The Paralympic, world and Commonwealth medalist Pete Mitchell has today announced his departure from the Great Britain Cycling Team to focus on growing his coaching business, Black Line Coaching.

Mitchell enjoyed a successful early career as a track sprinter on British Cycling’s Olympic Pathway Programme, where he won multiple international medals as a junior and under-23 rider on the Great Britain Cycling Team.

In 2012, Mitchell turned his focus towards being a tandem pilot on the para-cycling squad and went on to win no less than seven world titles, six with Neil Fachie and one with James Ball, as well as winning a silver medal at the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016.

Speaking of his departure, Mitchell said: “My time as a part of the Great Britain Cycling Team has allowed me to experience and achieve so much in the sport that I love. Whilst I will miss the team, the time is right to move on and develop Black Line Coaching to enable me to deliver world class coaching with the same enthusiasm and passion that I rode with throughout my career. I have learned a huge amount as a rider with the Great Britain Cycling Team and cannot wait to share my knowledge and experiences with the riders that I work with."

Stephen Park, Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team said: “Pete is a long-serving member of the Great Britain Cycling Team, and during his time on our programmes he has done our jersey proud. Prior to joining the para-cycling team as a tandem pilot, Pete won a junior world title as well as three European silver medals, all in the team sprint event.

“From there, his transition to a world-class tandem pilot was seamless, with Pete a regular visitor to the podium with the stokers he rode with. He retires from the sport with an impressive palmares and a Paralympic medal to his name.

“Pete has been a huge asset to our team, not just as a rider, but as the inaugural Chair of our Rider Representative Commission. Since its inception in 2018, Pete has demonstrated his leadership skills to give the Great Britain Cycling Team riders a voice, representing their opinions to our Senior Leadership Team, our Executive Leadership Team and the Board with maturity and confidence. The Rider Representative Commission plays a big part in our commitment to rider welfare, and I’d like to thank Pete for driving this group forward.

“On behalf of everyone at British Cycling, I wish Pete the best of luck in his coaching career with his company, Black Line Coaching.”

For more information on Black Line Coaching, click here: https://blacklinecoaching.com/