Funny how life connects the dots.

From Focus Groups to Finish Lines: How One Conversation Led to an Iconic Moment

Some of you might notice — this isn’t a photo of a para-athlete. So why am I sharing this image of Geraint Thomas, taken just one second before he crossed the finish line of his final competitive race?

To explain, I need to take you back around 14 months.

I was invited to take part in a focus group run by Small Business Britain and Lloyds Bank, aimed at understanding how the bank could better support and engage with the disability community. The goal was to make their business services more accessible and inclusive — but they needed insight from real experiences.

I joined the session, contributed my ideas, and even had a follow-up call with Lloyds’ senior implementation team. Afterward, life moved on, and I didn’t think much more about it… until early 2025 at Naidex, where I met David from the Lloyds team.

When I asked about the project’s progress, he proudly told me the new small business portal was already live — and even showed me the site. It was a brilliant moment to see that some of the feedback from our group had been brought to life.

Fast forward a few months later: I was setting up a separate business account for my photography, alongside my not-for-profit work with The Disability Sports Network. Naturally, I decided to give the new Lloyds portal a try.

The application process was simple and accessible — exactly as intended. However, when the confirmation letters and PIN mailings arrived, the experience became confusing, even for someone tech-savvy. So I reached back out to Lloyds to share my feedback on the post-application experience.

That conversation led me to their implementation and marketing teams, who were genuinely open to learning more. During our chat, I mentioned my work in disability sports photography, and they invited me to share more. What started as a feedback call evolved into a powerful conversation about inclusion, lived experience, and storytelling.

A few weeks later, I was invited as a guest of Lloyds Bank in Cardiff, as part of their sponsorship of British Cycling. It happened to be Geraint Thomas’s final competitive race — and as always, I had my camera in hand.

As he approached the finish line, I captured a sequence of shots — and one image stood out. A single, perfect frame: Geraint, just a heartbeat away from the end of an incredible career.

Later, in the hospitality suite, I shared the photo with sports presenter Rob Walker and a small crowd nearby. Their reaction said it all — pure awe. That’s when I realised how powerful that moment truly was.

It was more than just a photograph. It was the culmination of a journey — from contributing to an inclusive banking initiative, to standing trackside capturing an iconic sporting moment, all thanks to saying “yes” when asked to help shape something meaningful.

I’m incredibly proud to have played a small part in making banking more accessible for disabled entrepreneurs — and equally proud to have captured a moment that celebrates excellence, determination, and resilience in sport.

Sometimes, opportunities connect in ways you don’t expect. This was one of those times.

Always open to offers and colobrations email michael@thedisabilitysportsnetwork.com

Michael

Please Note This post and interaction with Lloyds Bank was a unpaid role