An honorary Alumni of Bangor University has been knighted for his service to cycling.
Sir David Brailsford, 48, was knighted in the New Year’s Honours along with Olympic medallist Bradley Wiggins, Ben Ainslie and other Olympic heroes.
The British Cycling performance director is known for masterminding Wiggin’s Tour de France success as well as Team Great Britain’s victories in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, where they achieved a massive haul of 8 medals in each event.
The 48 year-old, from Caernarfon, also received coach of the year for 2012, after Team GB enjoyed ongoing successes under Brailsford’s leadership, and Britain became the leading nation in the sport.
Brailsford’s contributions to cycling was also recognised with an MBE in 2005 and a CBE in 2008, and other sports and large businesses have sought to replicate his method of sustained success.
After beginning his career as a professional cycler at the age of 19, Brailsford in 1996 was taken on as an advisor to British cycling and has since been in the position of programme director until he was given the role of performance director. A Team Sky Principal, the welsh-man admitted that his achievements of 2012 were not his alone, but that they in fact resulted in achievements after a team effort constructed over a lengthy period of time.
Having received a doctorate from the University of Chester where he studied Sport and Exercise Science, as well as being an honorary Alumni of the university, his reputation and efforts in cycling have increased the prestige and reputation of the area considerably.
Brailsford’s knighting caps off an unbelievable year for British cycling, and as Brailsford recapped his journey with British cycling he commented: “All of a sudden the sport is a little bit more well known than it was and that has been a truly remarkable journey, and a lot of fun to be part of.” However, he admits that he still finds the experience of being knighted surreal, though humbling.
