Meet the Team
Alex Dowsett
Where to begin with Alex…Current National TT champ, former Hour Record Holder and Commonwealth Games Gold medallist is a good place to start in terms of accolades.
Put quite simply, one of the things you may not know about Alex is that he's exceptionally good at explaining things and teaching whilst also being quite brilliant on a bike. This skill, combined with over a decade in the top tier of cycling, holds him in pretty good esteem as a coach.
He can not only walk the walk, but he can also talk the talk. That is - he can get you from where you are to where you want to be in time trialling.
ELEANOR JONES - Performance Coach and Sports Scientist
Eleanor Jones is not only one of our performance coaches specializing in all aspects of coaching but also our resident sport scientist. After completing her Masters degree, Eleanor secured placements at British Triathlon and British Swimming before settling at the University of Birmingham.
She has extensive experience working within a wide variety of sports, including coaching cyclists of all levels from sportive riders to world champions.
Eleanor’s interest in cycling started in her mid 20's – it was a sport that fitted easily into her lifestyle and there was a growing resurgence within British Cycling with the Track World Cup being televised. Since then Eleanor has gone on to race road, track and TT's. At present she is a Master's Track Champion in the IP and a first category racer.
Eleanor’s strength as a coach comes from her understanding of the sport and her sports science background. One of the most important aspects of coaching for Eleanor is contact and support with the athlete and being able to build a rapport with them in order for them to achieve their goals.
JAMES MILLARD - Performance Director
James brings his considerable expertise to Thighs Club and we wouldn’t be here without him! He is, as we like to say, an absolute legend.
James is as a former professional cyclist who started his career time trialing during his early teens, winning National medals as both a Junior and U23 (much to Alex’s dismay).
In 2004 he moved to Europe backed by the Dave Rayner Fund where he based himself in Belgium for 3 years riding on the Kermese circuit and learning his trade in the school of hard knocks.
He returned to the UK in 2007 to Ride for the Plowman Craven Pro Team winning the National Team Time Trial Championships and leading the Sprints competition in the Girvan Premier Calendar Event. Over the next few seasons he racked up a number of wins on the domestic scene whilst competing in several editions of the Tour of Britain and Tour of Ireland as well as numerous European and American races against the biggest stars of his era.
He helps athletes prepare mentally and physically for racing and time trialing, offering group and 1-1 strategy coaching sessions and is an integral part of the Thighs Club community.