Alexandre Mayer interview: a Mauritian’s road from Britain to the big time
After making his name on the British scene with Saint Piran and Foran, Mauritian rider Alexandre Mayer has stepped up to the Spanish ProTeam Burgos Burpellet BH. He reflects on his unlikely route to the pros, the lessons learned on UK roads, and representing Africa on cycling’s biggest stage.
From Kigali, to London, then on to Aigle in the space of a week, Alexandre Mayer’s busy schedule is one the Mauritian rider has grown used to over the years. Hailing from the small island in the Indian Ocean, he has regularly crossed the globe in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional cyclist.
Now a neo-pro with the Spanish ProTeam Burgos Burpellet BH, the 27-year-old came to prominence with British fans over the past two seasons, first signing for the Saint Piran project in 2024 before stepping onto the podium at a breathless Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in May.
The British Continental caught up with Mayer from the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland to discuss his journey in the sport so far, what the World Championships meant for him, and for his native continent of Africa, and his love of training with some of London’s best riders before breakfast.
2025 UCI Road World Championships – BK Arena to Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda – Men Elite Individual Time Trial (ITT) – Alexandre Mayer (Mauritius). Image: Chris Auld/SWpix.com
How was your experience at the World Championships last month where you competed in the Individual Time Trial, Mixed Team Relay, and Road Race?
I kind of knew what to expect from the crowds and the organisation of the events as it was my 5th time in Rwanda. My first time was in 2015 there for Continental XCO Championships as a junior and back then I kind of thought ‘wow’, this country is next level in terms of landscape, education, cleanliness, and the people are kind and helpful. I gradually saw Kigali get richer and richer and I think riders coming from Europe maybe didn’t expect to be in such good conditions. So for me it wasn’t as memorable as for the Europeans who came for the first time, but it was still crazy races and atmosphere.
I think there is a huge pool of talent in Africa. African riders have a different mindset, they are tough, genetically gifted and resilient
It was the first time the UCI World Championships were held in Africa. As an African rider, do you think it will help propel the sport forward on the continent and allow more opportunities for riders hailing from that region?
I think there is a huge pool of talent in Africa. African riders have a different mindset, they are tough, genetically gifted and resilient. Unfortunately modern cycling has a lot of barriers such as equipment, the need to go to Europe to get used to international bunches etc. So yes, it put the spotlight on Africa, but I’m curious to see the ‘after Kigali’.
You are one of the riders helping to put Mauritius on the cycling map. How did you get into the sport and what’s the scene like there?
I started cycling thanks to my dad and my brother. They both raced in Mauritius and I wanted to do the same. The scene is pretty dead, 15-20 elite riders in weekend races which is definitely not enough to get stronger. I was really focused on cycling in my first years as an U23 and every time I was going to Europe for one to two months my level got so much higher, but then you come back to Mauritius and it automatically goes down after a period of time. The national federation now send young riders to Europe for their development – it’s the only solution if you want to reach WorldTour level, you cannot stay on the island. But then the counter part of this is that it’s really difficult to leave your home where, it is fair to say, it is pretty chilled to live and it’s an incredible lifestyle.
The Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix 2025 – Alexandre Mayer (right) on the podium. Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
After a number of years in the French amateur scene and riding for Mauritian teams you joined Saint Piran in 2024, first riding for the USKIS development team before moving to the UCI squad. How did you end up moving to, and riding in the UK?
Before Covid I was in a French DN team, Fybolia Locminé, and unfortunately I had to go back home for the lockdown. It was the year I gave 100% to try to turn professional and it was really difficult to go from one of the best chances to go pro to basically no competitive cycling for almost 2 years. After Covid I was kind in the grey area where I didn’t know if I should stop cycling or not, so I did my bachelor’s degree in finance. In the meantime I met my girlfriend Lucie who started her studies in London. I knew she would stay there for a long period of time and I followed her there to support her and to try keep cycling and to potentially start working. I looked at teams there and saw Saint Piran, sent them my CV etc and they weren’t sure about me, so they accepted me in the development team before moving up to the UCI squad.
My second ride with him was a 320k ride at 230w for 10 hours. No time to break the ice!
Alex Richardson was vocal in his praise after training and racing with you last season. How much of an influence has the now famous London cycling scene had on your career?
I joined the famous Freeride x Le Col group a few years back, I loved their concept of going full gas at 5 am in aero skinsuit! It’s not made for everyone, but yeah, I like that. And honestly, it’s probably one of the best training sessions a rider can get. You learn so much about your capabilities, your equipment, your efficiency. So that definitely had a massive impact on my riding.
Then around the same time, I met Alex [Richardson]. How can I explain? My second ride with him was a 320k ride at 230 watts for 10 hours. No time to break the ice! So yeah, Alex was a big influence on me, we trained together really hard , pushed each other on crazy rides from London to Brighton and back and also on really hard interval sessions the day after a race. He really is a leader / mentor and he’s a fucking good bike rider at the same time, but for me, what makes him different is his ability to understand each part of his bike and pedal stroke, and the effect it has on his performance. I’ve met very few riders like him, that’s for sure.
2025 UCI Road World Championships – Alexandre Mayer (Mauritius). Image: Chris Auld/SWpix.com
After moving to Foran CT at the start of 2025 you shone with a 3rd place at the Rapha Lincoln GP. Had you heard of the race before coming to the UK, and did you expect to ride so well there?
Moving to Foran when Saint Piran folded was such a good decision. It’s very hard to describe how good this club is in terms of spirit and atmosphere, they really are like a family.
To be honest I’d never heard of the Lincoln GP before, but when I came I quickly realised that it was the race to win. This year I prepared well for it and went into it with confidence and a good mindset thanks to all the team that was surrounding me and [team founder] Thomas Quaid, who made me believe I could do it.
Moving to Foran when Saint Piran folded was such a good decision. It’s very hard to describe how good this club is in terms of spirit and atmosphere
In the UK you’ve done well in tough, attritional races such as Lincoln and the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix. How would you define yourself as a rider?
I think the answer is in your question, I like attritional races where it’s hard from the gun. I also read the race well and I’m able to put myself in the right position at the right time, but that’s obviously harder to do at the WorldTour and ProTour level.
You turned professional for Burgos Burpellet BH in June, a Spanish ProTeam with an international flavour. What has your first season with the team been like?
Well for the moment it’s only half of the season and it’s all good, getting to know everyone and the culture behind the team. I think next year will be my proper start with them. I’ll be racing on the 19th [of this month] in Italy [at the Veneto Classic] and will see how it goes.
You’ve raced extensively across the world during your career and taken a number of victories at UCI level, as well as National Championships and the African Games. How valuable is this experience and what are your highlights so far?
Highlights are definitely the African Games! It was such a special moment and yes, I’ve been really fortunate to have raced all over the world. For me it brings you something extra, an understanding of people, cultures etc. It’s funny to say that last week I went from Kigali to London for one day, and now I’m in the Swiss mountains. And all this you discover on your bike. This sport is special just for that.
What are your aims for 2026, your second year with Burgos Burpellet BH?
I’m waiting on the calendar and different discussions with the managers and DS, but generally I want to really settle in in the team and show them why they picked me. I know I have work to do but I’m motivated and focused already.
From Kigali, to London, then on to Aigle in the space of a week, Alexandre Mayer’s busy schedule is one the Mauritian rider has grown used to over the years. Hailing from the small island in the Indian Ocean, he has regularly crossed the globe in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional cyclist.
Now a neo-pro with the Spanish ProTeam Burgos Burpellet BH, the 27-year-old came to prominence with British fans over the past two seasons, first signing for the Saint Piran project in 2024 before stepping onto the podium at a breathless Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in May.
The British Continental caught up with Mayer from the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland to discuss his journey in the sport so far, what the World Championships meant for him, and for his native continent of Africa, and his love of training with some of London’s best riders before breakfast.
How was your experience at the World Championships last month where you competed in the Individual Time Trial, Mixed Team Relay, and Road Race?
I kind of knew what to expect from the crowds and the organisation of the events as it was my 5th time in Rwanda. My first time was in 2015 there for Continental XCO Championships as a junior and back then I kind of thought ‘wow’, this country is next level in terms of landscape, education, cleanliness, and the people are kind and helpful. I gradually saw Kigali get richer and richer and I think riders coming from Europe maybe didn’t expect to be in such good conditions. So for me it wasn’t as memorable as for the Europeans who came for the first time, but it was still crazy races and atmosphere.
It was the first time the UCI World Championships were held in Africa. As an African rider, do you think it will help propel the sport forward on the continent and allow more opportunities for riders hailing from that region?
I think there is a huge pool of talent in Africa. African riders have a different mindset, they are tough, genetically gifted and resilient. Unfortunately modern cycling has a lot of barriers such as equipment, the need to go to Europe to get used to international bunches etc. So yes, it put the spotlight on Africa, but I’m curious to see the ‘after Kigali’.
You are one of the riders helping to put Mauritius on the cycling map. How did you get into the sport and what’s the scene like there?
I started cycling thanks to my dad and my brother. They both raced in Mauritius and I wanted to do the same. The scene is pretty dead, 15-20 elite riders in weekend races which is definitely not enough to get stronger. I was really focused on cycling in my first years as an U23 and every time I was going to Europe for one to two months my level got so much higher, but then you come back to Mauritius and it automatically goes down after a period of time. The national federation now send young riders to Europe for their development – it’s the only solution if you want to reach WorldTour level, you cannot stay on the island. But then the counter part of this is that it’s really difficult to leave your home where, it is fair to say, it is pretty chilled to live and it’s an incredible lifestyle.
After a number of years in the French amateur scene and riding for Mauritian teams you joined Saint Piran in 2024, first riding for the USKIS development team before moving to the UCI squad. How did you end up moving to, and riding in the UK?
Before Covid I was in a French DN team, Fybolia Locminé, and unfortunately I had to go back home for the lockdown. It was the year I gave 100% to try to turn professional and it was really difficult to go from one of the best chances to go pro to basically no competitive cycling for almost 2 years. After Covid I was kind in the grey area where I didn’t know if I should stop cycling or not, so I did my bachelor’s degree in finance. In the meantime I met my girlfriend Lucie who started her studies in London. I knew she would stay there for a long period of time and I followed her there to support her and to try keep cycling and to potentially start working. I looked at teams there and saw Saint Piran, sent them my CV etc and they weren’t sure about me, so they accepted me in the development team before moving up to the UCI squad.
Alex Richardson was vocal in his praise after training and racing with you last season. How much of an influence has the now famous London cycling scene had on your career?
I joined the famous Freeride x Le Col group a few years back, I loved their concept of going full gas at 5 am in aero skinsuit! It’s not made for everyone, but yeah, I like that. And honestly, it’s probably one of the best training sessions a rider can get. You learn so much about your capabilities, your equipment, your efficiency. So that definitely had a massive impact on my riding.
Then around the same time, I met Alex [Richardson]. How can I explain? My second ride with him was a 320k ride at 230 watts for 10 hours. No time to break the ice! So yeah, Alex was a big influence on me, we trained together really hard , pushed each other on crazy rides from London to Brighton and back and also on really hard interval sessions the day after a race. He really is a leader / mentor and he’s a fucking good bike rider at the same time, but for me, what makes him different is his ability to understand each part of his bike and pedal stroke, and the effect it has on his performance. I’ve met very few riders like him, that’s for sure.
After moving to Foran CT at the start of 2025 you shone with a 3rd place at the Rapha Lincoln GP. Had you heard of the race before coming to the UK, and did you expect to ride so well there?
Moving to Foran when Saint Piran folded was such a good decision. It’s very hard to describe how good this club is in terms of spirit and atmosphere, they really are like a family.
To be honest I’d never heard of the Lincoln GP before, but when I came I quickly realised that it was the race to win. This year I prepared well for it and went into it with confidence and a good mindset thanks to all the team that was surrounding me and [team founder] Thomas Quaid, who made me believe I could do it.
In the UK you’ve done well in tough, attritional races such as Lincoln and the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix. How would you define yourself as a rider?
I think the answer is in your question, I like attritional races where it’s hard from the gun. I also read the race well and I’m able to put myself in the right position at the right time, but that’s obviously harder to do at the WorldTour and ProTour level.
You turned professional for Burgos Burpellet BH in June, a Spanish ProTeam with an international flavour. What has your first season with the team been like?
Well for the moment it’s only half of the season and it’s all good, getting to know everyone and the culture behind the team. I think next year will be my proper start with them. I’ll be racing on the 19th [of this month] in Italy [at the Veneto Classic] and will see how it goes.
You’ve raced extensively across the world during your career and taken a number of victories at UCI level, as well as National Championships and the African Games. How valuable is this experience and what are your highlights so far?
Highlights are definitely the African Games! It was such a special moment and yes, I’ve been really fortunate to have raced all over the world. For me it brings you something extra, an understanding of people, cultures etc. It’s funny to say that last week I went from Kigali to London for one day, and now I’m in the Swiss mountains. And all this you discover on your bike. This sport is special just for that.
What are your aims for 2026, your second year with Burgos Burpellet BH?
I’m waiting on the calendar and different discussions with the managers and DS, but generally I want to really settle in in the team and show them why they picked me. I know I have work to do but I’m motivated and focused already.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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