James Shaw, full name James Callum Shaw, is a 27-year-old British road racing cyclist, currently riding for UCI WorldTeam EF Education–EasyPost. His previous teams included Belgian UCI WorldTeam Lotto–Soudal, SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling and Riwal Securitas. James has consistently showcased impressive performances as a General Classification (GC) rider, notably in the 2021 Tour of Slovenia and Tour of Norway. However, he holds a special affection for the Ardennes Classics races. Deeply passionate about the history of cycling, he often draws inspiration and pride from reflecting on past riders. In 2022, James completed his inaugural grand tour at the Vuelta and is eagerly looking forward to participating in more.
Throughout the year, his residence is in the Peak District in England. When not racing or training, James unwinds by taking his dogs on extended walks across the moors and enjoys cycling outings with former club friends. Even with his packed racing and training regimen, James relishes any opportunity he gets to attach a trailer to his bicycle for bikepacking adventures.
In this podcast episode, Matt and James went over his unusual and rollercoaster-like career trajectory, how the legendary John Barclay played a role in James’ introduction to pro cycling, recent top 10 placements in Grand Tours, the struggle of securing a steady team placement during difficult times and more.
Make a cup of tea, get into something cosy in this autumn drizzle, press play and enjoy!
