The folks onstage at Rouleur Live smile a lot.  Usually they’re bubbling with life.  The power of cycling.

Here you see Matt Stephens interviewing Katie Archibald (centre) and Emma Finucane.  They’re British track cyclists.

Katie won a gold medal in the Madison event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.  She’s 30.  Emma won a gold medal in the Team Sprint event at the Paris 2024 Olympics and is the current world champion in the individual Sprint event.  She’s 21.

I looked at Katie’s animated face and how she was enjoying her friend Emma.  As they talked, I searched the Internet.  And what I didn’t know about Katie and her partner Rab …

He went into ­cardiac arrest while we were lying in bed.  I tried and tried, and the ­paramedics arrived within minutes, but his heart stopped and they couldn’t bring him back.  Mine stopped with it.

Oh.  My eyebrows rose as I read and kept listening to the folks onstage.

Back on the Internet, Katie said how she’s often been overwhelmed with anxiety on the bike.  And her friend has stayed close:

Emma’s been a big influence on me.  When we were prepping for the Olympics, we both had this three-event target.  She’s very young and very wise.  She convinced me of how good it feels to focus on the ­opportunity and not the threat.

And there, before my eyes, were two fine human beings on display.

***

Rouleur Live ended this afternoon.  During the three days, I realized I wanted to talk to five people associated with the event.

1.  Ed Pickering – the editor of Rouleur magazine. >  “Thank you for the immense contribution you make to cycling.  Rouleur is a marvel”  >  ✓

2.  Hannah Walker – a commentator on the Eurosport TV channel and an interviewer at Rouleur Live  >  “You’re so enthusiastic about cycling.  And you draw forth great words from your guests.”  >  ✓

3.  Lachlan Morton – endurance cyclist, rode 14,200 kilometres around Australia in 30  days  >  “Thank you for inspiring me … not just cycling but in life.”  >  ✓

4.  James Starrt – Rouleur photographer, art director and journalist  >  “Thank you for ‘Art Cycle’.  It broadens the world of cycling far beyond who won the race.”  >  ✓

(“Art Cycle” is an almost monthly feature in the magazine, featuring cycling-oriented painters and paintings.)

5.  Rachel Jary – regular writer of cycling articles in Rouleur   >  “I love your writing.  You bring out the humanity of the people you interview.”  >  ✓

***

✓