Ride To Success Cycling Podcast

In this live episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Yanto Barker, founder of Le Col and former professional cyclist, for a raw and unfiltered conversation on what it really takes to build something from nothing. This is not a typical success story. From growing up with adversity to becoming a professional cyclist, to building Le Col into a globally recognised...

The cost of building something great… isn’t what you think. Yanto Critchlow-Barker built Le Col into one of the most recognised brands in cycling. But behind that? Pressure. Fear. Decisions that don’t leave you. And eventually… walking away. This is a conversation about: – What it really takes – What it costs – And whether it’s ever worth it Full episode drops May 11th Watch it on YouTube or liste...

What happens when the dream starts to break you? In this raw and revealing episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with British pro cyclist Tom Portsmouth to explore the hidden mental toll of chasing a professional cycling career in Europe. From racing without a contract to navigating burnout at the peak of his fitness, Tom shares how reinvention, writing, and resi...

In this episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Rainier (aka Avocado Cyclist) — a London-based content creator, cyclist, and brand ambassador — to uncover the story behind his journey. From running a business that pushed him into burnout to finding freedom, confidence, and purpose through cycling, Rainier shares how the bike became more than just a hobby — it...

What does it really mean to walk away from the thing that defined you? In this powerful episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with former WorldTour cyclist Alex Dowsett to explore life beyond the finish line. Over the course of an hour, Alex opens up about: • The emotional complexity of retirement after 12 years at the elite level of cycling • Living — and racing...

In this powerful episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Leszek Sibilski, the visionary behind World Bicycle Day, to explore an extraordinary life shaped by cycling, resilience, education, and global impact. From growing up in Poland during the Cold War to becoming one of the key figures who inspired the United Nations to establish World Bicycle Day, Leszek Si...

In this emotionally rich episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes is joined by Timia Porter, also known as Thee Carbon Queen — a community builder, entrepreneur, and criterium racer who is redefining what it means to lead with purpose in the world of cycling. From serving in the U.S. Air Force to founding Turquoise + Salt, to racing in elite crit circuits, Timia’s journey wea...

Josh Sprague is the Chief Executive Officer and Design Dude at Orange Mud and Seven Clay In this powerful episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with endurance athlete and entrepreneur Josh Sprague, founder of Orange Mud, to explore what 500 endurance races really teach you about business, discipline, and life. From tearing apart a gun holster in his garage to bui...

What happens after you win everything? In this powerful episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Olympic gold medalist Grace Brown to explore life beyond elite cycling — from world champion to entrepreneur, advocate, and future mother. Grace Brown shares the real story behind her transition from professional cycling to launching her sunscreen brand, Sunmotion,...

Donna McConnell, also known as The Iron Empress, joins host Pedro Couto Lopes on the Ride To Success Podcast to share how she transformed her life through cycling — from rapper and journalist to Ironman triathlete, ride leader, and advocate for inclusion in sport. In this deeply personal episode, Donna opens up about discovering endurance sport in her 50s, navigating grief, menopause, and identity...

In this inspiring episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Pinar Pinzuti, one of the most influential voices in cycling advocacy and cycle tourism across Europe. Pinar shares how her passion for daily bike rides evolved into the award-winning Fancy Women Bike Ride, now a global movement that mobilized over 500,000 women in 250 cities. From her work as a EuroVel...

In this episode, Pedro Couto Lopes answers questions from his audience, sharing insights gained from his podcast journey. He discusses the importance of journaling, stepping outside comfort zones, accepting risks, and the evolving definition of success. He reflects on how fatherhood has changed his perspective on cycling and acknowledges the contributions of his podcast guests. The conversation al...

In this episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Dominique Lellek—CMO of Alteos, yoga teacher, and a member of Women in Cycling Germany—for a powerful conversation about redefining success, leadership, and the transformative power of the bike. From climbing the corporate ladder to advocating for inclusion in the cycling industry, Dominique shares how her journe...

In this episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Anna Buchmann, CEO & Co-Founder of NOCA, for one of the most inspiring cycling-entrepreneurship conversations yet. Anna shares how her journey—from learning to ride a bike in her grandfather’s garden to winning a Eurobike Award—shaped her vision for digitalisation, product data management, and the future of cyclin...

In this episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Lara Giusti, Co-Founder and Head Chef of Veloforte, to explore the fascinating intersection of real food, longevity, and sports nutrition. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Veloforte would like to extend a discount code to our listeners RTS20 for 20% off all single time orders. +++++++++++++++++++++++...

In this powerful episode of the Ride to Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Rob Cappucci, Director of Advocacy and Industry Partnerships at SRAM, to dive deep into the role of advocacy investment in shaping the future of cycling. Rob shares how SRAM’s strategy goes far beyond components—it's about trail access, youth empowerment, urban infrastructure, and unlocking cycling’s...

In this powerful episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Julie Cornelius, the visionary founder and Executive Director of World Ride — a nonprofit transforming the lives of women through mountain biking across Nepal, Guatemala, Peru, Lesotho, and Botswana. Julie shares how a single trip turned into a global mission, how fear can become a catalyst for freedom,...

Is women’s cycling being held back by those meant to protect it? In this powerful episode of the Ride to Success podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Jack Lindsay, ex- Advisory Board Member of The Cyclists’ Alliance (TCA) and co-founder of HOSKING Bikes—to expose the deep-rooted inequities that still plague women in cycling. Jack pulls no punches as he discusses: • The broken sponsorship...

In this episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Angela Craft Williams, Vice President of Talent and Inclusion at SRAM, to explore how one woman is reshaping the culture of cycling from the inside out. Angela shares deeply personal experiences — from confronting racial bias as a student to empowering the next generation of women engineers and leaders of color i...

In this episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Kenneth Vinson, founder of All Clubs LA, to explore how one man’s ride became a nationwide movement for representation in cycling. From his personal journey into the sport to the creation of a thriving, Black-led cycling community, Ken shares how All Clubs LA is bridging cultures, inspiring underrepresented rider...

In this episode of the Ride to Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Karen Gee, founder of Cycle Sprog — the UK’s leading family cycling platform inspiring parents and kids to ride together. Karen shares the incredible story of how a simple idea, born out of frustration at the lack of reliable information for parents, grew into a trusted national resource that’s helped thousands o...

R.I.D.E. — Julian Hall: Redefining Success Through Resilience Reflect. Interpret. Distill. Expand. In this R.I.D.E. episode, we unpack the emotional depth and life-changing insights from our full conversation with Julian Hall , trauma therapist, founder of Calm People, and expert in emotional resilience. Written by Pedro Couto Lopes and brought to life by AI, this short-form reflection explores wh...

Julian Hall | Emotional Resilience Expert, Therapist & Author When success comes at the cost of your peace, what does it really mean to “win”? In this powerful episode of Ride To Success, emotional resilience expert Julian Hall opens up about his journey through stage 4 cancer and how it redefined his understanding of success, masculinity, and mental health. Julian, a trauma therapist and foun...

R.I.D.E. — Marco Sonderegger: Designing the Future of How We Ride Reflect. Interpret. Distill. Expand. In this R.I.D.E. episode, we break down the key ideas and bold insights from our full-length conversation with Marco Sonderegger , Director of Turbo Product Experience at Specialized Bicycle Components. Written by Pedro Couto Lopes and brought to life by AI, this short-form reflection explores ho...

R.I.D.E. — Jon Dutton OBE: Leading British Cycling Through Crisis Reflect. Interpret. Distill. Expand. In this R.I.D.E. episode, we unpack the most powerful lessons from our full-length conversation with Jon Dutton OBE , Chief Executive of British Cycling. Written by Pedro Couto Lopes and brought to life by AI, this short-form reflection explores what it truly means to lead under pressure and how...