Hidden behind helmets and sunglasses, professional cyclists are often faceless when they are on their way to winning the world's biggest bike races. Have you ever wondered who they really are? The stories and people within cycling are the sport's real asset. As bike racing grows each year, the gap between the riders and fans is getting bigger – Beyond the Bike is here to close that circle. There's a lot more to know about professional bike riders than you might think.
The first episode of the new series featured the 2023 Tour de France Femmes winner Demi Vollering, and in episode two of Beyond the Bike, Tao Geoghegan Hart is an honest and insightful interviewee, giving a unique viewpoint of the transient lifestyle of a professional athlete. While he is a former Grand Tour winner, Tao is also much more than that, with a deep understanding and appreciation of the his sport and the world around him, as well as what could be done to make it better.
In the episode, the Lidl-Trek rider talks about growing up in London and maintaining a deep connection to the city and his roots. He also discusses maintaining balance and perspective while living life as a professional athlete and the challenges that come with this. Tao has a vision for a different future in cycling, working from the grassroots upwards, something that he plans to work on as his career progresses.