James McCallum (born 27 April 1979 in Uddingston/Bellshill, Glasgow)[2] is a Scottish former racing cyclist who last rode for the NFTO Pro Cycling squad.[3] He represented Scotland in the Team Pursuit, Points & Scratch Races at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and again in 2006 in Melbourne in the Scratch, Points & Road Races, winning a bronze medal in the Scratch race.[4]
Until 2007, between racing and training, McCallum worked night shifts as a nurse.[5] He is currently the Scottish Cycling Coordinator, 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]
He recently joined the Champions in Schools project that helps to inspire Scotland's youth to follow a pathway to good health and sport.
McCallum now runs his own coaching consultancy - Mach 10 training systems. Among the riders he has coached is British National Circuit Race Champion Eileen Roe.[8]
McCallum left Rapha Condor–JLT at the end of the 2013 season, and joined the NFTO Pro Cycling 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 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.
Palmarès
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