The Brompton World Championships 2026

The Brompton World Championships 2026 took place on Saturday and… well, you will have to read the rest to find out.

I set off bright and early and cycled all the way to the start at the Olympic Park in East London. Wearing my MCC tie, socks and a version of the blazer that is better than the other one I have - which is wool and therefore far too hot, I certainly stood out, even in early-morning London. Ironically, I passed through my old stomping ground of NW8, where a few people enquired whether I was going to a cricket match. As I travelled further east, the reactions became increasingly obvious. There was pointing, tittering, laughing and a few looks of shock.

This did not bother me. In fact, I hoped for a similar reaction among my fellow competitors when racing, as it might provide just the edge I needed.

Arriving at the Olympic Park, I saw a few familiar faces: Jenny, Sam, Neil from Sheffield and my partner in crime, Andrew. It had been a while since we had seen each other, and I needed to give him a hug.

Andrew waited in line with me (despite having already registered) as I waited to do the same. As always, it was as if we had only seen each other the other day as we caught up on things. There at the registration table was none other than Chris, with her usual beaming smile. Registration was over in seconds, and we made our way over to view the track.

The one and only

It was not too long before the qualifying heats started, which I watched with interest. Participants had the opportunity to ride a small loop of the track before folding their bikes and walking about 50 metres away for the Le Mans start. After a quick briefing, they were off. Some made fantastic starts, while others were woefully slow. The pace at the front looked fierce, but everyone was given a wonderful response, regardless of where they were positioned.

My heat arrived, and I took my Brompton onto the track. With the same routine as before, I waited for the start. In my mind, I did think it ungentlemanly to run, but this was a sporting event, and I am an international world-class athlete, so I just let that slide. The countdown was given and we were off, to the shouts of some very enthusiastic Brompton staff members.

All went well, but on the second set of hinge clamps I twiddled in the opposite direction and actually started loosening them considerably! Correcting myself, I got on my Brompton and pedalled.

The track was good. Really good. It was wide enough to accommodate the riders, with an excellent surface for smooth riding. It also had a few uphill sections - nothing terribly steep but demanding enough to keep one occupied. I got about 100 metres down the track before my head overrode my heart in terms of the pace I was going at. I knew that my knee would thank me if I did not push too hard, so I cycled at a fast enough pace to keep my doctor and, more importantly, Mrs Orange happy.

In fact, my wonderful boss had also told me th
at I was not to injure myself when I explained what I was up to over the weekend.

I cycled as hard as I dared and managed not to get lapped by the race leader (I think) completing the five laps needed to register a time. There was not really any need for me to look at the digitally displayed leaderboard, however. This was not really the point. Simply put, this race was wonderful. The weather, the track, the surroundings and the lovely spectators who shouted out encouragement all added to the occasion. There was not the random spectator who had simply stumbled across the BWC taking place, as there had been at the event near King’s Cross, but this did not happen at Blenheim or Goodwood either.

Andrew was up next, and he raced around solidly in what looked like a quick heat. As always, many shouted out “Bumblebee” as he cycled around, and I am sure he loved it too.

After this, we decided to head to a Wetherspoons for some food, but this involved a short cycle and walk to Stratford town centre. Heading towards us in the opposite direction were hundreds of West Ham fans on their way to see their team play at their now-home ground nearby. I expected the worst but was quite surprised.

There were some smiles, stares and pointing, but the real surprise was the look on many of their faces. It was one of unease, mistrust and bewilderment. I am convinced that Andrew, as he had done on the track, was slipstreaming me at times, meaning the fans would see me first! We adopted a side-by-side approach and the looks of bewilderment resumed.

Suitably refreshed, we headed back to get lots of photos of the old crowd together. This was lovely. I saw Mark, ‘King of the Hill’ who looked fast in his heat and made it to the final. It was good to catch up, and it had been far too long. I also saw Susan, another of the original Brompton group, who had not seen either myself or Andrew since the BWC back in Pall Mall. At that event we had a phot taken together. She had gone through the loss of her beloved partner not too long after this, and another photo of us together for this event, brought back lots of memories for her. I also saw Brian, Eben and Hannah and her partner from the brilliant, Brilliant Bikes - best Brompton dealer!

We were allowed onto the track for a parade lap, so lots of us headed over and did a few laps without the pressure of racing. After maybe four - or was it five? - laps, I exited stage left and headed for home. Cycling all the way back, I encountered perhaps even more reactions than I had first thing in the morning.

Chris, always smiling

Colder weather is not too far away, I suspect, and my G Line will take the lion’s share of the grey, wet and colder months. I hope to cycle a little more over the next twelve months and, although my racing days are over, I would still very much look forward to doing this all again. This was a wonderful event. Sadly, there were no medals, but in your race pack there was a little aluminium plate that resembled the ones all Brompton bikes have, with “BWC 2026” on it and I was very grateful. 

Of course, I did not win the BWC. I had joked that I did not get into the final because a gust of strong wind caught my Brompton and almost blew me over. I might also have said that my hopes of reaching the final were dashed when I stopped to remove a thorn from the paw of a Labrador puppy that had strayed onto the track. It was lovely to catch up with so many friends and meet people who shared the passion for all things Brompton. It really was a community event and had such a positive vibe to it all. The Brompton staff were wonderful, and I really hope that this becomes another annual event next year and that this location is chosen again.

My final comment would simply be that this event showcased not only how great these little folding bicycles are, but also how strong bonds of friendship can come about through owning one…or maybe more than one!

Until next time, stay safe out there, people.