The two-time Paralympic gold medallist will be inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame at the 2026 British Cycling Awards, presented by Lloyds in November, having retired from elite competition following his fifth world title in October last year.

It has provided him time to reflect on his achievements, which include five Paralympic medals and nine World Championship podiums across road and track, that he thought would never come after picking up the sport at 36 years old.

“When I started my journey, I never thought that I'd get to rub shoulders with some of those riders in person. To then have this induction into the Hall of Fame is pretty amazing, really. That's something I can't quite fathom,” said the 49-year-old, who is based in Levens.

“When you're in that process, you're always looking ahead. You get one race done, and it's always the next race, always the next race, and you never really reflect that much.

“So, over this last year, what we achieved as a team has really sunk in, and it's been pretty special.”

Bate was diagnosed with a degenerative visual impairment, retinitis pigmentosa, in 2011, before joining the British Cycling Paralympic Development Programme in 2013, only after scaling El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

Originally from New Zealand, he moved to Moray in Scotland in adulthood and competed for his newfound home on two wheels, alongside pilot Adam Duggleby and later Chris Latham.

“It wasn't really until I got my diagnosis that I had the opportunity to get involved with para-sport,” he explained.

“I thought my sporting days had long passed me. I certainly wasn't a young man when I turned up at the front door of British Cycling.

“I probably wouldn't have had the same success if I'd come into it younger. I don't think I would have had the same mindset and determination, which is probably why I never really achieved anything in sport at a younger age.

“I think coming in with a bit more life experience and maturity really helped me focus and understand what I needed to do and how I needed to do it.

“It's about grasping opportunities. That's all I did. My wife and I sat down and, when the opportunity arose, it was like, well, you've just got to take it with both hands.

“That’s probably the thing I've shared with a lot of people outside British Cycling, and certainly a lot of the youngsters who've come through since I was on the squad.

“You've just got to take these opportunities when they arise, because you never quite know where they'll lead.”

Bate’s experience off the track, as well as on it, was an aspect he embraced later in his career to support the next cohort of talent emerging in the British ranks.

And, while the wins and silverware still shine, it was those moments off the track that stand out most for Bate from his 12-year career.

“I'd probably say that the thing I got most out of my career was helping others,” he reflected.

“Certainly teammates, like a lot of those younger guys, like Manny [Matt] Robertson, Fin Graham, Archie Atkinson. All these youngsters who come into this environment with big dreams.

“It's great to be part of trying to steer them in the right direction and help them achieve them.

“Most of the standout memories aren't so much the wins and the podiums. It's being away with teammates and on training camps. Those moments off the bikes are really the ones that are pretty great memories.”