Pedal Club Lunch, October 2025

The Pedal Club always strives to find interesting and prominent speakers and October’s

guest was of the highest quality – Mark Cavendish.

His invitation was based on the need for a signature on his Golden Book page, but we

hoped we would learn more about the man and his career; we were not disappointed. After

an introduction by Phil Liggett, Mark gave a brief acceptance speech: he made it clear that

he was well aware of the significance of the Golden Book, which has been signed by all

the greats of British cycling since the nineteen thirties. His understanding of cycling history

was also emphasised by his comment – ‘I always loved the club system, which was my

start. Now it’s not doing so well, I wish we could do something to help it.’ We learned more

from the later question and answer session.

On the pro scene, he told us that there is worry in some quarters that team budgets are

unsustainably high, risking the possibility of a collapse. Perhaps following on from this

point, he feels that pro cycling is becoming disconnected from the rest of the cycling world.

It was once the pinnacle; now it seems to have become a thing apart. As for signing pro

contracts at sixteen, he believes this is too young and that some sort of apprenticeship

scheme should be available. He told us that his own son already thinks, incorrectly, that he

is a pro cyclist!

The UCI, he said, is easy to criticise, but he is sympathetic to many of the technical

restrictions the organisation imposes, for example handlebar width regulation. There is

pressure from those who want to popularise new products, but while technical advance

may have benefits, it should not affect the attractiveness of the sport, particularly in

respect of safety.

Of himself he said that originally he wasn’t interested in fame, just wanting to ride and

race. He recognised his good luck in having enjoyed a great career which had allowed him

to meet a wide range of interesting people. Asked for his best career moment he replied:

‘Retiring, and taking the computer off my bike.’

It was clear that Mark was aware that his experiences had developed him as a person,

and after hearing him it is easy to believe that, while some of his early press coverage was

not always flattering, the mature Mark Cavendish will be an excellent ambassador for

cycling.

Unsurprisingly, this meeting attracted more would be attenders than the dining room at the

Civil Service Club has room to hold, so the number was the maximum possible: sixty five.

Chris Lovibond,

October 2025.