A host of Great Britain Cycling Team riders sent their own messages of thanks to NHS staff as part of the national ‘Clap for Carers’ initiative last night.

During the ongoing COVID19 crisis, the country is being urged to show its appreciation of the magnificent work of the healthcare staff across Britain by applauding from their homes at 8pm every Thursday evening.

On behalf of the entire cycling community, the likes of Katie Archibald, Dame Sarah Storey, Ed Clancy, Steve Bate, Elinor Barker and Helen Scott all added their thanks.

In it, Olympic champion Archibald says:

“I’ve heard sportspeople labelled heroes; heroes for running faster, jumping higher, pedalling harder. But while the current Coronavirus crisis has almost an entire nation scared and anxious, our real heroes have been tackling that crisis head on, putting other people’s lives and safety ahead of their own.

“We at the Great Britain Cycling Team and British Cycling want to add our thanks to the nation’s heroes. To Britain’s frontline workers and our NHS, thank you.”

British Cycling’s Chief Executive, Julie Harrington, added:

“It was lovely to see our riders joining the rest of the country in thanking our frontline workers, and very reflective of the current mood within British Cycling and the Great Britain Cycling Team.

“Like everyone, we are full of admiration and pride for NHS staff and all those currently working so hard on our behalf, and as Katie says, putting other people’s safety ahead of their own. We represent over 160,000 members and our country’s entire cycling community, and our riders wanted to make this statement on their behalf.

“Of those 160,000 members, there are a large number of NHS staff, and while we have sent a personal ‘thank you’ to them, we are determined to do everything we can as an organisation to support all those frontline workers during this current crisis.”