Born and raised in Edinburgh, the track cyclist has six gold and one silver Olympic medals under his belt, as well as 11 world titles. Following his retirement from the sport, he is a sporting commentator and pundit. He lives in Cheshire with his wife, Sa
I raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016, in the LMP2 category, and still have the helmet I wore. The cockpits of those cars are so claustrophobic and tight; your feet are higher than your hips and your helmet is practically touching the top of the roof. As you jump in and out, you’re always scratching the helmet, so it has all the marks from the testing and the race itself. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be part of Le Mans, as it’s such a historic and unique race. This year was the centenary edition, which I watched on television, and it was amazing. Whether you’re a driver or a fan, everyone has their own special story and reason for being at Le Mans.
I have ridden many bikes, but the Type 136 is a revolutionary new road bike from Lotus. It provides a unique riding experience, with the lightest e-bike motor system and dual-purpose functionality. It is also beautiful to look at. I was inspired by watching Chris Boardman winning the Olympic gold medal in 1992 in Barcelona on the Type 108. I was on an island off the west coast of France at the time, listening to it, and, afterwards, I went out on my mountain bike and rode around the island. Lotus is a brand I’ve always had a soft spot for and the Type 136 is a dream to ride, continuing the extraordinary legacy of Lotus and cycling (www.lotuscars.com/en-gb/type-136).
I’m really into low and slow cooking and lockdown magnified my passion for it. I love beef brisket or pork shoulder. This Traeger Timberline XL grill has a separate induction hob and lots of space for cooking; it’s also controllable by smart phone and even has a wireless probe for checking the temperature. It’s so easy and such fun to use. I don’t like getting up in the morning much, but I will get up at 5am to put the brisket on, then, 12 hours later, it’s ready. I have a wagyu brisket coming soon, which I’m really excited for. I love the planning, the preparation of the meat, checking the temperature throughout the day and eating with friends. £3,699 (www.thebbqshop.co.uk).