News: Pedal Club Lunch (March)

For the March meeting, recently retired from his twenty five year conventional career, Jeremy Ford, now intends to devote his energies to his passion – the promotion of African cycling

NEWS: PEDAL CLUB LUNCH (MARCH)
by Chris Lovibond

For the March meeting Jeremy Ford was both a newly enrolled member and the speaker. We are confident that Jeremy will be a great asset to the club, particularly because he has recently retired from his twenty five year conventional career (marketing of elite legal services) and now intends to devote his energies to his passion – the promotion of African cycling. He has a longstanding involvement with the Qhubeka Charity and Team Africa Rising.

The subject of his talk was the growing success of African cycling. The best known name currently is Biniam Girmay (an Eritrean), the first African to win a European Classic (Gent-Wevelgem, 2022), and various grand tour stages, taking the Green Jersey in last year’s Tour de France. He quoted Girmay as saying ‘I have opened the door’ and this is clearly true. Girmay is by far the best known African rider today, but it seems almost certain that others will have gained prominence by the end of this season.

One surprising factor in the advancement of the African cause has been Covid. When there was no actual racing Zwift scores became an important measure of new talent, and as with all things digital, location is unimportant. In this way a rider in Africa who capable of a high wattage could come to the attention of European team managers.

Members were interested to hear of the progress of Trhas Tesfay, the young Eritrean women’s champion, who has come under Jeremy’s wing. When Trhas was invited to the Club in April 2024, it was Jeremy who brought her along and made sure that communication was possible (no other Pedal Club members spoke Tigrinya!). Trhas benefited from a collection by members on that occasion, particularly useful since she is an asylum seeker.

She now has a pro contract with the WCC Team (controlled and run by the UCI) which has improved her position, but unfortunately her asylum claim is still unresolved. So although there are international events which would welcome her as a competitor, she cannot leave this country because she would probably be denied re-entry. It is hard to understand Home Office thinking in this case.

It may be that Jeremy Ford came to the door of African cycling when it was ready to move, but it is clear that his talented advocacy is having a beneficial effect in getting that door wide open.

The lunch was attended by thirty nine members and guests and was again held at the Civil Service Club.

Chris Lovibond
March 2025.