A Scots cyclist who was stranded after three punctures was rescued by a three time world champion.
Willie McColl, 63, has thanked Tour de France legend and cult hero Peter Sagan for stopping to help while out on a training rude in Gran Canaria with fellow pros.
Retired lawyer Willie, who now lists his profession as “unpaid professional cyclist” posted his selfies on Facebook, where he was incredulous at a chance meeting with a cycling legend.
He said Sagan and his mates were gents and more than happy to help.
Willie, from Edinburgh, said: “just a simple 2 hour recovery ride”, but having run out of lifelines ( spare tubes) after puncture number 3, I was dependent on the goodwill of passing cyclists.
“I signalled to a bunch of ‘young kids’, who without hesitation came to my aid, provided a tube and set about getting me going again.
“They seemed very ‘with it’, so I asked the Alpecin guy ( Michael) if he was with the team: ‘Yes, and look there is Peter Sagan.’
“So, there I was, a 63 year old Scot with a team of domestiques assisting me, all pros from three different teams, and possibly the most famous guy in cycling!!
“I expressed huge gratitude- one of them just said simply “we’ve all been there”- very very nice.”
Willie, who is currently on a cycling holiday on the island, added: “I had trouble getting air into a tube. They all mucked in, tried different pumps, and concluded it was a faulty tube. A new tube then appeared, though I’m not sure from whom or who then replaced it for me.”
Willie told us that his new mechanics were “all dead friendly” and “very happy to chat away”.
He described Sagan, who rides for the TotalEnergies team, as “quite bashful”.
Willie reveals on his LinkedIn profile that his new “career” is cycling after many high powered jobs related to his legal training.
He writes: “I am always looking for new and varied opportunities in life. Cycling has become my passion in recent years- best job I’ve had!”
