Andy Murray reveals he has turned to cycling during lockdown
The tennis star has been taking on the famous Box Hill when riding out from his home in Surrey
Andy Murray has added his name to the list of celebrities to enjoy cycling during coronavirus lockdown.
The Scottish tennis star has revealed he has been taking on the iconic Box Hill climb over the last few months.
In his column for BBC Sport, Wimbledon winner Murray said he started riding to stay fit but has also been trying to best his own times and comparing his efforts with friends on GPS tracking apps.
The 33-year-old said: “Like most people during the lockdown period, I discovered an interest that I'd never really tried before - road cycling.
“It was a great way to help build my fitness and I enjoyed it, so my wife bought me a bike for my birthday.”
Murray said he has been taking on 60 to 90 minute loops near his home in Surrey, including Box Hill in his rides.
Box Hill, the most popular Strava segment in the world, featured in the London 2012 Olympic road race and features in the RideLondon sportive and pro race every year.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
On his newfound love of cycling, Murray said: “It is a nice way to compete against yourself and give you something to aim for. With the tracking apps you can also keep an eye on what your friends are doing too; it's often a good source of banter.”
This year we’ve seen a host of celebrities share their love of the bike, including former Top Gear host James May.
The 57-year-old urged the government to scrap the controversial HS2 rail network and instead spend the money on cycling.
Earlier this month, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor needed a trip to A&E after she crash while cycling along the Thames.
The 41-year-old, who lives in west London, was riding along the tow-path by the river when she came off her bike.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Forget distance covered, these are the key stats to note in your Strava Year in Sport
We asked a coach how to best analyse our end of year Strava data
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'She should show a bit more respect' - Lotte Kopecky responds to Demi Vollering comments
The pair seemingly had one last fractious year together at SD Worx-Protime in 2024
By Tom Davidson Published