A Tribute to Paul Sherwen

 Paul Sherwen (1956 – 2018) Paul Sherwen was an institution in cycling and beyond.  To the cycling community, he was a legend- champion rider and, with his friend and collaborator Phil Liggett, the “voice of cycling” throughout the English-speaking world.  His impact reached well beyond cycling, from his wildlife preservation efforts to his other charitable pursuits in Africa, where he first lived as a child and made his home as an adult.  He brought his genuine and generous spirit to everything he did.  Paul died tragically of heart failure at his home in Uganda on December 2, 2018.

 

Paul was a good friend to Veo, and we will miss him terribly.  He was the first celebrity to endorse Veo, just to help out with a product he loved; he never asked or accepted compensation.  We first met him 2017 Tour of California, and spent more time with him at the 2017 Colorado Classic and 2018 Tour of California.  We shared an interest in the TIBCO/SVB women’s cycling team, which gave me several opportunities to spend some relaxed time with this extraordinary man.  He had an exceptionally quick wit, and it was easy to see why he was able to engage audiences over the very long stretches of broadcast in the Tour de France and other races.  He was interesting and interested, and it came through in the way he interacted with Phil Liggett and their viewers, exactly the kind of person you would like in your home.  I think that’s why so many enjoyed him every July- he was just plain fun to be around.  And beyond his encyclopedic knowledge of the sport, his human side always came through, from his caring for African wildlife to his love of family.   

The news was just too shocking; no one was ready to bid farewell to this treasured individual.  –Jim