March 28 - Jamie Staff (pictured), a member of the British sprint team that won the Olympic gold medal at Beijing in 2008, today announced his retirement from cycling.



The Kent rider, who turns 37 next month, started his career as a BMX rider and won the world title in 1996 before switching to the track in 2001 because BMX was then not part of the Olympic programme.

He won World Championship gold medals as a member of the team sprint in 2002 and 2005 as well as the keirin in 2004.

But his greatest moment came in Beijing when he rode at the front for the first lap of the team sprint taking the British trio, which also included Sir Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny, to the fastest opening lap ever recorded on their way to taking the Olympic title.

Staff, who has been struggling with a back injury, made the decision to retire during the winter but delayed his announcement until after the World Track Cyling Championships, which finished in Copenhagen yesterday.

He said:  "I now feel it’s time to pass the challenge on to the younger members of the Great Britain squad in the lead up to the London Olympics in 2012.

"I feel that looking at the big picture I would struggle to compete with the best riders in the world at the London Olympics and be in a position to win the Gold medal again."

Staff now plans to concentrate on setting-up a new company manufacturing bikes and coaching.

He said: "I can honestly say that I have become a better person for being part of the British cycling team and have had the time of my life, and for that I will be forever grateful.

"I intend to stay within the sport of cycling as a coach.

"I am in the process of setting up a number of projects to help guide young athletes in the right direction and am also in the process of establishing my own bicycle company.

"Over the last few years I’ve got involved with coaching young riders and I now feel that this is the direction I would like to take.

"Watching someone improve under your guidance is to me a wonderful thing, so if I can give the young riders of today a chance to compete at the levels I have then I would feel very proud.

"I wish the team all the success in the future and have no doubt that they will be victorious in London."


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