Hello and welcome to a special one-off edition of the Roadbook part of the

Never Strays Far series of podcasts brought to you an association with chapter 3

with me, Ned Bolting and David Miller. Now this episode is all about one rider and one rider alone.

A man who has made a special contribution to road racing, carving out a distinctive niche

and creating some very special memories. You know who can hear from the day now the two French men playing cat and now for here comes coming

comings catches them napping and Steve comings will power his way to the line here in

moor and take a famous victory for M.T.M. Cecker on Mandela Day.

Over the cold dust on his own, Steve Cummins, unopposed, wins the best way of all.

A Dach de Peiore!

And that was a sufficient lie.

Yeah, there we go.

Yeah, there we go. Steve Cummings, winner of the stage of the Vuelter, two stages of the Tour of France,

the tour of Britain in its entirety and serial breakaway artist whose cold-blooded approach to winning races proved successful in just

about every significant stage race on the calendar.

Well earlier on this afternoon, as I was sitting at my desk in London, I got a message from him, and shortly after that, a phone call.

This is what he had to say. So Steve you and I have been speaking off and on for the last few weeks and I

think it's taking you a while but you've reached a decision that well you tell me what's the decision you've reached.

Yeah I mean I wanted to continue another year or so. I felt pretty physically good.

And then, um, just the opportunity wasn't there to continue and that's, I searched around for opportunities and, um, they kind of dried up so that's it I've got to retire

find a different job. It's as simple as that you know I could say something else but that's the truth so

No fair enough. I appreciate your honesty. I mean what was it was it a matter of you would it have been difficult for you to accept a job with a pro-Conti team or

lower than world tour in your minds did it have to be did you have to continue at the

...