Southampton Cycling Night: Charly Wegelius' stories from the sharp end of the Tour de France, with Jeremy Whittle

Charly Wegelius has spent 20 years at the sharp end of professional cycling.

His 12-year career as one of the unsung team riding cycling's Grand Tours was captured in his gritty and acclaimed book 'Domestique: the Real-Life Ups and Downs of a Tour pro'. Now, with the EF Education First team, Charly is one of the most experienced directeur sportifs in the sport, steering his riders  to Tour de France stage wins and victories in many other major races. 

Charly's dry humour, sharp insights and vast experience, both on the bike and from the team car, make him one of the most engaging talkers in professional cycling - and we are delighted that he is our latest Cycling Nights guest at The Attic in Totton. 

In conversation with Jeremy Whittle - Guardian Tour de France correspondent, host of the Radio Cycling podcast, and himself author of many acclaimed books on pro cycling - Charly will be sharing stories and insights from his 20 years in the sport, as well as reviewing the 2023 season - and looking ahead to the Grand Tours of 2024.

Charly rode 15 Grand Tours, including three Tours de France, four Vuelta a Espanas and every Giro d'Italia between 2003 and 2010. On his Tour de France debut in 2007, he was - in 45th place - the highest-placed British rider. As he recalls in his memoir: "I was in demand from the world’s best teams, a well-paid elite athlete. But I never won a race. I was the hired help. I learned to take that hurt and give it everything I had to give, all for someone else’s win. There were times I rode myself to a standstill, clutching the barrier metres from the line, as the lead group shot past. But that’s what made me a so good at my job."

There will be a chance to ask your own questions.

The Attic is a lovely, intimate venue, usually home to comedy and music nights. It is five minutes' walk from Totton station - next to the New Forest, four miles out of Southampton city centre and 15 miles from Winchester. Our first Nights at the Attic, with Carlton Kirby and Matt Rendell, were great successes, very enthusiastically received, and we are excited to return with another great guest!

Tickets are strictly limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. The first 50 tickets are £14, including booking fees. We also have a limited number of copies of Charly's classic 2013 book, 'Domestique' for sale in a special ticket-and-book bundle price of £26 (Book RRP is £14.99).