Chris Boardman on a Lotus bike at the Olypics

Early Years

I am married to Sally-Anne Boardman and have six children, two dogs and a cat. We have lived on the Wirral peninsula for nearly 30 years.

Trained as a carpenter, nobody outside of the sport of cycling would have known who I was until 1992, when I took Great Britain's opening Gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics astride the infamous Lotus bike. It was Britain's first cycling Gold medal in 72 years. The iconic image of the Lotus machine and pointy helmet made my name synonymous with cutting edge technology. It was a fascination I would come back to later in the journey.

Chris Boardman in the Yellow Jursey at the Tour de France

Image curtesy of Phil O'Conner

Professional Cycling

I started my Professional cycling career in late 1993. Over the following 8yrs I held the Yellow Jersey in the Tour de France on three separate occasions, took three World titles on track and road and broke several world records. Follow link below for breakdown of my results in Professional Cycling.

Whilst a Professional athlete I also served as a Board Member of the then UK Sports Council and was part of the launch of Lottery Funding for Sport. A moment that changed the Nation's sporting status to this day.

Visit Professional Cycling results on ProCyclingStats
Chris Boardman with cycling equipment

Secret Squirrel Club

I helped set up and lead the R&D branch of the Great Britain Olympic Cycling team. Over the next few years, the squad dominated the international scene, becoming the most successful British sporting team of all time. This small R&D group came to be known as the "Secret Squirrel Club" and played a significant part in creating that unprecedented sporting prosperity.

Chris Boardman standing outside Boardman Bikes showroom

Boardman Bikes

During the same period, along with Sarah Mooney and Alan Ingarfield, I co-founded Boardman Bikes. Our focus on high quality at affordable prices helped us become the most respected and fastest growing British Bike Brand in decades.

Visit Boardman Bikes
Chris Boardman standing with bike in Manchester

Cycling Advocacy

I have been involved in Cycling Advocacy, largely through my role as Policy Advisor to British Cycling for more than a decade, an activity that led to my becoming Cycling and Walking Commissioner for Greater Manchester.

During my 4 years in post, I helped the Regions Leaders create a 1,800 mile cycling and walking network plan, a 1.5 billion pound project that will take ten-year to deliver. The methods and guidance we created have since been mirrored nationally.

In my final year working for the regional Mayor Andy Burnham, I became Transport Commissioner, responsible for the delivery of a fully integrated, London-Style transport network. Known as the Bee Network, the plan is now well into delivery and when complete it will ensure the people who live, work and play in the region, will have a viable and attractive alternative to using cars.

Visit Transport for Manchester - The Bee Network

Sport England

As Chair of Sport England, I oversee an organisation that administers approximately 200 million pounds of funding to enable everyone in the country to access sport and be physically active. Our innovative strategy involves working in and with communities to empower them to make the changes needed in their neighbourhoods.

Visit Sport England

Active Travel England

Perhaps the biggest challenge I have ever faced though, is to lead a whole new organisation, Active Travel England. As Cycling and Walking Commissioner, I am charged with setting up this organisation and overseeing the administration of a 2 billion Pound budget. It will raise the standards of active travel infrastructure, and ensure that every large development in the country enables people to live without cars if they choose.

So far, it’s been quite a ride and my unwavering companion throughout has been the bicycle, a wonderful and simple device that reduces carbon, improves safety and gives health. It has the power to change a world if we create an environment where people feel able to trundle to shops, schools and workplaces under their own steam. My enduring mission is to help make that happen.

Onwards!

Visit Cycling and walking plan for England