Our sports director Alan Gornall has a diverse and accomplished career spanning various disciplines, including road racing, track, time trials, mountain biking, and cyclo-cross.

Alan began his cycling journey in 1975 as a youth competitor and progressed to the senior international level. Throughout his career, he competed in multiple disciplines, showcasing his versatility and commitment to the sport.

A highlight of Gornall’s career was representing England at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where he won a gold medal in the team time trial alongside Deno Davie, Keith Reynolds, and Paul Curran.

He turned professional in 1987, joining the Birmingham Executive Airways team, and competed professionally until 1989. During this period, he participated in prestigious races, including the Tour of Ireland and the Tour of Britain.

In 1988 and 1989, Gornall served as the riders’ representative on the board of the Professional Cycle Racing Association, advocating for the interests of professional cyclists.

After retiring from competitive cycling in 1992, Gornall remained active in the cycling community. In 2008, he joined Cycle Sport Pendle, contributing to the club’s development and working with Regional Schools of Racing to coach and mentor young riders, including initiating the first girls-only coaching sessions.

Alan is a Regional Road Commissaire, officiating at various regional and national cycling events, thereby ensuring fair play and the smooth running of competitions and has been an active board member of the British Cycling North West Region since 2012, serving as Chair for several years. In this capacity, he has represented the region on the Federation Commission and contributed to developing regional governance guidelines.

Alan’s enduring dedication to cycling, both on and off the bike, has significantly contributed to the sport’s development in the UK, particularly in nurturing young talent and promoting women’s participation in competitive cycling.

There are few sports directors in the UK with Alan’s level of experience