Who is CyclingSpy? The face behind the anonymous account
Summary
The Cycling Spy, Ellis Pullinger, reveals his identity and explains why he is retiring the account after joining Lidl-Trek as a Performance Apparel Engineer. He details his background in aeronautics and his previous work developing Vortex skinsuits and overshoes, as well as a stint in net-zero engineering at Sainsbury’s. The episode covers his transition from independent tech journalism to working within a WorldTour team, focusing on optimizing race apparel and navigating UCI regulations.
Topics discussed
Introduction and The Cycling Spy's reveal
Reasons for revealing identity and new job
Ethical concerns and the account's end
Competitive advantage and temptation to continue
Revealing true name and career background
Personal background and racing passion
Discovery of cycling in 2012
Engineering path and disillusionment with F1
The 2012 British cycling boom
University studies and joining TotalSim
TotalSim, Vortec, and UCI rule changes
Wind tunnel work and Vortec overshoes
Development costs and wind tunnel hours
Expertise in fabrics vs wheels and humor
Net zero engineering at Sainsbury's
Personal consultancy and account saturation
Shift in tech leaks and winding down
Declining brand partnerships
New role at Lidl Trek and secrecy
Working with Santini and UCI regulations
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