News: Pedal Club February Lunch Report

At the February Pedal Club get together, Cormac Nisbet explained why he retired from the pro cycling world at just 20 years of age and legend Keith Butler’s sister signed his golden book

NEWS: PEDAL CLUB FEBRUARY LUNCH REPORT
by Chris Lovibond

Cormac Nisbet is not a professional cyclist…and that, surprisingly, was the main point of interest when he spoke at the Pedal Club’s February lunch.

However, Cormac has had a pro career, but has taken early retirement – at the age of twenty. He explained to the club that living that particular dream turned out to be less desirable in reality than it had seemed beforehand.

Cormac started his cycling life at the age of ten when his Dad, found a new enthusiasm for the sport. The younger Nisbet rapidly showed a talent, tackling Alpine and Pyrenean climbs (recreationally) at this early age. Back home and riding at Minet Park, he came under the wing of Ray Kelly who put him on the road to success as a schoolboy with the Willesden CC.

As a junior he moved to the more race oriented Welwyn Wheelers where he rode mostly on the track. However, up to 2020 he was also active as a runner but the arrival of Covid caused him to favour cycling.

By 2022 (aged seventeen) he was racing on the continent as a member of the AG2R development team. He did not find it easy to fit in with this francophone outfit and to be realistic, there can be very few British teenagers whose French would be good enough to cope with a big step like this. He had a painful crash in the Junior Liege – Bastogne – Liege and although no bones were broken was off his bike for a couple of weeks.

Although his team mates and D.S. were supportive, it was disappointing that the team management seemed only to be interested in him when he could go back to racing.

This team clearly wasn’t working out for him and he returned to England and for the 2023 season raced with the Zappi team. With them he achieved a stage win and third overall in the Junior Tour of Wales and then the second place in the prestigious Trofeo Buffoni (juniors).

These results were good enough to get him a place with the Soudal Quickstep development team, a Flemish speaking outfit where English is widely understood and used which made Cormac more comfortable.

Unfortunately, he began to find that to ride as a young pro now requires an obsessive single- mindedness which he did not possess. It seems that this is a feature of the professional cyclist’s life which did not exist in the past, and for some one who had actually enjoyed racing previously, it took all the fun out of the sport.

Then there is the question of actual danger – as mentioned Cormac had been injured during the 2022 season but so far had escaped permanent damage. There have been a worrying number of fatalities recently and it does appear that, for some reason, road racing has become more dangerous.

Putting these thoughts together, and with a good career offer outside the sport, Cormac has decided to withdraw from professional cycling. Triathlon beckons and we wish him well with his new career.

KEITH BUTLER’S GOLDEN BOOK
A significant event at this meeting was the signing of the late Keith Butler’s Golden Book page. His sister, Valerie Taylor (pictured), who now lives in Switzerland, came to the meeting to sign on her brother’s behalf.

Keith (1938-2019) is probably now best remembered for his excellent work in founding the Surrey League (still running), but he did have an excellent career as a rider. From 1964 – 66 he rode for continental teams, scoring 11 victories in Belgium and winning the British pro championship in 1964. He also rode for British teams in 1967 and 68. He made a significant contribution to Tom Simpson’s 1965 World Championship victory.

A new member was enrolled and presented with his badge. This was Les Baillon, who was born in Kenya but has been a British resident since 1989. He was active in road and track racing in South Africa in the seventies and eighties and won a number of Natal Province championships. He is still an active recreational rider; we hope he will enjoy his time with the Pedal Club.

The meeting was again held at the Civil Service Club and was attended by forty members and guests
Chris Lovibond | February 2025.