From Pedals to Principles: The Leadership playbook I found on the road
Introduction – The Road as a Mirror
In ultra-cycling, you strip life down to its bare essentials: a bike, a route, and a will to keep moving forward. There’s no room for pretense out there — the road reflects you back to yourself in the most honest way possible.
What I’ve learned across thousands of kilometers, from the gravel of Rwanda to the endless highways of America, isn’t just about endurance sports. It’s about navigating life and leading others with clarity, resilience, and purpose.
Racing across countries on two wheels might not seem like the boardroom, but the lessons are eerily similar.
1. Show Up — Even when you don’t feel ready
During the TransAm, there were mornings when my legs felt like concrete, the weather was grim, and my mind was screaming for rest. But I got on the bike anyway. Sometimes the first 10 km were rough, but somewhere along the way, the body warmed up, the mind settled, and momentum returned.
Leadership parallel: Waiting for perfect conditions means you’ll never start. Leaders and cyclists alike have to show up on the hard days — because momentum comes from movement, not from waiting.
💡 In life: Even when you’re not “feeling it,” taking the first small step changes everything.
2. Focus on what’s in your control
In the Race Around Rwanda, the route was fixed — 60% gravel, 40% paved — with no shortcuts. The only choice was how to approach it. I learned to manage my pace, gear, and mindset instead of wasting energy wishing for a smoother road.
Leadership parallel: You can’t control market shifts, competitors, or sudden obstacles. But you can control your attitude, preparation, and response. That’s where real influence lies.
💡 In life: The situation might not be what you’d choose, but you can always adjust your strategy and energy.
3. Break it down
Riding from Turin to Nordkapp — 4,500 km in 20 days — wasn’t about one massive push. It was about stacking small wins: the next climb, the next town, the next sunrise.
Leadership parallel: Big goals can paralyze us. Breaking them into achievable steps keeps progress tangible and morale high.
💡 In life: Progress is progress, no matter how small.
4. Choose your mindset
I still remember a “barely rideable gravel” section on the TransAm that turned into hours of pushing my bike. My coach’s advice came back to me: “Don’t fight it. Accept it.” That mental shift turned frustration into focus. Discomfort - space to learn and quiet companion on the road to growth.
Leadership parallel: Setbacks are inevitable. Choosing acceptance over resistance preserves energy for what matters — moving forward.
💡 In life: Frustration can either drain you or deepen you — you get to choose.
5. Keep the purpose bigger than the problem
In every race, there were moments when I asked, “Why am I doing this?” The answer was never about the finish line. It was about exploring my limits, and living the message behind #fortheloveofmovingforward.
Leadership parallel: Purpose fuels perseverance. When personal drive fades, a cause greater than yourself will carry you further than you imagined.
💡 In life: Anchor to the bigger picture. Recognition and approval are nice, but purpose is what really sustains you.
Conclusion – The Leader and the Rider are the same
Ultra-cycling taught me that leadership isn’t just about guiding others — it’s about leading yourself through fatigue, uncertainty, and doubt.
The same principles that get you across a finish line will get you through tough quarters, difficult conversations, and bold initiatives.
Whether on the bike or in the boardroom, the journey isn’t separate from the goal — the process is the goal.
That doesn’t mean I’ve mastered these principles. Far from it. This is simply the road to growth — a reminder that I am, like all of us, a work in progress. The real win is to stay curious, stay humble, and remain a student of life. Every climb, every doubt, every breakthrough is shaping the person we’re becoming. Because the more we move forward, the more we become.
And in motion, we discover who we truly are.
@becoming.in.motion
Keep moving forward. #fortheloveofmovingforward"