What happens when the dream starts to break you?

In this raw and revealing episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with British pro cyclist Tom Portsmouth to explore the hidden mental toll of chasing a professional cycling career in Europe. From racing without a contract to navigating burnout at the peak of his fitness, Tom shares how reinvention, writing, and resilience brought him back from the edge.

Expect a deep dive into the strategies he used to stay visible in a system that often overlooks young talent, his candid reflections on identity, ego, and why sometimes the strongest move is letting go.

Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or someone looking for inspiration in your own journey, this conversation will move you.

🎙️ Ride To Success is your go-to podcast for entrepreneurial stories in cycling.

Ride To Success is the global voice of changemakers, blending stories of leadership, innovation, and human transformation powered by the bike.

👉 Make sure to follow and rate the podcast wherever you listen to it!

👉 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Social Links to Ride to Success:

Follow Pedro Couto Lopes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-couto-lopes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ridetosuccess/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ridetosuccess/

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Thanks for listening

In this episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with Rainier (aka Avocado Cyclist) — a London-based content creator, cyclist, and brand ambassador — to uncover the story behind his journey.

From running a business that pushed him into burnout to finding freedom, confidence, and purpose through cycling, Rainier shares how the bike became more than just a hobby — it became his escape, his therapy, and ultimately his purpose.

They dive into:

• How Rainier (Avocado Cyclist) discovered cycling and why it changed his life

• The mental health impact of cycling and overcoming burnout

• Building a cycling community rooted in inclusivity and culture

• His journey into content creation and working with cycling brands

• Why cycling should be accessible to everyone — regardless of background or ability

• His mission to bring awareness to the Asian cycling community

This conversation is a powerful reminder that success isn’t always about numbers — sometimes it’s about rediscovering who you are.

“I lost who I was in a way… it made me refind myself in a way of who I really am.”

If you’re passionate about cycling, entrepreneurship, creativity, or personal growth, this episode will inspire you to rethink what success really means.

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🎙️ Ride To Success is your go-to podcast for entrepreneurial stories in cycling.

Ride To Success is the global voice of changemakers, blending stories of leadership, innovation, and human transformation powered by the bike.

👉 Make sure to follow and rate the podcast wherever you listen to it!

👉 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Social Links to Ride to Success:

Follow Pedro Couto Lopes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-couto-lopes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ridetosuccess/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ridetosuccess/

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Thanks for listening

What does it really mean to walk away from the thing that defined you?

In this powerful episode of the Ride To Success Podcast, host Pedro Couto Lopes sits down with former WorldTour cyclist Alex Dowsett to explore life beyond the finish line.

Over the course of an hour, Alex opens up about:

• The emotional complexity of retirement after 12 years at the elite level of cycling

• Living — and racing — with severe haemophilia A, and how it shaped his mindset

• Becoming a father and what it means to raise daughters in a world where pain and resilience intersect

• The internal battles with performance pressure, identity loss, and the fear of letting go

• Founding his new company, Stride, and how he's translating everything cycling taught him into a platform to help others perform

• The difference between chasing medals... and chasing meaning

You’ll also hear Alex reflect on the one victory that brought him to tears, how the Hour Record almost broke him, and why bikes gave him something nothing else could — but also took more than he ever expected.

This is not just a cycling conversation. It’s a story of reinvention, emotional honesty, and the difficult beauty of transitioning from high performance to higher purpose.

🎙️ Ride To Success is your go-to podcast for entrepreneurial stories in cycling. We are the global voice of changemakers, blending leadership, innovation, and human transformation — all powered by the bike.

👉 Make sure to follow and rate the podcast wherever you listen!

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the podcast:

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Social Links to Ride to Success:

Follow Pedro Couto Lopes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedro-couto-lopes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ridetosuccess/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ridetosuccess/

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Thanks for listening