milestone? Step up Ed Clancy OBE, the most successful Team Pursuit cyclist in history, having won gold with Team GB at three successive Olympics and multiple World, Commonwealth and European medals during his hugely successful career, which included setting eight world records.
Ed is a member of the cycling glitterati but you would struggle to find a more modest, self effacing individual in professional sport. What a pleasure it was to celebrate our milestone event with him.
Ed shared his story...born in Barnsley in 1985, grew up in Yorkshire. He would spend hours on his bike and loved cycling; a tough sport to pursue in a football mad town. He wouldn't compete seriously until he was scouted by British Cycling at the age of 16, going on to win his first gold medal with the Great Britain Team Pursuit squad at the 2005 World Championship, aged 20. Cementing his place on the Team Pursuit squad, he went on to win 6 World Championships and 3 Olympic gold medals over a distinguished career that also saw him in action on the road with the likes of T Mobile and the successful JLT-Condor team. As we heard, there could have been more medals but British Cycling are a canny bunch and it's no secret that holding back at the Commonwealth Games reaped benefits (of the gold variety) at the Olympics.
Ed also shared with us his admiration for former housemates, Cav and G, tipping Cav to beat Merckx's TdeF record next year. We also got some insights into a number of his coaches and their programmes over the years, and the huge influence psychiatrist Professor Steve Peters had in creating a winning mindset. Having retired in December ’21, Ed is now juggling a "plural" career. We wish him well and hope one day he'll join us in the BDOVELO peloton!
You can see the photo gallery here.
£400 was raised for Action Medical Research in the raffle, thank you to everyone who bought a strip, and to Ed for donating a signed British Cycling jersey.
Look out for the BDOVELO calendar 2024, coming soon. In the meantime, have a joyful and safe Christmas!