2026 has not panned out as Mark Stewart anticipated, but in the best possible way.
After a hectic start to the season on the road Stewart was, in his own words, “cooked” by springtime.
He then decided to put any ambitions of success at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games to one side in favour of targeting World Championship glory, as well as ensuring a strong start to his Olympic qualifying campaign later this year.
However, Stewart’s summer exceeded all expectations. Despite having ridden his track bike for just one hour in the six months leading-up to Glasgow 2026, the 30-year-old produced an exceptional display on the opening night of the cycling competition in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome to win silver in the elimination race.
Another medal in his collection has cemented Stewart’s place as one of this country’s most-decorated cyclists and the Dundonian, who won Commonwealth Games gold in the points race in 2018, admits his surprise result has turned out to be one of the highlights of his career.
“I had run my body on the red line for a little bit too long so two months before the Commonwealth Games, I had a few weeks off the bike,” reveals Stewart.
“In my head I'd sacrificed the ‘Commies’ for things later in the year like World Champs in October and the start of Olympic selection so I felt like I was going to Glasgow not really on form. So it was such a complete surprise that, on the first day of racing, I won a medal.
“I'm just so glad it worked out the way it did, it was really special. If I hadn't come away with a medal, I would have felt it was a missed opportunity because we don't race in Scotland very often and the whole experience was brilliant. The Games totally surpassed my expectations and the vibe within the Scottish team was incredible.”
That Stewart is still winning major championship medals well over a decade since making his international debut is a testament to his ability as a cyclist.
However, the Scot has an interesting take on himself as a rider and believes that the way he’s navigated his career, and the mindset with which he’s approached it, has been a major factor in his longevity.
“I feel like I'm not as talented as the very top guys, and my peaks haven't been as high, so I've had to find other things in cycling to keep me motivated that aren't necessarily winning Olympic gold,” says Stewart, who is an Olympian and has won World and European silverware.
“I think that has made it more sustainable for me to do it over a longer period of time. I know it's a bit obtuse for any athlete at my level to say they're not talented but I find myself in a position where I'm more talented than most but there's definitely a select few that are more talented than me. So I learned pretty young that my career was going to be one where I find enjoyment in the journey as opposed to the result. And that helps you become a better-rounded person.”
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Having spent so long as an elite rider, it’s inevitable that the prospect of retirement has crossed Stewart’s mind. But given his ability to continue producing world-class performances, it’s unsurprising that the Andorra-based Scot feels like it’ll still be quite some time before he hangs up his helmet.
The 2028 Olympic Games, as well as a fifth Commonwealth Games appearance in 2030, are already pencilled into Stewart’s diary (although he insists he’s always open to changing his targets) but the Scot’s immediate focus is on the Tour of Britain, which begins in Lincolnshire on Wednesday, with this Stewart’s first race on Britain soil for his new road team, Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, for whom he has signed for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Stewart is a seasoned campaigner on the roads but this team brings with it something new given it’s headed by one one of the most recognisable names in road racing, George Hincapie and includes an equally recognisable name, Bobby Julich, on its coaching roster.
Hincapie was one of Lance Armstrong’s right hand men and after stepping away from the sport following his admission of doping, he’s returned as a founder of this team and the experience of riding for someone who has seen everything there is to see in modern-day cycling has been, admits Stewart, hugely enriching.
“I grew up watching George riding the Tour de France - I sent him a picture of me as a kid wearing one of his team's jerseys. And George and his brother Rich, who is the general manager of the team, are two of the nicest guys you can meet so I’m loving being a part of this team,” says Stewart.
"He's really good at getting on our level as riders - he's in all the team meetings and debriefs and whenever he speaks, everybody listens because he has this mountain of knowledge and experience, which he's really happy to share.
“There can be a perception when you watch cycling from the couch that you took drugs and so you won races. But there's so much more to it than that. If you take away the doping, there's still injuries, the long, hard rides in the winter and the times when things aren't clicking as an athlete. So I’ve taken so much from him.
“Both George and Bobby Julich (who also rode alongside Armstrong and admitted to doping in the past) speak openly about their past drug use. At our first team camp they stood up and said they've got nothing to hide and if anybody ever wants to talk about it then they would be totally open, so there's no secrets.
“Bobby's my coach and I've asked him a lot of questions because I find it really interesting. It's very easy to judge and comment if you weren't in their shoes at the time but I'm in more of a mindset of forgiveness and trust and so I just want to learn as much as I can from these guys.”
