James McCallum (cyclist)

Born in Bellshill,^[4] McCallum worked night shifts, as a nurse, between racing and training until 2007.^[5] He became the Scottish Cycling Coordinator that year, combining the job with his racing and training, working to promote cycling in Scotland.^[6] McCallum's grandfather was a cyclist before him, but McCallum dabbled in many sports before settling on cycling. At one point he was a gymnast.^[7]

In 2011, McCallum joined the Champions in Schools project that helps to inspire Scotland's youth to follow a pathway to good health and sport, and set up his own coaching consultancy – Mach 10 Training Systems. Among the riders he has coached is two-time British National Circuit Race Championships winner Eileen Roe.^[8]

McCallum left Rapha Condor–JLT at the end of the 2013 season, and joined the NFTO squad for 2014.^[3] McCallum announced that he would be retiring from the sport after competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.^[9] After retiring from racing he became directeur sportif and general manager of the Neon Velo cycling team in 2015.^[10] In August 2015 he announced that he was joining ONE Pro Cycling as a coach and directeur sportif with immediate effect.^[11]

In 2016, McCallum broke Mark Beaumont's record for riding the North Coast 500, a 516-mile (830-kilometre) tourist route circumnavigating the top of Scotland, completing the distance in under 31 hours,^[12] with 28 hours 57 minutes spent in the saddle.^[13] The ride raised funds for Thrombosis UK in memory of his sister-in-law, Charlene Doolan. In the same year, he set up What's Your Meta – a performance clinic for athletes – and in 2020, he set up The Cycling Academy, a development team for young Scottish riders.^[14]

Source:^[15]