GB Team Staff Re-Structure

News Posted 8 February 2007

Dave Brailsford, the GB Cycling Team's Performance Director has announced some significant changes to his support staff structure as the team gears up for the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. He outlined the changes:

"Great Britain's Cycling Team currently finds itself at the start of the most challenging and exciting period that has ever had to face. Next year we travel to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics, where we can expect intense competition from established and emerging cycling nations.

(l to r) Simon Jones, Dave Brailsford and Matt Parker

We will travel to Beijing ranked as one of the leading cycling teams in the world. Expectation will be high and we will be expected to deliver greater success than ever before. However, the team is also currently at the start of a longer and even more significant planning period. In 2012 Great Britain will host the Olympics for the first time since 1948 and the pressure on the team to succeed will be intense as we perform in front of our home supporters.

If we get everything right in the build up to London, there is no reason why we cannot exceed even the most optimistic of expectations. However, if we are to achieve the goals we have set ourselves for Beijing and London, it is absolutely essential that we have the right structures and, in particular, back up staff in place now to take us through to 2012 in one smooth, continuous process. It is for that reason that I now wish to announce several changes to the staff team that will support our athletes leading right up to the London Games.

It is therefore with regret that I have to announce that Simon Jones will be leaving the full time coaching staff of British Cycling as these changes come into effect. Simon has always expressed a desire to move on to new challenges after preparing our athletes for Beijing but the renewed emphasis we have placed on our long term strategy for London has brought that change forward by one year. Therefore, with immediate effect , I have asked Matt Parker and Shane Sutton to take over responsibility for our senior men's endurance programme. I must emphasise that, in making these changes, my priority was to build a support team that would take us right through to London in 2012

Simon has been an outstanding Head Coach. When he joined us in 1998 we were at the very start of the process which has seen us evolve into one of the top cycling nations in the world. Simon has brought tremendous personal commitment and enthusiasm to the role and an unquenchable desire for success. He has been instrumental in the successes we have enjoyed over the last few years, delivering numerous Olympic, Commonwealth and World Champions.

It was a proud moment for all of us at British Cycling when Simon was made Coach of the Year by UK Sport in 2004, which not only publicly recognised his contribution to our sport, but also gave an indication of the high esteem in which he was held by other sports federations in UK.

I shall be sorry to see Simon leave us, though we will be maintaining links with him as he has agreed to continue to work with us in an advisory capacity. I wish Simon every success going forward and I'm sure you will all join me in wishing Matt and Shane success in their new roles, as together we strive to deliver more medals at every event in which we participate."

Simon Jones has given the new line-up his support: "I'm fully behind Matt and Shane and a hundred percent confident that they can support the athletes involved to the highest possible level. I wish the team every success in Beijing and London."