Jonathan Bellis: Rider profile

JONATHAN BELLIS

Date of birth: 16/08/1988

From: Isle of Man

Team: Illi-Bikes

Previous teams: An Post-Sean Kelly (2012), Saxo Bank, GB Olympic Academy

JONATHAN BELLIS CAREER PROFILE

Jonathan Bellis, as with many young up and coming British riders, began his career with British Cycling on the track winning European titles in the team pursuit, points and scratch races.

Bellis made his breakthrough on the road in 2007, finishing an impressive third in the U23 World road race championship in Stuttgart. This ride, along with many other impressive performances for the British Cycling Academy, helped Bellis to gain selection for the Beijing Olympic road race and his contract with Saxo Bank (then CSC).

Bellis joined the CSC team, now renamed Saxo Bank, as a stagiaire in the latter part of the 2008 season, riding the Tour of Britain for the Danish squad and signing a full-time contract with the team soon after.

A quiet but steady first year with the team had come to an end when Bellis suffered a near fatal scooter accident near his Italian home, Quarrata in September. Bellis suffered serious head injuries and was put in to an induced coma. He then contracted peritonitis when a feeding tube was fitted incorrectly.

In total he spent over five months in hospitals in Italy and then London where he went through extensive rehabilitation to rebuild his muscles having dropped to 46kg as a result of the infection.

Bellis returned to racing with the An Post-Sean Kelly Team in 2012, and in 2013 spent the year with amateur Belgian team Illi-Bikes.

JONATHAN BELLIS RESULTS

2007

European U23 points race champion

European U23 scratch race champion

2006

European junior team pursuit champion

British junior pursuit champion

RELATED LINKS

Cycling Weekly rider profile page