Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Dan Bigham – Mixing it with the World’s Best in the Track World Cups

-

HomeInterviewsDan Bigham - Mixing it with the World's Best in the Track...

With the third round of the Tissot World Cup coming up in Berlin on November 30th those HUUB Wattbike boys have pulled of a major coup by signing the fastest man alive over four kilometres, world record holder Ashton Lambie.

VeloVeritas spoke to the man from Kansas when he smashed troubled Aussie Jack Bobridge’s 4:10:534 with a stunning 4:07:251 ride in Aguascalientes earlier this year.

It’s another chapter in the remarkable story of a team of young men – including Scotland’s John Archibald – who, without the massive funding available to national teams, have gone from World Cup ‘curiosity’ to a major force in world team pursuiting, getting the better of some of the fastest teams out there.

We caught up with the man behind the team and the holder of the record for most British titles won in one season – eight – Dan Bigham, after he returned from a successful foray to Canada where round two of the Tissot World Cup took place on the boards of the Milton Velodrome in Ontario where the men in black came away with silver.

Their riding took them ahead of GB in third spot with just the dynamic Danes besting them.

Dan Bigham
Dan Bigham (r) with a rare UCI Track World Cup medal. Photo©Gary Main

Congratulations on the team’s ride but we heard on the grapevine that the Milton track isn’t the sweetest to ride, Dan?

“It’s not fun to ride, no; there’s a story that a water main burst during construction, the boards on one side got soaked and that’s at the root of the problem.”

Remind us of your times to get that silver medal, please.

“There are three rides in the series if you get all the way to the finals; we did 3:56:628 to qualify then first fastest rides against fourth fastest, second against third, fifth against eighth and six against seventh.

“In that round we did 3:55:022 and 3:56:699 in the final against the Danes who rode 3:53:499; GB were fourth with a 3:54.

“In the Paris, round one of the World Cup we rode 3:57 to qualify then a 3:53 and 3:55 when the Italians beat us for the bronze medal.”

Bragging rights over GB, then?

“Yeah, that’s kinda nice.”

Dan Bigham
Photo©Gary Main

You made good progress from round one in Paris to round two in Milton.

“We were confident we would improve, we didn’t do the ride we were capable of in Paris and changed things around for Canada.

John Archibald and Harry Tanfield have slotted in nicely; John was new to it all in Paris but much more relaxed in Canada.”

That was a lot of travelling between France and Canada.

“Yes but we put a lot of thought into it and had our sleep strategy planned.

“We had time in Canada to rest and do some rides on roads which were new to us – that’s always good.

“And we even fitted in some sightseeing – visiting Niagra Falls.”

The standard of team pursuiting is so much higher these last few years, isn’t it?

“Yes, a lot of guys are getting a taste for it, understanding the factors involved and becoming serious; Canada, France, Belgium have all improved so much and of course there’s the Danes, GB, the Aussies, New Zealand, Italy…”

Dan Bigham
Photo©Gary Main

New bikes, we see.

“Yes, we’re on Argon 18 Electron Pro; we’re still not sponsored so they cost a fair few quid but they’re an improvement on the Cervélos with the Aussies and Danes all on Argon now too.

“The Cervélos were nice but not as super integrated as the Argons; the bars especially are really well designed and they’re stiffer and slightly more aero than the Cervélos.

“You can also run bigger chainrings on them.”

Tricky helmets too for this season?

“Again we’re not sponsored by POC but we did a lot of helmet testing and that helmet works best with our positions.

“You can’t buy them anymore, they’ve stopped making them and we bought all of their stock.”

Dan Bigham
Photo©Twitter

Any other ‘trick’ stuff you can tell us about?

“The skinsuits come from our sponsors HUUB and they’re special.

“HUUB are based in Derby, as we are and made their name in triathlon wetsuits and skinsuits where they are world leaders.

“One of their team was part of British Cycling’s ‘Secret Squirrels’ team with Chris Boardman, the group of ‘boffins’ who developed the GB ‘super bikes’ and world beating race clothing.

“The HUUB skinsuits are awesome, Johnny Wale’s skinsuit saves him 30 watts!”

On the subject of Mr. Boardman, have you visited his wind tunnel yet?

“Not yet but we have two sessions booked; Chris has been an absolute legend with us – he’s a gold mine of knowledge and has so many good contacts.”

[This was at time of writing – Dan & Co. have since visited the Boardman facility, ed.]

Dan Bigham
Photo©boardmanperformance

Berlin next and round three of the World Cup?

“We’ll be training hard for that one but it’ll be tough contest with three rides in one day and GB, Denmark, New Zealand and Australia will all be there.

“The Aussies are out of reach, they’re world record holders, after all; we’d like to get past the Danes – but they’re not slow either!”

And how about Aguascalientes and that super-fast track, the world record would surely be feasible for HUUB Wattbike on those boards?

“It’s something we’ve talked about, possibly early next year but remember we’ll be losing Harry Tanfield to his road commitments with Katusha?

“And it’s a long season and whist we want to go it’s a case of when? and how?”

Dan Bigham
Photo©Gary Main

It looks like the new sponsors have made the difference then?

“Massive!

“We’re riding a full World Cup programme this winter and there’s a lot less stress.

“Last year we had rely on volunteer helpers and do a lot ourselves but having a soigneur and mechanic to look after us and the bikes makes such a difference.

“The last thing you need a day or two before you’re up on the boards is to be faffing about with bicycles!”

That’s for sure!

Dan Bigham
Photo©Twitter

The Derby men finished fourth in Berlin, not surprisingly the mighty Aussie team dominated from the re-emergent Danes who have a solid history in this discipline – surprisingly, the much improved Canadian quartet pipped the Huub boys for bronze.

The next World Cup is in London on 14th December – hopefully Dan & Co. can step back onto the podium in front of a home crowd?

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

John Archibald – “I’d love to show up at the British Championships with a sub 4.20”

John Archibald has proved to us during season 2017 that he’s the fastest man in the country against the watch with fastest rides ever at 10 and 25 miles in Scotland. With a series of quality four kilometre rides in Portugal and Switzerland, Archibald has proved that he can indeed adapt to the boards, bankings and all that time sitting about waiting...

Steve Jones – Pro in Belgium in the 80’s; “You had to sell a few races to make ends meet!”

Steve Jones is one of the ‘forgotten men’ of 70’s and 80’s cycling but he was British Junior 25 Mile Time Trial Champion - a Dutch Champion too, a serial winner as an amateur on the roads of Belgium and The Netherlands, an Olympian, winner of the amateur version of the Trofeo Baracchi, a team mate of some of the sport’s biggest names and a professional for a decade. Oh yes, and he rode for Mr. Capper’s ANC team.

Douglas Dewey – Moving Up to U.C.Nantes Atlantique

The last time VeloVeritas spoke to Douglas Dewey was at the British National Time Trial Championships in Scotland back in June where he finished fourth. But it wasn’t all places of honour for the Surrey man; there were six good wins in France, too. And some UK wins as well – but ‘they don’t count.’ The six wins obviously counted with French Division One team, Union Cycliste Nantes Atlantique, his équipe for season 2014.

Tony Doyle – Britain’s Greatest Ever Six Day Rider

As a web site which tries to keep its readers in touch with what’s happening on the winter boards; it’s remiss of us not to have spoken before now to Britain’s greatest ever Six Day rider – Tony Doyle, MBE. Other ‘Brits’ rode the ‘races to nowhere’ – Tony Gowland even managed to win two Six Days (off 31 starts); London (with Patrick Sercu) and Montreal with (Gianni Motta).

At Random

Le Tour de France 2012 – Time Trial = The Battle For Yellow

Le Tour 2012 is a day away! On paper it is going to be a race between Wiggo and Cadel, and it is hard to see anyone else good enough to match these two men. As has been noted everywhere, and ad nauseam, this is a Tour with over 90km of time trialling. Considering the miserable time trialling talents of the gun climbers in the race, particularly when compared to how good Cadel and Wiggo are at climbing, the race for third may well end up being a separate battle of the also-rans behind the Wiggins-Evans showdown.

Tour of the Meldons 2016 – Smart and Curran Retain Their Scottish Titles

Chris Smart (GTR) put on another exemplary performance in the Tour of the Meldons hilly time trial in the Scottish Borders to retain his national title for the 'Olympic Time Trial' for the third time in a row, his 56:08 being 75 seconds faster than his time for the same course last year and 67 seconds faster than silver medallist Kyle Gordon (Sandy Wallace Cycles). Third was Jon Entwistle (Team JMC) a further 10 seconds back.

Copenhagen Six Day 2009 – Day 3

VeloVeritas are in Copenhagen (south of Sweden) for day three of the six and it's time for the horror that is - the afternoon session. The highlight of the afternoon was the break dancing competition, manfully judged by Messrs. Rasmussen and Donadio. It's not well known, but break dancing has a long connection with cycling.

Entrepreneurs on the Saddle – an extract from “The Cycling Professor”

"Entrepreneurs on the Saddle" is the first of several excerpts from my book "The Cycling Professor", to give you a flavour of the topics I discuss in it. Thanks to the guys at VeloVeritas for the opportunity to do this.