GIVING BACK
THE
yellow
bike
MISSION
THE BREITLING TRIATHLON SQUAD PULLED TOGETHER A
TEAM OF SPORTING LEGENDS, A COUPLE OF JOURNALISTS
AND THE BREITLING CEO TO RIDE THE CORONATION DOUBLE
CENTURY LAST NOVEMBER. THEIR MISSION: TO FUND 500
STURDY YELLOW BICYCLES FOR THE QHUBEKA CHARITY.
HERE’S HOW THE ACTION UNFOLDED… BY PA U L IN GPEN
36 | TO U R
D E F R A NC E 2019
’m generally not star-struck.
That probably has to do with
having spent many years in
sports media, and meeting
countless sports stars along the way.
I travelled the world after university
watching live sports events such as
the Tour de France, the IRONMAN
World Championship in Kona and the
Sea Otter Classic Cycling Festival in
California. Miguel Indurain, Missy Giove
and Mark Allen were among the many
champions who I enjoyed meeting in
person. I asked each a million questions
and soaked up every word. I was 20-odd
and embarking on a career in sports
media. I was a pig in shit.
Now, 30 years later, I’m interested in
characters, in the psychological drivers
that lead to incredible performances,
gross misconduct and the behavioural
extremes we witness in sport at all levels.
What made my experience of riding
with the Breitling Triathlon Squad so
deeply rewarding was two-fold. One, I
had spent many years covering the highs
and lows of each member and knew
I