Dave Akam

David Akam was a track and road cyclist. He was a time-trial specialist of some repute. He was introduced to cycling by his P.E. teacher at Forest Hill school, South London – the legendary British lanterne rouge John Clarey. Akam's early successes in cycling included three British National Track Championships and the Junior Individual Time Trial Road Championship. In 1978 Akam was selected for the English track team in the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, competing in the 4,000 metres Individual Pursuit.[1][2] Having trained for months with the 1980 Olympic pursuit team squad, Akam fractured his hip in a kermesse crash, putting him out of contention. Akam later said he was "incensed" to not even be named as a reserve. However, that July the 19-year-old Akam broke the British 10-mile time trial record becoming the first ever rider to clock in at under 20 minutes (the record has since been held by Graeme Obree, Bradley Wiggins and Alex Dowsett). The same year he also won the Goodwood Classic individual time trial in a time of 1 hour 2 minutes and 39 seconds – a time that has never been beaten.

Over the next three years, from 1981 to 1983, Akam lived and raced abroad, first in the Netherlands for the Jan Van Erp team, and then France, building a reputation as an aggressive rider with a talent for time trialling. In his second year, Akam won 13 races including the Grand Prix de France, a time trial whose previous winners include Jacques Anquetil, Stephen Roche and Chris Boardman.

In 1983, Akam moved his racing base to France, joining the famous ACBB team, a Parisian amateur team which had helped the likes of Sean Yates and Stephen Roche to the professional ranks. Of this time Akam remembers "I started the season like a maniac, winning five of the eight training races we rode in the South of France. I then rode three Classics and won the three-day Tour de l'Essone stage race". During that year's Tour of Norway, Akam caught the eye of Mercier, Peugeot and Italian legend Francesco Moser, according to Akam, "I must have impressed him for he said if I did a ride in the GP de Nations he would give me a place in his Gis team as a pro". Akam subsequently won the Chrono des Nations and Moser kept his side of the bargain.

In 1984 he was signed by the renowned Italian team Gis Gelati to help the Italian hero win his first Giro d'Italia. Rumour has it that Akam was signed not only for his big engine, but also due to the fact he rode the same bike as Moser. Akam was immediately nicknamed "Rosso" on account of his red hair. Moser, at the time, was the holder of the hour record. While in Italy, Akam lived with Moser's mother. Shortly after joining Gis Gelati Akam rode for Moser in the Vuelta a España after around only three weeks worth of training – Moser finished 10th overall and Akam pulled out after Stage 11. The team prepared for the 1984 Giro by winning the Team Time Trial event, the Cronostaffetta, and by racing the Tirreno–Adriatico in which Akam showed his form by coming 5th in the prologue time trial. Akam also produced a strong ride at the Giro del Trentino to cement his place on the Giro team. At the Giro, Akam played a key role in delivering Moser to first place in Verona and the first and only pink jersey of Moser's career at the Giro d'Italia. Akam rode most of the Giro on the front for Moser and, even as the tour came to a close, Akam's form was such that he finished 14th in the final stage individual time trial. Until Chris Froome's victory in 34 years later, Akam was the last Briton to ride on a Giro winner's team.

In 1985 Akam was given an extension to his contract and began his preparations for the Giro well by putting in two strong time trial performances at the Tirreno–Adriatico. He again rode the Giro but this time he withdrew after Stage 9 due to a crash. Akam also rode alongside the legendary classics specialist Roger De Vlaeminck whilst at Gis Gelati.

Akam joined the Dutch team PDM–Concorde in 1986 to ride for Pedro Delgado. Akam was offered another extension but in 1987 Akam opted to join the British outfit ANC-Halfords Cycling Team.

Akam retired from cycling shortly afterwards, his career cut short by illness. Akam had raced the Giro, the Vuelta, Paris–Roubaix and Milan–San Remo. Throughout his career, Akam suffered from a mystery illness, he later stated "Moser could not work out why I would be going great guns one day and then doing nothing". Akam on reflection states that his dream move in 1984 to Gis Gelati came too soon because he had no time to deal with his health problems – later diagnosed as hepatitis and a liver that functioned at only 70%.

• [18 May 1996, Cycling Weekly]