Main content

Chris Boardman, cyclist

Chris Boardman, cyclist, businessman and Greater Manchester cycling and walking commissioner, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.

Chris Boardman is an Olympic cyclist, businessman and the Cycling and Walking Commissioner for Greater Manchester.
Both his parents were keen competitive amateur cyclists and they backed Chris as he gradually became interested in the sport as a teenager. He left school at 16, and trained as a carpenter to fund his cycling, and his love of making things has never left him. He met his wife Sally when they were teenagers and she supported him when he took time off work to train and compete.
He became a household name in 1992 at the Olympics in Barcelona, as the first British cyclist to win a gold medal in 72 years. He moved on to road racing and wore the yellow jersey in the Tour de France on three occasions. After retiring from racing, he was instrumental in the success of Team GB cycling at subsequent Olympics, with his focus on how improvements could be made in all aspects of design.
He also launched his own range of bicycles catering for elite and everyday cyclists, and as Greater Manchester's Cycling and Walking commissioner, he is finding ways to help people leave their cars at home.

DISC ONE: Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
DISC TWO: Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen) by Baz Luhrmann
DISC THREE: Hurt Feelings by Flight of the Conchords
DISC FOUR: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) by Simon and Garfunkel
DISC FIVE: Barcelona by Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caball茅
DISC SIX: Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones
DISC SEVEN: Embrace Me, You Child by Carly Simon
DISC EIGHT: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John

BOOK CHOICE: Feersum Endjinn by Iain M. Banks
LUXURY ITEM: Butter
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) by Simon and Garfunkel

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor

Available now

35 minutes

Music Played

  • Electric Light Orchestra

    Mr. Blue Sky

    • Out Of The Blue.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
    • 13.
  • Baz Luhrmann

    Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

    • Now That's What I Call Music 43.
    • Virgin EMI.
    • 1.
  • Flight of the Conchords

    Hurt Feelings

    • I Told You I Was Freaky.
    • Sub Pop Records.
    • 1.
  • Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caball茅

    Barcelona

    • Now 1992.
    • Polydor.
    • 19.
  • Simon & Garfunkel

    The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)

    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.
  • The Rolling Stones

    Sympathy For The Devil

    • Forty Licks.
    • Virgin/ABKCO/Decca.
    • 11.
  • Carly Simon

    Embrace Me You Child

    • No Secrets.
    • Elektra.
    • 6.
  • Elton John

    Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

    • Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.
    • Mercury Records Limited.
    • 4.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Oct 2020 11:00
  • Fri 30 Oct 2020 09:00

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast