Cyclist praises campus facilities

Mr Richardson is part of the Plowman Craven racing team

A cyclist taking part in The Tour of Britain hopes the special training he received at the University of Kent will give him an extra edge.

Simon Richardson visited the Centre for Sports Studies, based in Medway in the run-up to to the eight-day race which started in London on Sunday.

He had his fitness and endurance tested and a personal training programme drawn up by the university's sports chief.

The Tour of Britain finishes in Liverpool on 14 September.

Mr Richardson said: "The fitness rooms were impressive and a pleasure to use. Professor Passfield's training programme has been a hugely valuable part of my run-up to the main event."

He is part of the Plowman Craven team that will battle it out with 15 other teams of six riders on each of the race's eight stages.

Professor Louis Passfield, of the University of Kent, said: "I've been lucky enough to work with some of the best riders in the world, which gives me a golden opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to the real demands of elite athletes.

"It's my goal that the insights and skills I gain from this kind of experience are passed directly on to our students."