Life of Brian 12

 

Posted: 27 June 2008

 

In his latest blog, British Cycling's President Brian Cookson's looks at the recent book on Chris Hoy, reflects on the competitive nature of cyclists and welcomes more success for British riders overseas. 

 

Book review - Heroes, Villains and Velodromes

This is a great new book by Richard Moore, charting the amazing career of Chris Hoy against a backdrop of the last decade of change and development in the British Cycling scene.

I suppose I should start off by saying that I was interviewed at length during the author's research, and there are a couple of places where I appear in the book. Thankfully, Richard is kind enough to say some nice things about me and about British Cycling, so I must have been on a good day when he spoke to me!

Seriously though, this book is the nearest thing I have seen yet to an accurate independent telling of the story of how Great Britain has gone from being an also-ran with occasional shooting stars, to the World's leading track cycling nation by some distance. Of course there are many people and events not covered and this book isn't a comprehensive account of all the hard work, anguish, agony and sheer bloody-mindedness that had to be gone through. That in itself would be a story running into several volumes.

Rather, in this book, that story is very much secondary to the story of the main protagonist, Chris Hoy. This really is a fascinating insight into the man, his family, his background, and his career all the way from BMX through mountain biking, road racing (did you know he even rode the Junior Tour of Ireland?), to the time he began to concentrate on the track in the mid nineties and on to his multiple world and Olympic titles.

This isn't the usual account of race following race though - it's much more than that. Here are all the very different personalities that have had a part in Chris's story; from his first coach to his greatest rivals; from BC's first Performance Director Peter Keen to the current coaching and support team led by Dave Brailsford; from his childhood nemesis to the President of the Bolivian Cycling Federation, who followed up Chris's attempt on the world kilometre record with his own attempt on the Bolivian age-related national 3,000 metre record (now there's an idea?..).

At the moment, the story ends with March's World Track Championships in Manchester, where Chris broke new ground yet again, winning both the keirin and Britain's first sprint Gold since 1954. Clearly there is more to come from Chris, in Beijing and no doubt beyond, perhaps with many more chapters to be written in future editions of this special story.

So this is a great book about a great man, who is also a great bloke. Read it and you'll get a truly fascinating insight into his world.

And one day, maybe I'll have a go at writing the full story of British Cycling's transformation.

Heroes, Villains and Velodromes by Richard Moore, is published by HarperSport.

Why are cyclists always so competitive?

That was the thought that struck me last week rather forcibly and a little painfully. Let me explain.

From time to time during each summer over the last few years BC's Chief Executive Peter King has come up to my home in Lancashire's Ribble Valley and we combine an update meeting with a few miles on the bike. We do this a few evenings each year. For the first year, Peter was fitter than me, and I suffered to hold his wheel on the climbs. So after that, I made sure I got some miles in each year, got a bit fitter, and was usually able to be the one dishing out some pain.

This year, however, things are different. As soon as we set off on our first ride, Peter casually let slip that he had been doing some time trials. Now I know that Peter is the kind of bloke who wouldn't even enter a race if he didn't think he could give a good account of himself. When he then revealed that he had even got in some 100 mile Sunday rides, then I knew I was going to be in trouble.

And so it proved. Even my favourite trick, reserved for desperate circumstances, of asking a series of short questions that require long answers, was of no assistance. I was well and truly battered all the way around the Bashall Eaves circuit, through Chipping and over Longridge Fell. By the time we were heading back to my home in Whalley I was seeing stars.

But don't get complacent Peter, I'll be back??

Rachel Atherton - one of three world champions for GB at the MTB worlds

More success across the disciplines

There isn't the space here to mention all the fantastic successes by British bike riders over recent weeks, but it really has been a remarkable year so far. So many fantastic performances. What's really encouraging is that this is not just restricted to any one discipline. We are now used to seeing success on the track, but now we really are seeing brilliant results everywhere - BMX, MTB, road, and from both men and women too. All I can say as President is, well, thank you. Congratulations to everyone, riders, coaches, back-up staff, sponsors, team-mates, everyone - well done and, thank you so much.

It's a funny old world

When British Cycling adopted the objective of becoming the world's number one ranked nation by 2012, there were many who scoffed. When I said a couple of years ago that there would be a British Tour de France winner within the next twenty years, there was ridicule from some quarters. When I said that we could, should and would establish our own pro road team, there were many who said it could not happen.

But hold on, something strange has happened. All of a sudden, the scoffers and the sceptics and the cynics are being outnumbered, even in the pages of the Great British cycling press. Those who at one time doubted our sanity now seem to have joined in the madness. Beyond our little world, in the wider national and international media, and in the sports governance world, people have sat up and taken notice.

Meanwhile, the bold objective is clearly in reach. The ambition is attainable. The means are achievable. Yes, there is still plenty of the journey to go, but now no-one seems to doubt that we are well on the way. Welcome to the peloton!

Another star switching to our sport?

I was at a reception at Windsor Castle to mark the Centenary of the 1908 Olympics the other week, drinking champagne and chatting to stars and champions from the past (it's a tough job, but someone's got to do it), when I got talking to a very famous female double Olympic Gold Medallist, recently retired from her sport. She had just bought a bike and was very keen to find out more about how to get into our sport, where to go, who to see, etc, etc, and really seemed genuinely interested in having a serious go. I reckon she could do something very, very special, though obviously not in time for these Olympics. Who? Well, they the old song says there is nothing like a Dame??maybe you can work it out!

Feedback

As ever, if you have any comment or any subjects you'd like me to cover, please contact me on info@britishcycling.org.uk.

Brian Cookson
President