Cycling Ireland announced today that they would be engaging the services of Chris Boardman to assist in their push towards next year's Olympic Games in Athens. Boardman is a former Olympic and World Champion, current multiple World record holder, Tour De France Yellow Jersey and Stage Winner and his initial task will be to help guide the athletes to success at the B World Championships, to be held in Switzerland this July.
'The first step to getting results in Athens is to be there' said Boardman 'So priority No.1 is to have athletes perform well in Switzerland this summer, by doing so, they will qualify Irelands track places for Athens 2004'
Boardman went on to add, 'Although my brief is specifically aimed at helping the team succeed at the B Worlds, I am hoping this short project will also serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics next year.'
Phil Collins Track Olympian 1996, and Chairman of Cycling Ireland's Track Commission was responsible for Boardman's involvement, was equally enthusiastic about the potential benefits to be had from this collaboration for cycling in Ireland.
He said: 'This initiative is funded by the Irish Sports Council 2004 Olympic Programme and is a big, even unprecedented step for cycling in Ireland and represents an investment in our future. We are very excited and hope that this project will be a great success, and we have every reason to think that it will be.'
Filed by Johnny Proby
