British Cycling has today announced four new appointments within the Great Britain Cycling Team; two within senior leadership, and two new BMX Freestyle Park coaching roles, as the team has now moved into the LA 2028 Olympic and Paralympic cycle.
Leadership appointments
Paul Mullan, who has led GBCT’s Performance Support Team since 2019, will step into the role of Deputy Performance Director – Head of Performance.
Bethany Widdup has been appointed Head of Performance Delivery, having led the operations team through the final year of the Paris cycle in her previous role as Operations Manager.
Coaching appointments
Having been a key part of the BMX Freestyle Park coaching team as Olympic Development Squad coach since 2022 Greg Illingworth has been appointed as Programme Coach and will lead the technical and tactical development of riders across the pathway into LA 2028.
Assisting him will be Olympic bronze medallist Declan Brooks, who returns to the programme in the role of BMX FSP Tech Coach having retired from elite competition at the end of 2024.
Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Stephen Park CBE said:
“After a successful Paris cycle, which saw Great Britain bring home 11 Olympic and 22 Paralympic medals in last year’s summer Games, these new leadership roles will set up our direction for LA 2028 and beyond.
“The roles Paul and Bethany played in preparing the team and navigating the range of challenges we faced in the lead up to the Paris Games were pivotal to this success. I’m confident that in these new roles, their expertise in their individual fields will support the strategic direction of the programme and will put us in the best place to deliver our objectives for the next cycle.
“In the coaching space, we are excited to recruit two new full-time coaches in Greg and Declan who will work side by side through pathway and podium in the BMX FSP programme. This programme has grown exponentially since Tokyo 2020, having gone from six to now boasting 17 male and female riders across the pathway, including a world and European champion.
“I'm confident that Greg and Declan’s complementary skill sets will enable athletes to be better supported in both training and competition environments and continue this upward trajectory in talent and results on the road to LA 2028.”
Paul Mullan said: “I'm honoured to step into the role of Deputy Performance Director – Head of Performance with GBCT. This is an exciting opportunity to build on our rich legacy of success and push the boundaries of what’s possible. I look forward to working with our incredible athletes, coaches, and staff to drive excellence, on and off the bike, in all of our Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.“
Bethany Widdup said: "I am incredibly excited and honoured to accept the role of leading the Performance Delivery team. I am proud to be at the helm of such a talented group of individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure our athletes are fully prepared to perform at their best. As we enter into the LA cycle, I look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead, and I am confident that together we will continue to set new standards of excellence in performance delivery."
Greg Illingworth said: “I am incredibly excited to be leading the programme and to be working with Declan Brooks through the next Olympic cycle.
“I feel that the experience I have had as Olympic Development Coach as well as working closely with the Podium team at major events, has set me up perfectly for this new challenge. We have a strong and talented group of riders at all levels of the pathway, and I cannot wait to nurture and guide them towards LA28 and beyond.”
Declan Brooks said: “I'm really happy to be on the coaching team for the BMX freestyle programme within GBCT. There are many reasons why I've decided to coach after my riding career, but one is that I want to share the knowledge I've built over 15 years of competing with the next generation of British talent.
“We've had a great programme over the last seven years which has resulted in three Olympic medals, but I believe this new structure will set our elite riders up to continue dominating on the world stage, while developing young talent for future cycles.”
