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Pete Tong says cycling is his 'antidote' to DJ life

James DunnSports Reporter, BBC South East, London
News imageBBC Pete Tong, riding in Richmond Park, says cycling has been the "antidote" to the late nights and constant travelling of life as an international DJ BBC
Pete Tong, riding in Richmond Park, says cycling has been the "antidote" to the late nights and constant travelling of life as an international DJ

Pete Tong has described cycling as the "antidote" to the late nights and constant travel that have defined his career as one of the world's best-known DJs.

The broadcaster and music producer, who now combines club appearances with cycling events, said riding a bike had become the "mental ying to the yang" of life on the international music circuit.

Tong, who grew up in Hartley near Sevenoaks, said cycling first gave him a sense of independence as a teenager before he rediscovered the sport while living in London.

"I've used it as an antidote to the late nights and constant travelling," the 66-year-old said.

News imagePete Tong' mixing music with one hand in the air and a hige screen with his name on it behind him
Pete Tong's been a DJ for around half a century and says cycling has always offered balance to the lifestyle

Riding a bike offered him "independence" growing up in rural Kent, he said.

But he swapped a bike for a transit van while trying to make it as a DJ, moving to Gravesend, then reconnected with it while living in London.

He said: "I started flying around Wimbledon as a fitness thing and it just reminded me, almost on a cellular level, that me on a bike, being outside, something happens that's magical."

He said many more DJs are "fanatical" about cycling too, naming Benny Benassi, Tall Pall, MJ Cole, DJ Spoony and Tom Rowlands from the Chemical Brothers.

News imageLeBlanq Pete Tong cycling with Taylor Phinney, a former World Tour rider, during a trip with LeBlanq Tours, which offers luxury cycling trips all over the world, which started with IbizaLeBlanq
Pete Tong cycled with former World Tour rider Taylor Phinney during a trip in Ibiza

Five years ago, he became a partner in LeBlanq, which ran its first high-end cycling tour in Ibiza but now operates all over the world.

Founder Justin Clarke said he noticed a shift from golf to cycling and wanted to offer cycling that "doesn't have to be about suffering".

Tour de France sprint champions including Mark Cavendish, Wout Van Aert, and Peter Sagan have joined their rides over the years.

Tong described meeting Tour de France stage win record-holder Cavendish as "a bucket list moment".

He added: "He told me that, back in the Isle of Man, training, he would listen to my show.

"He basically stayed in the DJ booth the whole time, putting in requests, getting euphoric, and I think we reduced him to tears by the end of it."

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