Adrian Timmis: Cyclist Profile

I began cycling thirty years ago; like most people, I started by going out with the local club. As my interest grew, I began to compete. I can still remember my first event, which was a schoolboy race around Walsall Arberetum in 1977. Within four years I progressed to become National Junior Pursuit Champion leading to me representing my country at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games as a team pursuiter. 1985 was the start of my road career; during this year I won a stage of the Milk Race as an amateur. In 1986 I turned pro, riding for ANC and with this team, in 1987, I became one of only twenty three riders (to date) to have completed the Tour de France (yes, it was bloody hard, I was never quite the same again!).

At twenty-three, I was one of the youngest tour riders. In the month leading up to the Tour I won a stage of the Midi Libre, one of France's biggest stage races after the Tour. In 1989 I started to mix in a bit of mountain bike racing for the first time, finishing second (to the great Tim Gould) in a National Points Series race, in my first ever MTB race. I retired from being a full time athlete in 1996 and had a few years of 'non-racing', during which I managed a few excursions for the GB road and MTB teams, took my coaching qualifications and trained as a masseur and worked as team masseur to the Linda McCartney Pro Team and GB MTB Team.

Never one to lie dormant for long, after four years I set myself the challenge to get fit for the Chesterfield Spire Christmas 10 mile T.T. completing it in a PB time of 20:20. More recently, I've combined working full-time with competing in cyclo-cross races. 2004/5 was a big year for me as it was my first full season doing cross and also I turned forty - a Veteran. I still decided to compete with the elite guys, finishing fourth in the Elite National Trophy, fourth in the UK rankings and competing for GB for the first time at cyclo-cross in a Belgium World Cup.

I've represented Great Britain at World Championship and World Cup level at road, track, MTB and cyclo-cross - hmm, still got BMXing and speedway to try...

See Adrian's results. >>

More coaches coming soon...