The graduate

Writtle graduate Lana Redgewell explains the effect the course has had on her working life “I heard about the degree through people I knew at British Cycling and Essex County Council, so I attended Writtle’s open day where I questioned them about the course.

“I’d enjoyed studying sports at college and wanted to expand my knowledge further to obtain a job that would involve elite cyclists. It is a one-of-a-kind course, which made the decision to further my studies much easier.

"When I was studying a generic sports science degree at college, I found it difficult to translate the information into cycling terms and do assignments based on sports I had no idea about.

“My knowledge and interest in sports other than cycling are weak, so having the lectures and assignments specific to cycling made learning easier and the information more relatable.

"I had the job of centre assistant at Lee Valley Velopark when I started the degree, and the course gave me the confidence to apply for a part-time coaching job, which quickly moved into full-time after finishing my studies. The course covers a wide range of subjects from psychology, physiology and biomechanics in cycling, which I apply to my work on a daily basis.

“I apply a number of methods and theories to my daily coaching as well as having the confidence to discuss more scientific areas of cycling with customers, whether that is diet, testing results or efficacy on the bike. The list goes on; the amount of knowledge learnt from the course applied in my day-to-day job is incredible. I never expected that.”