James McCallum

James McCallum (born 27 April 1979) is a Scottish multi-discipline racing cyclist, directeur sportif and coach. The winner of the 2007 British National Circuit Race Championships, McCallum also represented Scotland at four Commonwealth Games between 2002 and 2014, winning a bronze medal in the scratch race at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Career Born in Bellshill, McCallum worked night shifts, as a nurse, between racing and training until 2007. He became the Scottish Cycling Coordinator that year, combining the job with his racing and training, working to promote cycling in Scotland. McCallum's grandfather was a cyclist before him, but McCallum dabbled in many sports before settling on cycling. At one point he was a gymnast.

In 2011, McCallum joined the Champions in Schools project that helps to inspire Scotland's youth to follow a pathway to good health and sport, and set up his own coaching consultancy – Mach 10 Training Systems. Among the riders he has coached is two-time British National Circuit Race Championships winner Eileen Roe.

McCallum left at the end of the 2013 season, and joined the squad for 2014. After retiring from racing he became directeur sportif and general manager of the Neon Velo cycling team in 2015. In August 2015 he announced that he was joining as a coach and directeur sportif with immediate effect.

In 2016, McCallum broke Mark Beaumont's record for riding the North Coast 500, a tourist route circumnavigating the top of Scotland, completing the distance in under 31 hours, with 28 hours 57 minutes spent in the saddle. The ride raised funds for Thrombosis UK in memory of his sister-in-law, Charlene Doolan. In the same year, he set up What's Your Meta – a performance clinic for athletes – and in 2020, he set up The Cycling Academy, a development team for young Scottish riders.

Major results Source:

2001 1st Kilo, Scottish Track Championships 3rd Team pursuit, National Track Championships (with Richard Chapman, David Lowe & Ross Muir) 2004 2nd Omnium, National Track Championships 2006

2007

1st Smithfield Nocturne 2nd Derny, National Track Championships 3rd Circuit race, Scottish Road Championships 2009

2011 2nd Smithfield Nocturne 2012 1st Road race, Scottish Road Championships 2nd Wales Open Criterium 3rd Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic 2013 3rd Road race, Scottish Road Championships 2014 2nd Road race, Scottish Road Championships 3rd London Nocturne 4th Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic