Meet the Ride Captains: Team Vectos

Meet the Team Vectos Ride Captains for this year's Knight Frank Cycle to MIPIM.

Your Ride Captains are there to look after everyone on the road. Experienced, empathetic and supportive, they’re a wonderful bunch who have been cycling with us for probably longer than some would care to remember.

We asked them for one anecdote from a previous Cycle to MIPIM, one piece of advice for new riders, and some thoughts on their fellow Ride Captains (RCs). Their answers will give you a great insight on what to expect out on the road (and possibly, in the bar afterwards!). Here’s an introduction to the Ride Captains of Team Vectos:

Anthony Tugwell, Director, Vectos

Anecdote: Getting ready to leave Dijon on the Sunday morning in 2018, at least one of the Ride Captains pointed out that, whilst it wasn’t raining, the sky didn’t look great, so people should consider putting on a proper rain jacket. Ten minutes after setting off, the heavens opened and those on the road were subjected to one of the heaviest downpours anyone had experienced, and it wasn’t long before an emergency stop was needed for people to put on rain jackets, change or just get in the coach.  Moral of the story – listen to your Ride Captains (and Ride Captains should listen to each other and themselves, e.g. David Hutt the same year!)

Advice: Other than listening to your Ride Captains (see above), don’t be afraid to wear two pairs of padded shorts!

Your fellow RCs:  
Andy – Cycle to MIPIM is not really long enough for him. It’s essentially a training ride for other events to come!
Neo – appears not to have a front mech shifter, since he cycles the whole way in the big ring.
Sam McClary – wherever she’s cycling in the peloton, you can always hear her!
David Johnston – one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, with an interesting love of Australian pop music.
Paul B – has some of the best sunglasses on display.
Richard Heath – player of tunes, setter of tempo.
Mike A – wake, porridge pot, set off, 180 watts, finish, porridge pot, sleep.

Mike Axon, Managing Director, Vectos

Anecdote: There was this one time… It was my first Cycle to MIPIM, and Bill Hughes (L&G) had persuaded me that cycling the next stage wasn’t big and wasn’t clever, and that we should take time off. Rather pleased, at the next stop I got on the bus and looked out at all the poor people lining up for the next session, and then at Bill lining up with them. I grabbed a helmet, ran off the bus, stole my bike from the guys stacking them into the lorry, and just made it onto the back of the peloton. It was one of the best stages; with our next stop the lunch stop in a village lined with children from the local schools waving flags and shouting suitable phrases of encouragement!

Your fellow RCs: 
Paul has got a stable full of horse jokes.
Monsieur Moustache (one of the French motos) likes playing ZZ Top.
Sinead is strong and fast.
Toby’s prime directive is to help others.
Richard can go on and on. Stopping for sleep is an inconvenience.
Tugs has got too many bikes.

Richard Heath, Director, Momentum

Anecdote: Blimey where do I start with this? Struggling with my pink wind jacket which was stuck on my watch whilst cycling with no hands at the back of the peloton and being helped by one of the motos, or chain-ganging with just Christian to keep warm or landing on Gareth’s rear wheel after a multi-person pile up going uphill. So many great moments, so many laughs and so many tears. It’s hard work and really addictive. 

Advice: Relax and enjoy the ride. Life becomes a bubble of cycling with the most amazing support so enjoy every minute of it and come and find me if you want to chat or hear your favourite tune.

Your fellow RCs: I would say the Club Peloton RCs are one of the most lovely and diverse group of cyclists you are ever likely to meet. They are the glue in plywood, the grout in concrete and the mortar in brickwork or indeed any other corny engineering analogy!

Below is one of my favourite photos from 2018: 12 March at 07.18am! [Richard is far right. Also shown L-R: Mike Axon, Paul Burke, Sam McClary]

Sinead Conneely, Director, Simple Works

Anecdote: The Cycle to Expo Real in Zurich was particularly miserable in terms of weather and I experienced some of my darkest moments on a bike during those three days due to cold fingers and scary wet descents – I actually cycled off the road at one point as my cornering is so bad, much to the dismay of my very kind and patient Ride Captains! But at every refuel stop - even though we were all completely frozen and wildly uncomfortable - we laughed and supported each other and got back on our bikes for the next stage, eventually all making it to Zurich unscathed and with another great ride under our belts.

Advice: Beg, borrow and steal enough kit for the main event so that you have enough dry kit every day in case it rains and test all your kit at least once on a training ride. Also, chamois cream!

Your fellow RCs: I’ve never seen Toby or Mike slow down or run out of energy… are they on electric bikes maybe?!

Toby Fox, publisher, Velocity Magazine and managing director, 3Fox

Anecdote: A veteran of many Cycle to MIPIMs and mentor to many riders, Christian Spencer-Davies spent the occasional stage on the coach (“it’s not a bus,” as Stu the driver will remind you, given half a chance). I asked him how he selected which stages to miss out, assuming perhaps they were a little dull, or overly hilly, or that he was saving his energy for something particularly strenuous coming up. Turned out he knew all the best bars! The coach usually arrives at a stage finish/start a good 45 minutes to an hour ahead of the peloton – ample time for a short stroll and a swift Pelforth (medicinal, of course), occasionally even a spot of karaoke… but that’s a story for another time.

Advice: Don’t drink too much beer! Although in the words of Michelin-starred chef, elite athlete, and British Cycling nutritionist Alan Murchison: “Don’t underestimate the psychological benefit of a little of what you like”.

Your fellow RCs:
Mike Axon is the nicest man on the planet.
Paul has a way with a jelly baby at times of distress.
Johnno and Richard will play Abba songs more often than you could imagine possible.
Sinead loves a hill as long as it’s the same one over and over again. And again.
If it’s Cycle to MIPIM then it’s probably Neo’s birthday and he’d love a glass of wine, thanks.
If you spend five minutes with Allan and don’t manage to laugh with him, you’re not human.
Nicola Lovell has her own British Cycling page. Yes, she’s that Nicola Lovell.
Sam McClary is in charge.