The Bomb Maker - Olly Mitchell
A regular visiter out to the Alps, Olly, has fallen into his role as a VCT domestique with a smile. Often out to give me a hand, he is invaluable. Always up for a laugh and enthusiastic about anything bike related. When not cycling, he works for EDF, project managing their Hinkley Point build down in the West Country.
You look a little like Seth Rogan, have people said that to you before?
Yes they have! I get it all the time. Will Ferrell is another one. Basically anyone with curly hair, people at university used to call me Charlie Dimmock.
Isn’t she a lady?
Yes, the old presenter from Ground Force.
Olly enjoying the cobbles in Flanders on our trip in 2019
What movie are you most proud of?
Still pursuing this? Well Superbad, it was a small part, I played a policeman. I co-wrote it actually. It is fun as I am often in films with my mates, I have a laugh working with Jonah Hill.
One of my first memories of you was riding in your full 1980s Mapei kit, apart from that what is your favourite pro kit?
I absolutely love the pink, Adidas Team Telecom kit that Jan Ullrich made famous. It is such a classic.
Oh yeah, Bjarne Rijs too. Who was the guy with the mullet in that team?
Err, not sure mate.
Shit, sorry, getting confused with German Adidas kits - I was thinking of Rudi Voller.
Explain what you are helping to create down in Bristol.
Well, I work for EDF and we are installing the new nuclear plant at Hinkley Point which is about 50 miles from Bristol, near Weston-Super-Mare. It is supposed to be connecting to the grid in 2026, that might be a bit ambitious. EDF are sort of the world leaders in nuclear. There are 15 reactors in the UK at the moment across 7 sites making generating approximately 18% of our power. Compare that to France which has 58 reactors making 85% of their electricity.
Do you get many protestors down at the site
Occasionally, but not too much at the moment. They protest about two things, the build and the waste.
Olly and Jerry getting ready for the Maratona
What do you with the waste?
Well, as the vast majority of the fuel is reprocessed; the amount that you are dealing with is pretty low. There are two main types - high level and low level waste. The high level needs to be stored until the radiative parts have finished themselves off and are no longer radioactive (or low enough to be considered low level waste). This amount of time depends on the half-life, it is a long time though. They are kept in swimming pools of water.
Public pools? That explains a lot about the population of Weston-Super-Mare!
Someway to explaining yes! These pools will get really hot if it is not cooled, so there is a network of pipes and heat exchange that keeps cool water flowing. It is eventually cooled by the Bristol Channel (but the Bristol Channel water never comes into contact with the radio active water as there are a number of closed loops don't worry!!). At Fukushima, the tsunami stopped the power supply to this cooling system causing massive over heating and boiling of water and the subsequent Hydrogen explosion.
Why do you think nuclear power has a bad name? Do you think it is the way forward?
Well, accidents affect nations rather than small communities, so the impact is large. But it is one of the most regulated industries globally, with a multitude of back up and fail safe systems so it is safe. Many people including the Green Party do have an issue with the waste storage but it has to be part of the balance. It is very clean from an atmosphere perspective and it is the only fossil fuel replacement that can provide a constant source, the base load. You can then complement it with other renewable sources of energy. An interesting fact is that a 6g pellet of nuclear fuel will give the equivalent power to 1 ton of coal, 17,000 cubic metres of gas or 120 gallons of oil.
What is the hardest thing about working for a French company?
I would say the cultural difference with hierarchy, they are very old school. The different steps required to communicate with people up the chain can be very time consuming and demanding. It is a bit inefficient.
Do they talk about the Tour all the time?
They love it. When the Tour is on, everyone talks about it as it is an institution in France. I would say that 9 out 10 of French people would be able to name famous climbs. However, I have seen a decrease in the engagement with me since I started in 2012, as the British cyclists and teams have got better and better. That does not sit well with them!!!
What is your favourite local ride?
It has to be out to the Chew Valley Reservoir, it is about a 70km hilly loop with just under 1000m of climbing - so not bad!
What is your most memorable thing that you have done on a bike?
Well there are three that stand out for different reasons. When you and I went up Alpe d’Huez on a wet morning before everybody else was up. It was the coldest, wettest descents, that I have every done. Then the Col des Annes from Le Grand Bornand. I went up with my dad, who was on an electric bike. As you know, it is super steep and I found it hard but he was loving it and kept remarking on how easy it was! And finally Mont Ventoux, which I finally did last year. I have been wanting to do it since I can remember. Unlike Alpe d’Huez, the climb itself lived up to all the hype and I can finally say that I have done it.