Ep 06: Tom Soladay is the Communications Director for Rally Cycling, the Same Team Where He Competed as a Pro for 10 Years
Rally Cycling has always been an exciting breeding ground for young talent in the profession, and today we are very lucky to welcome a great friend to the show and the current Communications Director at Rally, Tom Soladay! While Tom was still a professional rider, he was also on the Rally team, so his loyalty runs deep with the outfit. In this episode, Tom opens up about many parts of his journey in the sport and with his company, talking about the transition he made when he retired, some of the principles at Rally that have helped to create the strong sense of identity they are known for, and what his current role in communications entails. Tom also gets into more of the business side of the company and how they have managed to stay afloat without large amounts of angel investment. We also talk about the changing tides of the sport, the natural migration that has happened towards Europe, and the move towards a more global plan that Rally Cycling has adopted. A lot of what Tom talks about is related to longevity in the world of cycling, and how a more inclusive and holistic outlook can serve the sport and its athletes. We finish off the conversation looking to the future, imagining the scene after the disruption of the pandemic, the upcoming tours, and Tom shares his thoughts on the new stars to watch out for!
Key Points From This Episode:
Tom's indoor ride today and how he arranges his fitness schedule.
The story of how Tom and Rob met and the article it inspired for Forbes.
Some background on the Rally Cycling team and the growth of the team over the years
Angel investment in cycling and how Rally has managed to survive without this kind of backing.
Rally's approach to cycling partnerships and sponsorships.
The founding principle of Rally and their early position on doping in the sport.
Recounting Tom's experience as a pro-rider and working for the Rally team.
The life of a retired pro-cyclist: available opportunities and the challenge of the transition.
How Rally and Tom view working with online influencers and manage these relationships.
Women's cycling at Rally and the emphasis they put on this part of the project.
The expansion of Rally into a more globally functioning team and company.
Some of the notable talent that has come through the Rally roster in the past!
Looking forward to the upcoming season; exciting news about races post-pandemic.
Tom's experiences of the Tour de Suisse and Tour de France for the Rally team.
An introduction to Rally Health and the values and practices they espouse.
Tom's thoughts on road racing in the US in the last few years.
A look at some of the exciting up and coming talents Tom is working with!
Tweetables:
“The team has been really, really fortunate since 2007, to continue growing year after year after year. It's more than just a bike racing platform. It's a health and wellness platform.” — @TomSoladay [0:09:55]
“We've been fortunate to be working with people in healthcare, that we're able to live this mission, that you can see in any content we put out, the athletes that we employ. It's something from top to bottom that we really truly believe in.” — @TomSoladay [0:10:09]
“We're not here to be salesmen. If we live it and we believe in it, then it's just natural that we're able to create value and bring people all together.” — @TomSoladay [0:12:05]
“The things that you learn are invaluable when you're faced with adversity and challenges that are beyond your control. How are you going to deal with those and overcome them?” — @TomSoladay [0:20:31]