Hong Kong-raised David Millar, a former professional road racing cyclist, was the first Briton to wear the leader’s jersey in all three grand tours in France, Italy and Spain. Recently, the former champ—who's also the co-founder of cycling brand CHPT3 —launched a foldable bicycle with Brompton Bicycles, which is ideal for taking on the MTR. Now based in Girona, Spain, David shares five of his favourite things:

1. Piles of books

Tatler Asia
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"I love books and collect them avidly. The tomes I own, which fill the wall of my study, cover an extremely wide range of subjects. When I stand there and look at them, I can remember where I was in life and what I felt like when I read them. There’s something comforting about that."

See also: All Is Not Lost: 7 Independent Book Stores In Hong Kong

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

2. Girona

Tatler Asia
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"The cycling route I love most starts and finishes from my house in the Catalonian town of Girona, Spain. It’s not very long, about 50 kilometres, yet there’s not one traffic light and barely any cars, and the roads and scenery are idyllic—a mixture of Catalonia, Cote d’Azur and Tuscany."

 
 
 
 
 
 

3. Brompton x Chpt3

Tatler Asia
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"I have two favourite bike models, and they serve completely different purposes. My Brompton x CHPT3 [Millar’s own cycling clothing range] is my everyday bike, and I’m lucky to have a few. I keep one in the CHPT3 studio in Girona, one in London, and one in my home to go riding with my little boys.

The other is a Factor x CHPT3, which is at the other end of the scale. It’s a pure performance bike, designed for racing at the highest level. I tend to just use it for coffee rides with friends, though—probably a bit over the top but, hey, I can, so why not?" 

 

4. <em>Soldiers of Salamis</em> by Javier Cercas

Tatler Asia
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"One of the books I’ve read recently that truly made an impact on me is Soldiers of Salamis by Javier Cercas. It’s an amazing historical novel about the Spanish Civil War. It uses a modern narrative to carry the story, and it’s based in my adopted home of Girona. It’s particularly poignant in regards to what is going on right now between Spain and Catalonia."

5. Spanish flavours

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Shutterstock

"My favourite restaurant for lunch when I am on a bike ride is my local, Can Boix in Vilamari. It’s only a few kilometres from my house, so if the wine does flow I can make it home with ease."

See also: World's Best Drives: A Ride Through Picturesque Germany In A Mercedes-Benz 280 SL

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