Nikolai Razouvaev is a champion cyclist raised in the Soviet sporting system.

Broadcast date: Monday 24 February

Nikolai grew up in North Caucasus, part of the former Soviet Union where he was singled out as a future cycling champion and Olympic gold medallist.

He pursued that dream for two decades behind the Iron Curtain but the real lure of the sport wasn't national glory: he wanted to avoid national service and access travel to the West and all the benefits that entailed.

Nikolai has recently returned to road racing in Australia, where he also coaches other cyclists.

Original broadcast January 2013.

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