Promising track star Germain Burton has left the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme, the organisation has confirmed.
The 21-year-old rider, son of former British national track champion Maurice Burton, was considered one of British Cycling’s hottest prospects, having impressed on both track and road in his short career.
>>> How British Cycling’s nightmare week unfolded
Burton won a bronze medal in the team pursuit at January’s UCI Track World Cup meeting in Cali, Colombia, alongside Matt Gibson, Christoper Latham and Mark Stewart, securing Great Britain’s World Cup gold in the process, but has since decided to leave the organisation.
Burton declined to comment on his departure from the programme, but it is not believed that his decision to leave British Cycling's programme was related to allegations of sexism and bullying within the British team.
Watch: Nine beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
His father Maurice was himself a three-time British national champion on the track, before being forced to retire following a serious crash at the Buenos Aires Six Day race in 1984.
Burton seemed destined to replicate, or even surpass, his father’s success in the sport when he burst onto the scene by winning the famous Bec CC hill-climb in 2010 at the age of just 15, defending his title the following year.
Burton won the team pursuit at the British National Track Championships in both 2014 and 2015 and looked likely to equal his dad’s mark of three national championships this year.
Burton is currently working at his father’s bike shop, De Ver Cycles in Streatham, while he decides on the next step in his career.
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Power vs aerodynamics: what is the best balance and how can I achieve it?
Watts and aerodynamics are two cornerstones of our cycling performance - but favoring only one will see you going slower than a more balanced approach. Here’s our guide to better optimising your speed
-
Even Wout van Aert can lose his nerve: Five things we learned from the CX World Championships
Even with the absence of Tom Pidcock on the world stage, British cyclo-cross is in a good place
-
'Just don't wreck yourself' - Fred Wright on his GB track gamble and the Olympics
The Bahrain Victorious rider is set to compete at the European Track Championships next week
-
'Chris Hoy said the British coaches may be kicking themselves’ - Britain’s lost track cycling champion
British-born Australian Matthew Richardson has fast become one of the world's best track sprinters
-
Academy programme where Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas started is cut back
British Cycling academy to work with development teams to provide riders with more exposure to top level racing
-
GB's Neah Evans claims stunning first world title on final day of Track World Championships
Great Britain finishes with 10 medals, after Madison silver and elimination race bronze
-
Ethan Hayter bags second gold for GB on Track World Championships day four
The Brit brought his country's medal tally to seven as he retained his omnium title
-
Meet the track rider who ditched British Cycling for Barbados, and her parrot Nigel
Animal lover Amber Joseph has her sights set on the Olympics, but it won’t be an easy ride to get there
-
Meet the shop assistant set to race Mathieu van der Poel at the Gravel World Championships
“I’m very excited, but also petrified,” says Metheven Bond, who started racing just over a year ago
-
‘The start of a new era’: British racers and YouTube stars back new on-board cameras rule
The footage has great potential, say Alec Briggs and Cameron Jeffers
