I have a lifetime’s experience in cycling, alongside a professional career spent in environment and urban regeneration. Here I will share some of my experiences and will from time to time give my views on various current issues in the sport, and on other matters that seem important to me.

Why? I love cycling, and have done since I was a boy. For me, cycling is a particular passion, and it is great to see this passion shared so strongly across the world. Throughout my life and career I’ve had the honour of being involved in this brilliant sport at a number of different levels, from my own competitive aspirations, to my time as president of British Cycling and the UCI. Having the opportunity to see so many people discover the wonders of life on two wheels has been a great privilege.

So I set up this website because I wanted to have a forum for expressing my views and continuing to contribute to the things that have moved and motivated me - mainly cycling, but also the environment, urban regeneration, and maybe other topics from time to time. I hope you enjoy it.

UCI President 2013-17

When I decided to stand for election as President of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), I did so because the sports international governing body was in turmoil. Its credibility had reached rock bottom, thanks to the numerous doping scandals that had captured the attention of the world. The sport’s place in the Olympic Games had even been questioned. It was clear that major changes had to be made to the sport’s governance, and to achieve this it was equally clear that new leadership was needed.

British Cycling President (1996-2013)

In the middle of the 1990’s the British Cycling Federation was wracked by a series of controversies. The sport’s national governing body was in meltdown - riven with internal disputes, close to bankruptcy, falling membership, questions in Parliament and a series of damaging media reports. In the preceding 76 years, only one Olympic Gold Medal had been achieved. At the Annual National Council Meeting the entire Board were removed on a vote of no confidence, and a group of us were elected from the floor. l was asked to chair the group and said I would do it for a year. Seventeen years later, and British Cycling was transformed into an award-winning governing body and, with an annual election, I was still there.

Blog

On these pages, I will start with a selection of pieces that I have written in the past, and continue with new commentary on current issues in the world of cycling. I may cover other matters that interest me from time to time. Feel free to disagree with me!

Cyclist

What does it mean to be a cyclist? Is everyone who rides a bike one? Is it about abiding by certain rules or codes? Are some cyclists more cyclists than others? These are the sort of questions I will try and answer sometimes. Or then again, maybe I won’t! Maybe being a cyclist means whatever you want it to mean.

Competition

I was never a prolific race-winner, but I have won a few races on road and track over the years. The first, pictured below, was the Dolphinholme Junior Road Race in 1969, but by far the most significant was the Lakeland (and Lancashire) Road Race Championship in 1971, when I was just 19. I’ll tell the story on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary, all being well.

OBE

I was awarded the OBE (Ordinary Officer of the Civil Division of the Order of the British Empire) in the New Year’s Honours List announced on 1 January 2008, for services to cycling. Specifically, this was for my work in a voluntary capacity in leading the restructuring and subsequent resurgence of British Cycling.