Friday, March 29, 2024

Interviews

Matti Dobbins – Scottish Road Champion 2022

We didn’t make it over to the Scottish Road Race Championships – which this year included the Sam Robinson Memorial Race -   but thought it only fair that we catch up with the man who was crowned champion, Matti Dobbins of the Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team.

Lewis Stewart – “I want to continue my winning streak in the Tandem sprint!”

The last time we spoke to Lewis Stewart was at the Bremen Six Day at the start of 2018 where he was riding the Sprint events and next he's competing in the Tandem Sprint and Kilometre Time Trial on the boards of the Lee Valley Velodrome in London where the Commonwealth Games track cycling events will be held.  

Kyle Gordon – “I have to say that I’m riding a wave right now, I’m happy, having fun…”

Continuing our series of interviews with Scotland’s selections for the 2022 Commonwealth Games we speak to a man who continues to improve, year upon year – Kyle Gordon from Alness, who has taken 26 seconds off his Individual Pursuit time over the last five years, not to mention dominating the Scottish short/middle distance time trial scene.

Jo Patterson – Ladies’ National 100 Mile Time Trial Record Breaker

In the CTT Ladies’ National 100 Mile Championship Scottish based Jo Patterson stopped the clock with 3:36:41, shaving over five minutes from the record.

Neil Fachie – “I always set myself targets”

We continue our series of interviews with Scotland’s selections for the 2022 Commonwealth Games with a man who needs little introduction – Commonwealth, World and Olympic Para Tandem Champion, Neil Fachie.

Sean Flynn – “The Games Road Race is almost a home race for us”

Continuing our series of interviews with Scottish Commonwealth Games cycling team selections we speak to a man who’s been producing quality results in the colours of the Fabian Cancellara-backed, Swiss continental level Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Sean Flynn.

Lusia Steele – Position Three in Scotland’s Games Team Sprint Squad

Continuing our series of interviews with Scots who have been selected for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games – but with track cycling events taking place on the Lee Valley ‘Pringle’ Velodrome in London - we talk with sprinter Lusia Steele.

Dillon Corkery – CC Etupes’ Young Irishman Building a Superb Palmarès

When CC Etupes' Christophe Andre gets in touch from la Belle France to tell me that he has a young man from the Emerald Isle on the team books who he thinks I should be speaking to, I pay attention. Dillon Corkery is the young Irish gentleman in question...

Neah Evans – “I do like the Individual Pursuit, it’s a very honest race – albeit horrible!”

Neah Evans is one of Scotland’s most successful ever cyclists with a raft of British, Commonwealth, European, Olympic and World championships medals on the track to her credit, she is reigning British Points and Individual Pursuit Champion. 

Finn Crockett – “I’m an old boy now, I turn 23 this month!”

Following on from our interviews with Scotland’s 2022 Commonwealth Games selections we caught up with a man who’s enjoyed a great start to 2022 and who’ll be riding the road race in Birmingham, Ribble Weldtite’s Finn Crockett.

Ellie Stone – “Track cycling is so much faster than running!”

Ellie Stone is reigning British 500 metre Time Trial and Keirin champion – but despite these successes she’ll not be riding either event at the Commonwealth Games in England - rather she'll be piloting a tandem in the para cycling events; the Kilometre Time Trial on Sunday July 31st and the Match Sprint on Friday 29th July.

Mark Stewart – “I’ve always liked to take risks, do my own things”

It takes a special occasion to drag us Auld Fifers up to Monifieth on a cold Thursday evening. On the face of it, a mid-week ‘10’ may not seem a big deal – but this one was special for us; 2022 Commonwealth Games selection and defending Points Race Champion, Mark Stewart was making a rare appearance on home roads.

Jenny Holl – “I want to come out of the Games with a medal!” 

Continuing our series of interviews with Scottish Cycling selections for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham next month – but with the track events held in London on the Lee Valley ‘Pringle’ Olympic velodrome – we spoke to para tandem pilot, Jenny Holl.

John Archibald – “the Road Nationals will show me where my form is”

Continuing with our series of articles about Scotland’s cycling selections for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games – albeit the track cycling takes place on the Lee Valley Olympic ‘Pringle’ velodrome in London – we caught up with John Archibald who was a silver medallist in the pursuit at the last Games.

Lauren Bell – Looking forward to the Sprint Events at the Games

With the release of the list of Scottish squad selections for the Commonwealth Games cycling events we thought it would be good to catch up with a few of the riders; some ‘old friends’ and some new names to us. Lauren Bell burst on to the GB track scene by winning the 500 metre Time Trial and Keirin at the 2020 British track championships, as well as taking Sprint bronze.

Neil Mapplebeck – Racing Dutch ‘Total Cycling’ in the 70’s and 80’s

Our chum, Graham Robson suggested we catch up with Neil Mapplebeck who raced in the tough school that was 70’s and 80’s Dutch ‘Total Cycling’ with ‘all-time greats,’ Kuiper, Raas, Knetemann, Schuiten and Zoetemelk just some of the names from that era. 

Daniel Cain – the Engineer behind Scottish wheel maker ‘Streamline Cycling’

Daniel Cain is a rider with GTR Return to Life with his wheel business, ‘Streamline Cycling’ providing the ‘p/b’ in the team’s name; the 27 years-old is also an Aero-Mechanical Engineer who has been designing and building his own composite wheels which have been used to good effect by quick GTR riders like Chris Smart.

Luke Lamperti – Trinity Racing’s American Champion

When I noticed that 19 years-old US Elite Criterium Champion, Luke Lamperti riding for the British continental team, Trinity Racing had won the Lincoln Grand Prix, I thought; ‘he’d be an interesting man to talk to.’ It took a few days; he had to drive through the night after his Stranraer win to catch his flight home to California where he lives in Sebastopol, a city in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco in the heart of ‘the wine country.’

Mitch Docker – Retirement and Life Outside the Peloton

On the weekends I take my dog for big walks and have started listening to podcasts as we enjoy the Fife Coastal Path and the mighty River Forth. My favourite listen is ‘Life in the Peloton’ hosted by the man with the mullet, ‘tache and natty choice in head wear – Mitch Docker.

Michael Storer – On Moving from DSM to FDJ

Michael Storer's Tour preparation suffered a bit of a ‘blip’ in recent weeks when a fever prevented him from starting Stage One of the Tour of Romandie but he hopes to back for the final Tour preparation race, The Criterium du Dauphine.