A product of British Cycling’s Great Britain Cycling Team Academy Programme, Mark Cavendish is now one of the world's most recognizable sportsmen and generally regarded as cycling's leading road sprinter.
Bradley was born in Ghent, Belgium but grew up in London near to the Herne Hill Velodrome, where he started racing at the age of 12. Track was his main focus in his younger years and his first World Championship medal came as a junior in 1997 when he won the Individual Pursuit title in Cuba.
Chris Froome has emerged as one of Great Britain’s top road riders, having joined the British Cycling Olympic Podium Programme in 2011, a year in which he announced himself on the world stage.
Ian turned professional on the road in 2008 with the Belgian Landbouwkrediet team and in 2010 he joined Team Sky. In 2011, Ian was part of the eight-man team who helped lead Mark Cavendish to victory at the UCI Road World Championships in Copenhagen.
David Millar was born in Malta as his father, a RAF pilot, was based there during a tour of duty. David bought a mountain bike and competed in local races before purchasing a road bike when he was 15. After his A-Levels, he returned to the UK and joined a cycling club in High Wycombe where he showed great talent and as such, moved to France aged 18 to race.
Lizzie Armitstead is one of British Cycling’s success stories having risen up through the ranks of the Olympic Programmes after being spotted on the school playing fields aged just 15.
As 2008 Olympic and World Road Race Champion and ten times British Road Race Champion, Nicole Cooke is one of British Cycling’s most successful cycling stars.
Emma began cycling at University in order to cross train because of a running injury and has since gone from strength to strength. The 2008 Beijing Olympics saw her take the silver medal in the Time Trial. In the road race, Emma’s strength and climbing skills were integral in whittling down the competition and helping team mate Nicole Cooke take the gold medal.
Lucy was spotted by British Cycling’s Talent Team coaches at the age of 15 and soon after joined the Olympic Academy Programme in 2008, winning Silver for GB in the Points race in Manchester.
If this summer has inspired you to get on a bike...