Where would I be without Team Sky?

I’m writing this having just finished an FTP test on the WATTBIKE - the results aren’t great, I’ve clearly been overtraining over the past few months. Now I’m sitting here at Sky, sipping coffee and trying to figure out how I’ve lost so much power?

Things go from bad, to worse. I notice this headline on Sky Sports from the corner of my eye - ‘Sky to bring involvement in cycling to a close after 2019 season’.

How is this possible? It only feels like yesterday that I was standing on the roadside watching Geraint Thomas storm to victory on d’Huez.

I grew up in a cycling family - so I love my bike unconditionally, but we lost touch for a while and I gained a lot of weight. Team Sky rekindled this love and I transformed from ‘Piggo’ to ‘Twiggo’ (90kg to 63kg).

In 2010 I landed a job at Sky News as a Designer, this was the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Sharing breaking news stories with the nation is a hugely rewarding responsibility'; It’s fast-paced, demanding, and a great way to challenge visual communication.

My focus was set on the pursuit for design excellence, my health and wellbeing were ‘spat out the back’. I slowly put on weight - long 12hr night shifts, overtime, and spending days off honing my design craft, instead of cycling.

I started weight lifting in the gym at Sky to blow off steam. By the end of the year, I was 90kg (28.4 BMI). The added size and testosterone didn’t suit me, I wasn’t really myself.

I was only using my bike as a run-around, commuting, etc. But I can remember watching the 2010 Tour of Flanders. Michael Barry spent the entire race controlling the peloton, seeing the blue line on his back made me feel proud to work at Sky (it even inspired me to get off my arse for a few laps of Richmond Park).

This was my first taste of Team Sky’s ‘Inspiration to Participation’ cornerstone.

2012 changed everything. Sir Bradly Wiggins became the first British rider to win the Tour de France and then went on to win Olympic Gold. Brad was in the Sky News Studio the following week for an interview, seeing him there in front of me was mind-blowing.

I began riding every day, taking the long route to work, evening chain-gangs, and club runs on the weekend. Slowly I started to feel like myself again.

2015 - A ‘punchy’ 80kg, and capable of over 2000 watts (now I’d struggle to hit 200 😉)

I wanted to connect my career and passion. With the help of my Creative Director - Simon Buglione (a fellow roadie), I secured a secondment from News into the Sky Cycling team as a Creative.

Team Sky helped reunite me with cycling, It felt like my duty to help deliver Sky’s ambitious objective - to get one million people on a bike in the UK; using our Sky Ride events, and professional cyclists as ‘inspiration to participation’.

The small village that I grew up in only had one ‘proper cyclist’ - my dad, now they are everywhere. Team Sky and British Cycling have transformed the cycling landscape of Great Britain.

I have directed brand spots, films, social content, national press ads, campaigns, and had the honor to work with my cycling heroes. It's been a gas.

Thanks for everything. Froomie, G, let's see the season out in style ;)

Gareth.

(Here are a few films I have made with the team during my career:)