Double Olympic medallist joins university

A double Olympic cycling medallist has joined the University of Derby to head up its performance cycling programme.

Bryan Steel represented Team GB at four Olympic Games from 1992 to 2004, winning a bronze in the team pursuit at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and a silver medal in the same discipline at the 2004 Athens Games.

He has been appointed head coach of the university’s Team Derby Performance Sport Cycling programme, which supports student athletes in track, mountain biking and road cycling to develop as athletes and study for a degree.

Cyclists on the programme attend weekly sessions at the state-of-the art velodrome at Derby Arena and are offered a comprehensive support package to help them balance their studies and training.

Bryan said: “Over the last eight years my passion has been to support and develop young talented cyclists to achieve their full potential.

“Now, working with the University of Derby, I feel we have the chance to develop one of the best rider pathways while giving each rider a better career opportunity inside and outside the sport.”