In this episode of Fast Forward, I sit down with Gabriel Müller, professional cyclist, app entrepreneur, and the man legally known in Turkey as Mehmet Şampiyon Bisiklet, to talk about what it really looks like to build a life across borders, stay curious, and keep showing up when comfort tries to kill your edge.
Gabi is one of my closest friends and someone I've looked up to since my Berlin days. He's currently training in Medellín, Colombia, racing under the Turkish flag, running an app business remotely, and navigating everything from cycling team politics to Armenian citizenship applications. This conversation covers a lot of ground, from the inner workings of low-level professional cycling to the mental traps that come with early success in business.

If you're a founder, a creative, or someone trying to figure out how to design a life that actually fits you, this one's for you.

🎙️ We dive into:

Why Medellín might be the best city in the world for cyclists and what Colombia's service culture teaches you about quality
The real story behind legally changing your name to "Champion Cyclist" in Turkey
How cycling team owners pocket sponsor money and what that looks like from the inside
Why Gabi sponsors his own teams and the 50/50 gamble that comes with it
The Armenia citizenship saga, passing a handwritten alphabet test, getting denied, and the lawyer whispering answers
How multiple passports became a survival strategy during COVID
What digital nomad life in Bali actually does to people over time
The naked tea parties of Berlin and why German culture around nudity is a mindfuck for everyone else
How complacency almost destroyed a successful app business during COVID
The therapist who pulled him back to reality and why entrepreneurship and mental health go hand in hand
Why curiosity is the only thing that keeps you improving, in cycling and in business
His five-year vision to own and run a cycling team the right way

Gabi brings a perspective you don't hear often, someone who's lived in five countries, competed professionally in a brutal sport, and built a business entirely on his own terms. This is what building a life looks like when you refuse to settle.

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🎤 Hosted by Jeffrey Mailey
📍 Fast Forward Podcast

#FastForwardPodcast #ProfessionalCycling #AppEntrepreneur #DigitalNomad #MedellínColombia #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #MentalHealth #CuriosityDriven #BuildYourLife

00:00 Introduction to Gabi and His Journey
00:59 Life and Cycling in Colombia
04:25 The Name Change: Mehmet Champion Bicyclette
07:47 Inside the World of Cycling Teams
09:59 Challenges in Professional Cycling
16:30 Pursuing Citizenship in Armenia
17:14 Navigating Immigration Challenges
19:54 The Allure of Multiple Passports
21:01 Living the Digital Nomad Life in Bali
24:15 Cultural Reflections: Berlin vs. Paris
31:52 Evolving Relationships with Cities
34:49 Looking Ahead: Gabi's Future Aspirations
35:47 The Demands of Competitive Cycling
37:15 The Vision of Team Management
39:30 Understanding the Top Cyclists
43:23 Lessons from Entrepreneurship and Mental Well-Being
52:05 Introduction to the Podcast