Olympic coach role for Chris

CYCLING:

OLYMPIC medallist Chris Newton, who lives in Chadderton, will pull together Great Britain’s women’s road squad ahead of the London Olympics.

British Cycling confirmed Newton, a Games medallist on the track in Sydney, Athens and Beijing, will combine his role as coach of the men’s endurance academy with his new post, as Britain defend the Olympic gold won by Nicole Cooke in 2008.

The 38–year–old’s first task is to ensure there is no lingering discontent after the public spat which followed last September's World Championships in Copenhagen, when nominated team leader Lizzie Armitstead accused Cooke of riding “for herself”.

Newton will work with six riders, with the International Cycling Union set to confirm on May 31 if the hosts have qualified the maximum number of four riders for the 140–kilometre event, which takes place on July 29 and finishes on The Mall.

He said: “It’s a privilege to be working with such a talented group of riders and I am looking forward to this new challenge.”

The squad have already trained on the Olympic road course and at Hampton Court Palace, the venue for the August 1 29km time–trial.