Introducing: Jeremy Ford

Welcome to CCC introduces, our series spotlighting the incredible contributors who give their time and energy to Cycling Culture Club.

Few have had such a definitive impact on diversity in cycling like Jeremy. Alongside his Director & Trustee role for the Qhubeka Charity (the charity of the Tour de France) who manufacture bicycles for schoolchildren in Africa, for the last 11 years he has also worked with Team Africa Rising, a non-profit (run by Kimberly Coats and celebrating its 20 year anniversary in 2026) dedicated to developing and showcasing the talent, the stories and the achievements of African cyclists.

Tell us about yourself. What do you love about cycling?

I think I have to start first with my love of the humble bicycle. I grew up in a tiny village on Dartmoor, a remote part of SW England. There was really nothing there to do as a child except ride our bikes. We had an awesome local man who ran a Cycling Touring Club (CTC) club in our village, and every Friday and Sunday 15-30 of us would meet at the same place, and go for bike rides through the rolling hills of Devon. It was freedom, and from the age of five, I have been in the saddle my whole life, probably in around 60 countries now!

I raced mountain bikes, mainly the Downhill discipline seriously till I was about 25, and then worked in a corporate job till retiring recently at 48. Since 2015 I have been involved in two highly impactful non-profits operating in the cycling world across Africa: the Qhubeka Charity, which mobilises young South African school-children to get to school and improve their lives; and Africa Rising Cycling, which helps young African men and women get their shot at professional cycling, and acts at the ‘voice of African cycling’ across the continent and around the world.

I get to see the true joy that cycling can bring, to both schoolchildren, and young adults aspiring to make it in this amazing sport. Pro cyclists are such a brilliant role-model for children, in terms of passion, self-discipline, team work and dedication, and I love to work with them on a daily basis!

What barriers have you faced in cycling?

Personally, not a lot thankfully, but in my role with the two charities I mentioned, many, and frequently. Access to funds, equipment, bicycles, and visas is a constant battle we help young riders face. I am currently negotiating with an African nation’s ambassador here in the UK, for him to call the Italian ambassador, to get a young African a 3-month visa to train with an Italian Continental team. An opportunity any mainland European could simply drive to without a single border control, and this 18 year old rider cannot even get an interview for a visa. My work has taught me that the opportunities you get simply by the luck of your birthplace , are taken for granted by many.

Why were you interested in contributing?

I love the idea of Cycling Culture Club! We all come at cycling from a myriad of directions, backgrounds and languages, and yet are united by this mad sport! I always say that folk are in cycling primarily because they love it, not to make money. That’s a unique thing in the modern world.

If you're comfortable, tell us about your personal experience of diversity in cycling

I can say that, being February 2026 as I write this, and with a Black man recently on the podium of the Tour de France, an African women wearing the yellow jersey for three days in 2025, and over 140 Africans racing in the top three levels of the sport, cycling has changed massively in the last 15 years. We are seeing more Africans now at the top levels, and talking to them, they feel they belong. The bigger challenge is diversity among the main nations in cycling, with no professional riders of ethnic minority heritage in road racing representing the UK, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy and many others.

Your fondest memory on the bike

Oh that is tough, there are so many. I recently had a summertime Alps enduro/DH trip with several old friends from the cycling world, and being on the ski-lift, going up to the 2,500m summit in almost total quiet, surrounded by blue sky and bright green fields, was pretty special. The 80kph+ offroad 1200m descent all the way down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice was pretty awesome too!

Where are from: Dartmoor, Devon (UK)

Where do you live: Islington, London (UK)

Are you part of a Club/team: Am a British Cycling member, and Sport Director (DS) for the BIKE AID Continental Team. For clubs, only on Zwift now: Team Africa Rising and the brilliant Together We Ride (TWR) affinity group.