Cyclist Magazine Podcast

147. David Millar: The Christmas special (sort of)

Cyclist Magazine Podcast

Show Notes

In this week's episode, Will and James are joined by David Millar, a man who needs no introduction, but just in case: David's career in cycling spans decorated rider (he was the first Brit to wear all three Grand Tour jerseys) to fallen hero (he admitted to, and was suspended for two years for doping in 2004) to risen phoenix (he returned to the pro peloton as an outspoken 'clean' rider and raced successfully until 2014) to writer, broadcaster and commentator (up until this summer he was 'the voice' of ITV cycling along with co-commentator Ned Boulting) to business owner (with clothing brand Chpt III) to brand director at Factor bikes (finally nothing more to write in brackets).

Here, David chats about turning pro back in the 1990s and those difficult earlier years; the devastation of ITV losing its TV coverage and him his job; his new life at Factor bikes and the science behind Factor's new superbike, the Factor One; Factor parting ways with Israel-Premier Tech for political reasons; what it's like having your sister, Fran, as CEO of Rapha; whether he's duty-bound to ride the Rapha Festive 500; and his general and utter love for cycling.

Merry Christmas, and thanks for listening for a whole year (or just reading this bit, possibly never having listened at all).

Interview begins at 11.34

This episode is brought to you by the Hammerhead Karoo GPS bike computer. Visit hammerhead.io and use the code CYCLIST to get a free HR strap with every purchase (just be sure to add the strap to your cart then apply the code at checkout).

------------------

This episode is also brought to you by Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride, am epic, four day, 250-mile trip around Belgium and Northern France that raises money for Armed Forces veterans and their families. See helpforheroes.org.uk for more

Did you know Cyclist is also stunning monthly print magazine? Subscribe now at store.cyclist.co.uk/cycpod and get every issue for less than in the shops, delivered straight to your door. And it's also a rather lovely website about everything road cycling and gravel. Check us out at cyclist.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Cyclist Magazine Podcast

Oct 15, 2026

This week, James is joined by Quoc Pham, founder and designer of the eponymous cycling shoe brand. Before cycling, Quoc worked in fashion, running his own label, but turned his attention to making shoes in that classic way people do when they turn inventor: he found himself commuting around London in shoes that just weren’t up to it, they were either functionally great but ugly, or nice looking but out of their depth in toeclips on a fixie – so he set about making his own. His first, a beautiful leather shoe with smooth, contoured sole called the Fixed, quickly developed a cult following in the Eroica scene, and fast forward 17 years Quoc has expanded into road and gravel, even sponsoring Geraint Thomas along the way.

Oct 1, 2026

This week James is joined Sir Chris Hoy, who if you haven’t heard of him was a pretty good cyclist in his day. Chris won six Olympic gold medals and one silver on the track, spanning four Olympic Games including that incredible week at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Chris won golds in the Team Sprint, Individual Sprint and Keirin as Team GB notched up a staggering 14 cycling medals, cementing Britain as a cycling powerhouse and putting cycling into the mainstream in the process.

Sep 17, 2026

This week, Will (and a bit of James, but mostly Will), is joined by recording-breaking ultra-cyclists and wife and husband, Amy Hudson and Kyle Hudson. The pair have just completed the fastest ever round-the-World cycle for a couple, pedalling nearly 30,000km around the globe in just 123 days with no outside support. A whole 82 days faster than the previous record and 27 days faster than their initial target.

Sep 3, 2026

This week, James is joined by the bicycle polymath himself, Phil Cavell. Cyclist, bike fitter, author, writer, speaker, racer, shop owner, bike designer, wrench and generally very clever bloke, Phil, together with friend and long-term business partner, Julian Walls, helped pioneer bike fitting back in the early 2000s, opening Europe’s first dedicated bike fit studio, Cyclefit, in London on 2003.

Aug 20, 2026

This week, James and Will are joined by journalist, author and cyclist, James Witts. James writes for a host of prestigious titles including the most prestigious of them all, Cyclist magazine, along with The Guardian, GQ, Rouleur and Men’s Health to name but four more. James also edits the annual official Tour de France guide and has penned four books including his most recent, Dope, which explores the doping landscape of sport, from opium and the Ancient Greeks to modern athletes and micro-dosing EPO.

See all episodes →