We sat down for an exclusive interview with Connor Delves. The London premiere season of his critically acclaimed show CADEL: Lungs On Legs runs at Riverside Studios until 15 November.
We awarded this show 5 stars in October 2026 – Read the review here!
Your family has such a strong connection to cycling, from your parents’ bike shop to your mum’s sporting achievements and your dad racing alongside Cadel. How much did growing up in that world shape both your relationship with the sport and the way you wanted to tell this story?
Hugely. Sport is a language and a way of life. It’s in my blood and informs how I approach many things in my life. I grew up in the back of the shop, with bikes being fixed, bikes in boxes, the smell of rubber, and countless customers coming in talking about the Tour de France, and if an Aussie would ever win it. The biggest take away from all those years listening and watching athletes around my parents, was that everyone is entertained and deeply inspired by Aussie athletes giving it a crack on the world stage. It’s been instilled in me that endurance sport is all about the hard work and that Aussies are so good at it, because we have a grit in our nature. I knew that was step one for this story. One of the greatest examples of resilience and grit, in the history of sport.
What was it about Cadel’s story that made you think, “this belongs on a stage”?
Cycling is inherently theatrical. It’s watched largely on television, for 5-6 hours a day, every day, for three weeks at a time. The Tour de France is the greatest endurance test in the world. I had been thinking about stories that speak to who I am. An Australian. An athlete. An entertainer. Cadel’s story is one of the most Australian journeys of resilience and grit that I’ve ever seen. Its remarkable and deeply dramatic. To win how he did is the most incredible part. We know he won. Many don’t know how or what came before. The time trial in the Tour de France made for a perfect framing device and I know I could make this a thrilling piece of theatre. I could bring professional sport to the stage in its truest form…by actually doing it.
The show asks a huge amount of you physically, with you pedalling live throughout. How did you prepare for that?
Preparing for an athletic event is something I’ve done my whole life. So, in a way, that came naturally. I did prepare specifically for this show and continue to follow specific programmes to be able to do it eighht times a week, all over the world. I have a coach (Prime Train) who has helped me avoid injury, stay strong, look good and eat right. I also partnered with Wahoo sports and BMC to build my cycling output for this type of effort. It’s essentially a very hot (no fan and under stage lights) hard interval session with some hilly sprints. So fueling, eating right, hydrating, sleeping and warm up and cool down routines are the norm now. I also quit drinking, which admittedly, makes a massive difference. The added element here is that I talk throughout the show, whilst riding hard. So, I undertook the Beyonce method…. she trains for concerts by singing on the treadmill. I learnt all my lines out loud whilst riding around New York where I live. (Not kidding!).
Cycling can be incredibly dramatic, but a lot of that tension is internal. How did you go about translating that into something audiences can really feel in a theatre?
Everyone knows and sees the external Cadel. We see the results, the stages and the effort. But we very rarely hear it. I spoke at length with Cadel about what goes on in his head, and how he speaks to himself, and those around him in the peloton. The show focuses on that internal battle, whilst the battle in the legs is happening at the same time. Cadel was and is often misunderstood. He had a troubled relationship with the press as he just wanted to be able to focus on the riding. Our show zooms in on how he ascended against all the odds to win the world’s greatest race. He’s a real person that went through so much. Many people forget that and only remember the yellow jersey. I share never seen or spoken about sides to Cadel, which welcomes the audience along for the ride.
Cadel himself has been involved with and supportive of the production. Was there a moment in that process that felt particularly meaningful to you?
It’s been incredible to have Cadel so involved, right from the start. At the end of our first Australian tour, Cadel came back to the show again, this time with his first son. He came backstage and asked to see all the theatre gear and backstage set up. It was special to share this big touring piece with him, without hundreds of people looking at us on stage doing a q&a or in front of a camera. It was human. A man that has only known the bike, learning about the theatre and his impact beyond the sport, and sharing that with his son. That’s pretty special. It’s been a journey for us all. He said to me “Connor, I’ve won enough in my life, and now, I want to help you win.” How cool is that?
After the response at Edinburgh, in Australia and elsewhere, has the show evolved at all as you’ve learnt what audiences connect with most strongly?
The show has grown hugely. Not only physically (we have a beautiful set design now and and incredibly involved video design from our Australian in New York design team!), but also the storytelling. I think we are striking the balance between a completely authentic depiction of true elite sport, AND welcoming theatre audiences into a world they may know nothing about. We continue to get more specific and nuanced and are lucky to have performed 100 times now. I don’t think we’ll ever stop “training” and growing the show for as long as the wheels spin…
The show has clearly connected with both cycling fans and theatre audiences. What do you think someone who has never watched the Tour de France can still take from Cadel’s story?
A lot! Without a doubt, people take away the inspiration of overcoming obstacles in one’s life. Hard work and incredible determination in a challenging world is something almost everyone can be inspired by. It’s honestly a remarkable story. I’m so thrilled both theatre and cycling fans continue to love the show, its theatricality, authenticity and raw entertainment value. We pushed hard to deliver the full package and present a true event that must be experienced live in person. Cadel has had a thrilling and turbulent life, and I think audiences enjoy buckling up and joining me on that ride at the show.