Winn leaves BC for Pinarello

Former British Cycling coach Julian Winn has left the governing body to work as directeur sportif for the CandiTV-Pinarello team.

Winn spent last year managing the women?s Halfords Bikehut squad, assembled primarily to ensure a gold medal for Winn spent last year managing the women?s Halfords Bikehut squad, assembled primarily to ensure a gold medal for Nicole Cooke in Beijing. in Beijing. Mission accomplished, the Welshman decided to make a change.

?It was time to move on and, obviously, the Halfords team effectively disbanded as a women?s team ? and that was my job,? said Winn. ?They [BC] were doing a reshuffle so I took the opportunity to jump ship and move to the Pinarello team.?

The former British national road champion was busy in his new role when Cycling Weekly called, having a new roof rack fitted to the team car in Belgium before heading down to Majorca for the Cinturon Tour, starting Wednesday, April 1. Russell Downing will be looking to replicate his scorching start to the 2008 season, winning two stages in last year?s five-day race.

For Winn, the prospect of working in a less pressured environment after the Olympic build up is appealing. ?It was intense for every single person involved, from the athletes to the coaches,? he said. ?The emphasis was so much on Nicole and the Halfords team. This is just as serious, but a lot more relaxed as well. It?s not about Olympic medals.

?I am working with the lads for a change. I enjoyed working with the women but it is nice to be back to an area I probably know more about. I?m happy.?