EP9: Steve Cummings: The Master Of The Breakaway And The Col D’Aspin

Old pals Steve Cummings and Bradley Wiggins were once so close that Team Sky bosses had to stop them rooming together. Such was the laughter that there were concerns their performance would be impacted negatively, so it’s no surprise that this raucous episode, where the two-time Tour de France stage winner visits Brad and Graham at Café Aficionado, is packed with hilarious stories from their respective careers.

But Steve was far more than just a prankster and remains one of the all-time great breakaway riders, including a hugely memorable 2016 Tour stage victory up the Pyrenean climb that centres this episode, the Col D’Aspin.
During the episode Steve recalls the huge, 29-rider breakaway that led to his win, how he broke solo with 25km to go, and the emotional moment he realised he’d dropped the legendary Vincenzo Nibali towards the end of the climb, and would likely cross the line 1st.

There are regrets too, like in 2015 when Steve won his first Tour stage. Riding for Africa-based team MTN-Qhuebeka on Mandela Day, the enormity of the achievement impacted him to such a degree that his Tour aspirations fell apart and he was still in dreamland about it two months later.

Brad and Steve also reminisce about the greatest day either had with the British team, when they helped Sir Mark Cavendish with the World Championship - and reveal they once had a mystery pact, which not even the Café Aficionado team can know the details of!

Hit FOLLOW to make sure you never miss an episode and join the Café Aficionado community on social:

⁠⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠ | Strava

Add your favourite cycle café stop to the ⁠Café Aficionado map

Contact us: ⁠[email protected]⁠

CAMS: Café Aficionado is sponsored by CAMS - helping thousands of cyclists get back on the roads. For more information visit the CAMS website https://c-ams.co.uk/sirbradscafe/

APPLIED NUTRITION: Use code SIRBRAD30 for 30% off your next order at Applied Nutrition - fuelled by science, trusted by Champions

Credits:
Presented by⁠ Sir Bradley Wiggins⁠ and Graham Willgoss
Guest: Steve Cummings
Researcher: Luca Unwin
Production Manager: Ross Aitken
Social Video Producer: Rosie Mansfield
YouTube Editor: Théo Stöcklin
Produced and Edited by: Toby Gilles
Executive Producers: Faye Stewart, Ashley Unwin & Dominic de Terville
Recorded at: Outset Studio, London Bridge

Sir Bradley Wiggins' Café Aficionado is an Atomized Studios production