Dave Brailsford
Encyclopedia
David John Brailsford CBE
(born 29 February 1964) is a Welsh
cycling
coach and is currently British Cycling
's performance director, and the general manager of Team Sky
.
speaker, Brailsford was born in Derby
but brought up in Deiniolen
, near Caernarfon
in Wales
, a son of an Alpine mountain guide.
Brailsford competed in France
for four years as a professional cyclist before returning to the UK
at 23 to study for a degree in sports science
and psychology
before an MBA in Sheffield
Business School.
as an advisor when Lottery funding began. He became programme director before becoming performance director.
Brailsford's British cycling support crew led the British
team to victories at the 2004 Olympic Games
in Athens
.
In 2010, Brailsford also became the manager of the new British based professional team, Team Sky
.
British cycling's 14 medals, including eight golds, at the 2008 Olympics
won him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award
on 14 December 2008. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 29 February 1964) is a Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
coach and is currently British Cycling
British Cycling
British Cycling is the national governing body for cycle racing in Great Britain. It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man...
's performance director, and the general manager of Team Sky
Team Sky
Team Sky is a British professional road bicycle racing team that competes in international road bicycle races. The creation of the team was announced on 26 February 2009 and the team began competition in January 2010....
.
Early life
A WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
speaker, Brailsford was born in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
but brought up in Deiniolen
Deiniolen
Deiniolen is a village in Gwynedd, Wales, at the foot of Elidir Fawr. Deiniolen has views over Caernarfon covering the, and, on a clear day, Holyhead Mountain and occasionally the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland, can be seen...
, near Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, a son of an Alpine mountain guide.
Brailsford competed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for four years as a professional cyclist before returning to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at 23 to study for a degree in sports science
Sports science
Sport science is a discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
before an MBA in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
Business School.
Cycling management
He has been involved with cycling throughout his career, he was first employed by British CyclingBritish Cycling
British Cycling is the national governing body for cycle racing in Great Britain. It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man...
as an advisor when Lottery funding began. He became programme director before becoming performance director.
Brailsford's British cycling support crew led the British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
team to victories at the 2004 Olympic Games
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
In 2010, Brailsford also became the manager of the new British based professional team, Team Sky
Team Sky
Team Sky is a British professional road bicycle racing team that competes in international road bicycle races. The creation of the team was announced on 26 February 2009 and the team began competition in January 2010....
.
Honours
His contribution to cycling was acknowledged in being appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honours list.British cycling's 14 medals, including eight golds, at the 2008 Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
won him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award
BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award
The BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award is an award given annually as part of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony each December. The award is given to the coach who was considered to have made the most substantative contribution to British sport in that year. The award is...
on 14 December 2008. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours.