GB ‘laxness’ will cost team Olympic gold, claims Bigham
Huub-Wattbike rider Dan Bigham has questioned Great Britain’s “coaching philosophy” in their blue riband event, men’s team pursuit.
The former Mercedes F1 aerodynamicist and GB rider was snapped up as a consultant by the Danish track team late last year, with the relationship paying rich dividends. Bigham helped Denmark smash the world record three times in two days en route to the world title this week. The result piled huge pressure on Olympic champions Britain.
Bigham, though, suggested that GB’s coaches had got their approach wrong in this cycle, becoming “lax” due to the technological advantage they have traditionally enjoyed. “Maybe they [Britain] have got the coaching philosophy wrong,” he told The Sunday Telegraph. “In the past they have had, not even a little bit in hand, but a lot in hand, which has meant they’ve been able to be, for want of a better phrase, lax.
“Every other nation has been working on the physiology and not understanding the other side of the equation. So physiologically they’re probably ahead of where GB are.
“Then suddenly when the pendulum swings the other way and they get the energy-out side – simulation, analysis, aerodynamics, positioning and equipment development – it all comes together for them.”
Bigham also questioned why the claims of riders such as Huub-Wattbike’s John Archibald, Britain’s strongest individual pursuit rider, continued to be ignored.
His remarks will no doubt increase the strained relationship he enjoys with the British team, which is chasing a fourth consecutive Olympic gold in Tokyo. Bigham, 28, was brought into the national team along with Charlie Tanfield two years ago but was let go.
Denmark lowered the world record in each of the three rounds in Berlin, clocking 3min 44.672sec in the goldmedal ride – about 5½ seconds quicker than any British quartet has managed.
“I was hoping we [Denmark] wouldn’t break it by that much,” said Bigham whose Huub-Wattbike team are attempting to set a world record at altitude in Bolivia in eight weeks.
“GB have always had this thing about holding it back and winning the Olympics,” Bigham added. “And now they’re probably not going to win at the Olympics. Six seconds is a lot.”