The following is a conversation with Jack Thompson, also known as Jack Ultra Cyclist. He is one of the most extreme cyclists in the world. He recently released a video on YouTube that I found incredibly inspiring. In it, he opened up about his experience with ADHD. We sat down to talk about his journey as an athlete and his relationship with mental health.

It was deeply inspiring to hear how it all began when he was 13 years old, diagnosed with depression, and received a bicycle from his parents for Christmas. He rode it passionately, then drifted away during his college years, developed addictions, recovered, and found cycling again as his natural high.

Today, he breaks record after record as one of the most extreme endurance cyclists in the world. We caught him between tours in Austria and the Himalayas. What follows is a candid and inspiring conversation about mental health, discipline, and purpose.

Boris: Thanks for being here, especially after having a puncture.

Jack: No problem. Apologies, that was not what I had planned.

Boris: That is actually what I wanted to ask as a random question. How often do you get punctures in your tires?

Jack: To be honest, hardly ever. I can probably count it on two fingers. It does not really happen with the new technology. But, you know, Murphy’s law, when you have somewhere to be, that is when it happens.

Boris: The tires are really different these days, right? I remember in Berlin, riding through the city streets, you would get a flat every week. I used to call my tires bulletproof. So those new ones must be much better.

Jack: Much better. Are you still doing a lot of riding?

Boris: No, just city commutes these days. I used to mountain bike when I was younger, and I really loved it. It is fascinating to read about your work. I am really happy we get to talk about it today.

Jack: Thanks, I am happy to chat.

Boris: I sent you some questions, but we can just go with the flow. I started this new community called Neurospicy Founders. It is still in the very beginning, but we already have about forty people in there. Everyone is super fascinating. By accident, YouTube showed me your video about opening up about ADHD. It was really well done, and that made me reach out.

Jack: I appreciate that. I made that video not knowing what would happen. Some videos perform really well on YouTube and others miss the mark. It is a bit hit and miss. That one struck a chord with a lot of people, which I was really happy about. It has been an interesting journey to get where I am today, and that diagnosis, even though it was only last year, answered a lot of questions. I thought that if a lot of people see it, great, but if only ten people see it, hopefully it helps those ten people.

Boris: I shared it with the Neurospicy Founders group, and one member commented that it brought them to tears. I also got some questions from the group that I will share with you.

Jack: I would love to hear them.

Boris: Maybe we can start by getting to know you a bit better. How did you get into your sport, and what was the motivation behind your extreme approach to cycling?

Jack: To give it some context, when I was 13, I realized that I was not happy. I was not enjoying school or the things I normally got enjoyment from. I developed some weird obsessions and tics. I convinced myself that if I did not do certain things, like winking with one eye or crossing my hands a certain way, something terrible would happen. Those rituals gave me a sense of control. My parents said they thought it would be good to talk with a psychologist, which for a 13-year-old was quite daunting. I went, talked to someone, and it really helped. The psychologist diagnosed me with depression, and I started taking antidepressant medication.

Boris: At 13?

Jack: Thirteen, yes.

Boris: Wow.

Jack: Around the same time, my brother asked Santa for a bike for Christmas. Being the jealous older brother, I thought that if he got one, I wanted one too. Christmas morning there was a bike under the tree. My personality has always been a bit obsessive. If I do something, I go all in. I started riding and really enjoying it. Then I got more competitive and started racing.

Boris: Was it already a race bike or just a normal one?

Jack: It was a proper race bike, with drop handlebars and skinny tires.

Boris: Okay.

Jack: I was quite young to be on it, but I loved going fast and loved the competitive side of chasing someone and trying to win a sprint. All through school, the bike and the exercise really helped my mental health. I thought it was the antidepressants helping, but in hindsight it was the exercise that made the biggest difference.

Jack: After finishing school, I felt, like many people, that I had to go to university. So I studied construction management and economics. During that time, I stopped cycling. I was 18, going out, partying. I figured I wanted to be an adult, and cycling felt like something from my childhood. That obsessive part of my mind kicked in again, and I started using drugs. I developed a serious addiction.

I was lucky that I still got through university. It was during a construction boom in Australia, so I could work while studying. But eventually, I ended up in rehab with severe depression and suicidal thoughts. I was not in a good place. When I came out, my dad said, “Why don’t you get back on a bike?” I thought that was the last thing I wanted to do. Eventually, I did, and I fell in love with it again overnight.

I realized I did not want to race anymore. I just wanted to ride long distances. I told my dad that I wanted to make a career out of cycling. He asked how that was possible if I was not racing. I said I did not know yet, but I would figure it out. I quit my well-paying job in construction and started from scratch.

I found that I could apply the skills I had learned in contract negotiation and partnerships to the cycling industry in a way others had not done before. I started documenting my extreme rides in Asia. It grew from there to where it is today: a full-time job, working with some of the biggest brands in cycling, and now shifting my focus to large-scale social impact projects. I use extreme rides as a way to tell stories, often around mental health or encouraging more people to get out and exercise.

Boris: That is amazing. So you raise awareness with the platform you have built, doing extreme things that get attention and inspire people.

Jack: Exactly.

Boris: I am big into snowboarding, and what you describe reminds me of snowboarders who build careers by filming video parts and creating content instead of doing competitions. I did not know that existed in cycling, but it seems you are the pioneer of that.

Jack: Yes, it is almost like the freeski model. You make video parts instead of lining up at competitions.

Boris: That is so cool. Do you still like to compete, maybe against yourself?

Jack: I do challenges known as “fastest known times” or Guinness world records. For example, last year we did the fastest time to cross Japan from the very south to the very north, setting a world record. You could say it is still competition, but not in the traditional sense where everyone lines up at once. You choose your moment and test your limits.

Boris: I have seen a bunch of your videos. You have been to Japan quite a lot and set a few records there, right?

Jack: I really enjoy life in Japan.

Boris: I can see that from your background in the video too, those pumpkins look very Japanese. I live in Japan with my family, and I have to say it is a great place. People are really dedicated to their hobbies. I am not sure how many cyclists you meet there, but there are plenty.

Jack: Yes, it is a very safe place to ride. People are respectful. Compared to Australia, it is another world.

Boris: Same with surfing here. Surfing is a big part of the culture, and there is a great community around it. When Japanese people get into something, there is no holding back. They go all in and become experts.

Boris: You mentioned mental health before. You also wrote about it on your website, and if you do not mind, I would love to go a bit deeper into that. You were diagnosed with depression at 13, which is quite rare. Was that diagnosis difficult to accept or was it clear from the start?

Jack: For me, it was not really a shock. I was never in denial about it. I know that some people struggle to accept such a diagnosis, but for me it was almost a relief. It gave me a sense of direction, something I could work on. It helped me understand that there was a reason I was feeling that way, and that there were things I could do to move forward. I never felt ashamed of it. I accepted it and focused on getting better.

Looking back, I am not sure how difficult it was for the psychologist to make the diagnosis, but I was seeing him twice a week. Things were quite bad at the time, so it must have been fairly clear to him that something was going on.

Boris: And ADHD did not come up back then?

Jack: No, and that is what is interesting. I was only diagnosed with ADHD last year, at 35. It happened by chance. I was talking with someone who runs a psychiatric clinic in Australia. I was working on a project to set a record on a remote trail, and afterwards I planned to visit schools along the route to talk to kids about the power of goal setting and chasing dreams.

One of the sponsors for that project was that same psychiatric clinic. While driving to one of the schools, the guy said to me, “Have you ever thought about doing ADHD testing?” I laughed and said no. He explained that ADHD is not just the hyperactive kid in class who cannot sit still, which is what most people still imagine.

He offered to cover the cost of testing, and I thought, why not? When I did the tests, the psychiatrist said there was no grey area. It was a definite yes. I started medication for ADHD shortly after that.

The best way to describe it is like putting on noise-cancelling headphones. Without medication, my mind is full of noise and scattered thoughts. I am thinking about tomorrow while trying to focus on today. With medication, the noise goes away, and my thoughts become organised. It feels like my mind becomes a list instead of chaos. It was life-changing.

Boris: I can imagine that must have been huge. Probably it also made you look back at different stages of your life and suddenly things made sense.

Jack: Exactly. You start to see patterns and realise why you did certain things.

Boris: That is what I find so interesting too. How it shows up differently in each person. It is not always the stereotype people imagine. Some of it is emotional or social, like how we interact with others, not just the physical side. For example, I can remember random people I met years ago, people who probably never think of me anymore, but they still pop into my head almost every day. It is like they get stuck in there for no reason.

Jack: Yes, I know that feeling.

Boris: Earlier you mentioned your addiction. The medication you take now for ADHD is very different from those drugs. Do you think back then you were self-medicating in some way?

Jack: Looking back, yes. I think a lot of my addiction and obsessive behaviour came from chasing dopamine. I did not have enough of it naturally. I often felt flat, almost numb to what was happening around me. Drugs and partying were my way of trying to feel something. Tattoos too. I got many of them when I was younger, chasing that same little high each time.

Now, with the medication, I actually feel alive. Before, I was just existing. I was not really living. These days I wake up early, excited to start the day. Sometimes I wake up at four in the morning, two hours before my alarm, because I cannot wait to get going.

Boris: That is amazing.

Jack: It really is. It has changed everything.

Boris: Have you noticed that you get more cycling done too now?

Jack: Yes, definitely. One thing I learned over the years, even before the diagnosis, is how to harness hyper-focus. When something does not interest me, like school used to, my mind just drifts. But when I find something I love, like cycling, I can channel all my energy into it. Now, with medication, that focus is even stronger.

I have also learned to use it in positive ways. For example, I can now sit down for hours editing a video, something I would never have had the patience for before. If I have a bad day on the bike, I do not fixate on it anymore. I can move on. It has brought a sense of calm and balance.

Boris: What else has changed since your diagnosis?

Jack: My wife would say I am much more relaxed. Before, I was constantly stressed because I had so many thoughts and to-dos running through my mind. I felt tense all the time. Now that pressure is gone.

I used to get obsessive about things like diet and weight, which as an athlete can become unhealthy. If I ate dessert, I would feel guilty. Now I am more balanced. I train hard and I know it is fine. My anxiety level is much lower.

Boris: Do you think that is mostly because of the medication, or is it also from understanding yourself better?

Jack: Both. The medication helps a lot, but understanding why I am the way I am has been equally important. Before, I always felt different and did not understand why. I tried to change things about myself that I could not. Now that I understand what was really going on, I can accept it and work with it.

Boris: Yes, I completely get that. It is like finding your own user manual, both for yourself and for the people around you. I sometimes joke about blaming things on ADHD, but really it is not an excuse. It is context. It helps others understand how I operate.

Jack: Exactly. Do you take medication yourself?

Boris: Not at the moment. I have been hesitant, though I might try it one day. I have been finding more natural ways that make me feel similar to being medicated. Surfing, for example. I live near the coast in Chiba, so I can surf often. Cold water puts me in a really good state. Also, I use Brain.fm, this app that plays special focus music. It helps me concentrate for half an hour or even three hours at a time.

Jack: I have heard of that.

Boris: Yes, it works surprisingly well. So for now, I prefer these natural methods.

Jack: That makes sense.

Boris: There is a saying, “get high on your own supply.” It is from Wim Hof, the breathing guy. Breathing has been a big thing for me too. I have had asthma all my life, and I only recently understood how much it affects me. I had a bad asthma attack earlier this year and finally decided to do something about it. I got nose surgery so I can breathe properly again. I had a chronic sinus infection for years. Now I can finally breathe through both sides, and that already makes a big difference.

Jack: That is great. Have you ever used one of these devices?

Boris: What is that, a nose cleaner?

Jack: It is actually a lung trainer. It helps strengthen the lungs. I use it twice a day. It can be really good for asthma.

Boris: What is it called?

Jack: It is called Power Breathe. I can put you in contact with them if you like.

Boris: That sounds great, I will try it. Funny that you had it right there on your desk.

Jack: Yes, I keep it close.

Boris: I once read that almost everyone riding in the Tour de France has some form of diagnosed asthma. Is that true?

Jack: Probably. Many of them take medication with exemptions for it.

Boris: That was a crazy fact. Have you ever raced the Tour de France?

Jack: No, not the actual race. But last week I was in France and rode the entire Tour de France route on my own terms, using the original gear setup they used back in the day. It was 400 kilometers per day for six days. It was wild.

Boris: Wow. Let’s talk a bit more about the extreme side of cycling. You are often described as the most extreme cyclist on earth. Do you think that is true?

Jack: That is what the media says. There are a few people out there doing similar things now, but maybe a few years ago I was pushing the limits more than most. It is becoming more popular these days.

As I have gotten older, I have realised I need to build longevity into what I do. Doing something extremely hard just for the sake of it is often ego driven. I now try to attach my projects to a greater purpose. That gives me more motivation and makes it more meaningful both physically and mentally.

Boris: You need a good reason to keep going.

Jack: Exactly. We have done projects that raised a lot of money for charities, and those always felt the most rewarding. When it gets hard, knowing there is a purpose behind it helps me keep pushing. When it is just about going faster or beating a record, I lose the love for it. I still love extreme challenges, but now they need to mean something.

Boris: What would you say has been the most extreme thing you have done?

Jack: In 2022, I did a year-long project to climb one million meters of elevation. The physical toll on my body was huge. The level of weekly fatigue was greater than what riders experience in the Tour de France, and I kept that up for fifty-two weeks.

Boris: And you reached the million?

Jack: Yes, I did. We raised half a million euros for three mental health charities and set a few world records along the way. But you could not pay me to do it again.

Boris: Yet you are still doing this kind of thing. How does your mind and body feel in those extreme situations? Looking back with your ADHD in mind, is there a special sense of clarity that comes with it?

Jack: During the challenge itself, it is incredibly hard. You often ask yourself why you are doing it. You are pushing to the absolute limit on very little sleep. Sometimes you hallucinate. Things can get really strange. When you finally finish, the sense of achievement is amazing, but it fades quickly.

I have always struggled with what I call post-event blues. As soon as I achieve something, I start thinking about the next challenge. I find it hard to sit still and celebrate. I enjoy the process more than the event itself. I love the structure, the daily training, the routine of eating the same thing every day. That gives me a sense of control. The event itself is great but brutally hard.

Boris: When you travel or go on these long tours, do you manage to keep your routines?

Jack: I try to. Before a big event, I keep everything as normal as possible. Once it begins, I accept that the next few days will be unpredictable. I might not know where I will sleep, what I will eat, or how my body will react. I just keep pedaling. That is my job during those days. When it is over, I return to my routine. That balance helps me cope.

Boris: What keeps you motivated to do all of this? Do you think your ADHD plays a role in how far you are able to push yourself?

Jack: I think it does. I have been working with a charity in the United States called Outride that researches the mental health benefits of cycling. They have found that many top athletes, regardless of sport, show signs of neurodivergence such as ADHD or depression, even if they never talk about it publicly.

I do not think it is a requirement, but I think it can become an advantage if you learn how to use it. For me, cycling started as a coping mechanism. It still is, in many ways.

Boris: That is similar to what motivated me to start the Neurospicy Founders group. Neurodivergence seems to be overrepresented among entrepreneurs, artists, and probably athletes too. Something drives us to do things differently. You probably look at a route that takes others a week and think, I could do that in a day.

Jack: Yes, exactly. It is a gift. The challenge is learning how to harness it.

Boris: I love that. Harnessing the gift. Everyone in our group will relate to that. What are some of your small routines or hacks that help you stay balanced?

Jack: I always keep a list of what I need to do. If I have ten tasks and complete eight, I will forget the other two unless they are written down. So I use the Notes app on my phone and tick things off as I go. It keeps me focused and gives me a sense of satisfaction.

Boris: Same here. I cannot start work until I have written down what I need to do.

Jack: Exactly. Another important thing is a consistent morning routine. Starting the day right makes everything else fall into place.

For me, I wake up and do a quick stretch, then drink a large glass of water with electrolyte salts. After that, I take another glass of water with an immune-boosting powder called AG1, then I have coffee. I do it the same way every day, whether I am home or traveling. It gives me a sense of stability and control, and I feel good knowing the day has started right.

Another thing that helps, and I think anyone can use it, is what I call the mirror commitment. Before a big event or an important meeting, I go into the bathroom, look myself in the eye, and make a promise to achieve what I set out to do. It is like a handshake with myself. Later, when things get hard, I remember that moment and push forward because I made that promise.

Boris: That is powerful. I actually have something perfect for you. Have you heard of the Daruma doll?

Jack: No, what is that?

Boris: It is a small red doll from Japan. It has two eyes that are blank when you buy it. You make a wish or a commitment to a goal, then you fill in one eye. You place it somewhere visible, and it looks at you every day with one eye open, reminding you that the goal is not yet complete. When you achieve it, you fill in the second eye.

Jack: I love that. That is really cool.

Boris: I will send you one.

Jack: Please do. I need one in my office.

Boris: It is a great Japanese tradition. So your mirror commitment is basically your own Daruma moment. When did you start doing that?

Jack: About three or four years ago. I heard someone else talk about it and decided to try it. It worked, so I kept doing it. It feels like there is someone watching, holding me accountable. It sounds funny, but it really helps.

Boris: That is brilliant. You mentioned nutrition earlier. How does it affect your mental health?

Jack: My relationship with nutrition is complicated. I have kind of lost the sense of what real hunger feels like because I eat for performance. Sometimes I cannot tell if I am eating because I am hungry or because I think I should.

I have tried different diets, restricted calories, and so on. What works best for me now is just listening to my body and eating when I am hungry. I try to eat natural foods. When I am on long rides, I eat a lot of sugar and junk food because I burn ten thousand calories a day. At home, I prefer yogurt, nuts, and simple, whole foods. I think as long as you listen to your body, you cannot go too wrong.

My mother has a habit of emotional eating as a form of control, and she is now going through ADHD testing too. It runs in the family.

Boris: I have also heard that high-protein breakfasts can help with ADHD.

Jack: Yes, I have heard that too, but I have not looked into it deeply.

Boris: I noticed when I tried high-protein, low-carb diets, my mind felt very clear. The only problem is it is hard to keep up with those extremes. My Japanese wife always reminds me to keep things balanced. In Japan, people eat everything in small amounts. Meat, fish, beans, vegetables. It is never extreme. That balance seems to work better in the long term.

Jack: That makes sense.

Boris: I have even developed a taste for natto, the sticky fermented soybeans. They smell funny at first, but after a while you get hooked.

Jack: I know the ones. The sticky ones with the strings.

Boris: Yes, exactly.

Jack: Japanese breakfast buffets always make me laugh. There is stuff on the table I cannot even name.

Boris: I know. It is part of the charm.

Boris: It is so fun chatting with you. It feels like we already know each other, even though we have never met.

Jack: I know, it is funny how that happens.

Boris: It makes sense though. Neurodivergent people often find each other. I used to think I just liked talking to other entrepreneurs, but maybe I actually like talking to other ADHD people.

Jack: That is probably true.

Boris: When I think back to university, I could not relate to most people in business school. I was always the creative one. Then in design school, I was the business guy. In German, we have a word for that, “bunter Vogel,” which means “colorful bird.” I was always the colorful bird, wearing streetwear instead of business suits. But that was fine. I only needed a few real connections, and those people were enough.

Jack: Exactly. There is this idea in society that you need a lot of friends. I do not think that is true. I think you just need a few close ones. I am friendly with many people, but I prefer having a small group of close friends that I can really connect with. It is hard for me to stay in touch with a large group anyway.

Boris: Yes, same here.

Jack: I think that is common among neurodivergent people.

Boris: There is a question from one of the members of our group. They wrote that your video brought them to tears and wanted to ask: how has ADHD affected your self-confidence? For example, not being able to retain things the same way others do or having trouble staying motivated and focused. Any advice on building self-confidence?

Jack: That is a really good question. I struggled with self-confidence growing up. I did not have many friends and often felt like an outsider. That probably contributed to the depression I was diagnosed with when I was young. I could sense that I was different but did not understand why.

What has really helped my confidence is finding purpose. When I was studying at university, I did not enjoy it. I was doing what I thought I was supposed to do, not what I wanted to do. Once I discovered what I was passionate about and started pursuing it seriously, I felt more grounded. That gave me confidence because I finally understood myself and my path.

People often think confidence comes from external things, like how someone looks or what they own. For me, confidence comes from within. It is about feeling aligned with what you do, knowing you are doing it for a reason that matters.

Boris: That is a beautiful answer. There was another question from the group about friendships and relationships. How has ADHD affected your ability to build and maintain them?

Jack: I have always found friendships difficult. I am friendly with everyone, but forming close relationships takes work for me. I often felt disappointed when others did not give the same level of commitment that I did. For example, in team sports, if someone was not giving one hundred and ten percent, it frustrated me. That attitude sometimes made me seem distant or overly intense.

Because of that, I often ended up isolating myself. Only recently have I started to understand that better and work on it. I am learning that not everyone operates the same way, and that is okay.

Boris: That makes sense. You spend so much time alone on the bike. You must be very comfortable in your own company.

Jack: Yes, but I have also learned how important a team can be. I ride alone, but I now work with a team behind the scenes. I have a videographer, someone managing logistics, and someone managing content. In the past, I tried to do everything myself. Letting go of control was hard, but it was necessary. If you want to take things to the next level, you need to work with others and trust them.

Boris: That is a great lesson. What is next for you? What are you focusing on now?

Jack: This year, I have one more big project in India, climbing the world’s three highest roads. That will be in September. Looking ahead, I want to focus more on large-scale social impact projects and public speaking. I am heading back to Australia later this month to be the keynote speaker at an ADHD medical conference in Sydney. I will be talking about my experiences and raising awareness.

Next year, we are planning a major project in the United States. I want everything I do to connect to a bigger cause. That is where I see my future going.

Boris: That sounds incredible. The great thing about cycling is that everyone can relate to it. Almost everyone has ridden a bike at some point, even if it is just to school or work. When they see the distances you ride, they immediately understand how incredible it is.

Jack: Exactly. And beyond cycling itself, it is about encouraging people to exercise in general. Physical activity is one of the most powerful tools for mental health, yet it is often overlooked. I want to help people see that connection more clearly.

Boris: Yes, I agree completely. Cycling is such a good way to do it. It is easier on the body than running, and with electric bikes now, even more people can get into it. I recently went cycling in Austria with my dad using e-bikes, and it was amazing to share that experience across generations.

Jack: That is great. I ride with my dad too sometimes. He uses an e-bike, and it allows us to ride together, which is really special.

Boris: That is beautiful. Is there anything else you would like to share before we wrap up?

Jack: I just want to say I am really excited to join the Neurospicy Founders Slack group and get to know everyone better. It has been a busy few weeks on the road, but I am looking forward to connecting with the community.

Boris: You are very welcome there. The Slack group is still small, but it is growing. It is hard at first to get conversations flowing, but people slowly start connecting. I think what makes it special is that everyone there can be fully themselves.

We also do monthly calls, which are the heart of it. Finding a time that works for everyone around the world is tricky, but we make it work. In those calls, we start by introducing ourselves, then collect questions from the group and talk through them one by one. The atmosphere is very open. People share things they would never mention in a work meeting, like feeling uncomfortable using certain tools or struggling with focus. It is refreshing.

The community is open to anyone who feels this topic resonates with them. We do not check diagnoses. If someone feels they belong, they do. The only thing I check for is whether they are founders or entrepreneurs, because that gives us a shared foundation to talk about leadership, teams, and creative challenges.

I think it would be really interesting to have more athletes like you in the mix. You are essentially running your own business as well, managing sponsors, logistics, and creative projects. You bridge that world beautifully.

Do you know any other athletes who also talk openly about neurodivergence?

Jack: There are not many in cycling who do. I do know one guy named Phil. He owns a bike shop in London that focuses on biomechanics and proper bike fitting. He has written a couple of bestselling books and was recently diagnosed with ADHD along with his daughter. He is also an entrepreneur, so he might be a good person for your group.

Boris: That sounds perfect.

Jack: There is also another person named Martin Weir. He runs a mental health startup and psychiatric clinic in Australia. They are developing AI tools to help diagnose ADHD. He is neurodivergent himself and works with a team of top psychiatrists. He would also be a great person for you to connect with.

Boris: I will look them both up. Thank you for sharing that, and thank you so much for your time. This was a really meaningful conversation.

Jack: My pleasure. Sorry again for running late earlier.

Boris: No worries at all. I hope you have a wonderful rest of the day. Talk to you soon.

Jack: You too. See you.

Jack’s Website
Jack Ultra Cyclist — https://www.jackultracyclist.com/

YouTube Channel
Jack Ultra Cyclist — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChPQTOpYjCiO1hGbN5CGmpQ

Instagram
Jack Thompson (@jackultracyclist) — https://www.instagram.com/jackultracyclist/

Photo credit: Tristan Cardew