Heiko Salzwedel returns to British Cycling in Rio Reshuffle
German track coach returns to British Cycling for his third stint. Sprint coach Iain Dyer moves in to a more senior role.
German track coach Heiko Salzwedel will return to British Cycling's Olympic coaching team to take over the men's endurance program. The British men's team pursuit squad has lost ground to the Australian's since London 2012 with few competitive rides under the four minute mark and no new talent breaking in to the four-man line-up.
If Bradley Wiggins returns to the track squad after Paris-Roubaix next year, as he has suggested, Salzwedel will oversee his training program.
Salzwedel's appointment comes as part of a re-shuffle that will see long-term sprint coach Iain Dyer become coach coordinator with responsibilities across BC's sprint and endurance programs.
Paul Manning will return to coaching the women's team pursuit squad that he lead to a string of world record beating performances up to and including the London Olympics. Chris Newton has been appointed men's endurance Olympic Academy coach, a role he previously held prior to 2012.
This is Salzwedel's third appointment with the British track squad. He first came in to the coaching setup after the Sydney Olympics, but left in 2002. He returned as Performance Manager late in 2008 after taking the Danish team pursuit squad to Beijing where they won a silver medal.
After that he went to the Russian set-up where, despite the huge budget at his disposal, he only enjoyed sporadic success, mainly with the sprinters. The Russian team pursuit squad briefly looked like becoming a force to be reckoned with when they posted a three minute 56 second ride to win the Kazakhstan world cup in November 2011. They finished fourth in the team pursuit at the London Olympics but the nation failed to take any medals in the track competition.
This latest appointment comes one month after Kiwi Justin Grace joined the sprint coaching team after a short period running the French track program.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The next competition for the British team is the European Championships in Guadaloupe. The London world cup takes place on December 5 - 7 with the 2015 world championships in Paris next February.
Bradley Wiggins's track return will boost GB, says Shane Sutton
Great Britain's technical director says the 34-year-old's return to the team pursuit set-up can galvanise the entire track squad.
Thank you for reading 20 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
Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.
-
Buying a saddle online without a fit is a risky move — here's how to find the best perch for you
Getting your saddle right makes all the difference, we spoke to an expert to help guide you in the process
By Rob Kemp Published
-
Guava Spot Force AXS review: the Catalan gravel bike that loves tarmac too
It just doesn’t deal with fast asphalt, rocky terrain, sandy stretches and damp conditions, but it excels across them. It’s fast, aggressive, nimble, stable, and above all compliant.
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'I was in hospital six weeks ago': 80-year-old Brit wins three world titles
Former Olympian track cyclist Geoff Cooke trains up to 300 miles a week
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Britain's lost track sprinter returns as Olympic medallist Matthew Richardson switches nationality
'This decision is about following my passion and pushing myself to new heights,' says 25-year-old, who until now has represented Australia
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I slept in a horse barn' - Meet the track cyclist who funded his own way to the Paris Olympics
South African Jean Spies is a two-time Olympian, thanks to his determination and the generosity of others
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We'll see quite a few world records fall' - Why the Paris Olympics velodrome is one of the fastest in the world
An extra metre's width provides the perfect playground for track sprinters
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Team USA's Olympic hopes land on the shoulders of its female athletes
For the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, USA Cycling has set the ambitious goal of securing 7-10 medals, placing their hopes squarely on the shoulders of their female athletes.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Herne Hill Velodrome expecting 'smashfest' as UCI track event returns
GB athletes set to go up against local riders at South London Grand Prix this week
By Tom Davidson Published
-
GB cyclist breaks gym record with mega 250kg squat
'The more I've lifted in the gym, the faster I've felt on the bike,' says new record-holder Matt Rotherham
By Tom Davidson Published
-