University of Kent Richardson for Tour of Britain

 

Story posted 5th September, 2008

Source; University of Kent

Above: Professor Louis Passfield coaches Tour of Britain rider Simon Richardson at the University of Kent's Medway campus.

As Britain's biggest cycling event, the Tour of Britain, starts working its way around the country this weekend, one of its competitors will be hoping to benefit from a degree of special training at the University of Kent. Cyclist Simon Richardson has visited the University's Centre for Sports Studies, based at the Medway campus, in preparation for the gruelling eight-day contest.

 

He was put through his paces by the University's sports chief, Professor Louis Passfield, who wrote a personal training programme for the rider and devised a series of tests to measure his fitness and endurance. A former mountain biker, Richardson is a member of the Plowman Craven racing team. There are 16 teams taking part in the race, which starts in London on Sunday (7 September) and finishes in Liverpool on 14 September.

 

As the team's top finisher in 2007, the rider said he is hoping Plowman Craven can win one of the Tour of Britain's eight stages - and was quick to praise the University of Kent's contribution. 'The fitness rooms were impressive and a pleasure to use. Professor Passfield's training programme has been a hugely valuable part of my run-up to the main event,' he said.

 

Professor Louis Passfield, the University's Director for the Centre for Sports Studies, has been a consultant in sports science and sports nutrition for 18 years. As a senior member of British Cycling - the national governing body for cycle racing in Great Britain - he has worked with a range of Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games cyclists.

 

This year he also acted as fitness coach and sports science consultant for mountain biker Oli Beckingsale, who recently competed in the Beijing Olympic Games.

 

Professor Passfield, who has served as a government advisor on the national strategy for sport and physical activity in Wales, said his work with professional riders would enhance the University of Kent's reputation for excellence in teaching. 'I've been lucky enough to work with some of the best riders in the world, which gives me a golden opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to the real demands of elite athletes,' he said. 'It's my goal that that the insights and skills I gain from this kind of experience are passed directly on to our students.'

 

The University's sports facilities are based in its award-winning £7 million Medway Building. Resources available to students include a 12-couch teaching clinic, a sports and human performance testing laboratory and sport-specific software for dietary and motion analysis.

 

The University of Kent is also leading the field when it comes to sports students who are satisfied with their studies. In the most recent National Student Survey, Kent is ranked at joint number one in the United Kingdom for students who say they are satisfied with the overall quality of their degree courses in sports sciences.

 

The University plans to provide professional training camps at the Medway campus, which will help elite athletes prepare for the London 2012 Games using its sports therapy and rehabilitation facilities.