Kaarle McCulloch, Women’s Sprint Podium Coach for the Great Britain Cycling Team, has today announced that she will be stepping down from the role following this summer’s UCI Cycling World Championships, to return home to Australia, to be closer to her family. On her return, Kaarle will be starting a role as part of the Queensland Academy of Sport’s cycling development programme.

Having joined the Great Britain Cycling Team in April 2022 in her first elite-level coaching role, Kaarle led her squad through the UCI Track Nations Cup in Glasgow within her first week and has since gone from strength-to-strength.  

Thanks in part to her work, the women’s sprint team has enjoyed a number of track successes, with highlights including four national sprint titles for Emma Finucane, a one-two podium finish in the women’s sprint at the 2023 UCI Track Nations Cup in Cairo, and a women’s team sprint bronze medal at the 2022 UCI Track World Championships.

Kaarle will continue coaching the team through the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in August and will work closely with the wider team to ensure a seamless transition period for the squad as they build towards Paris 2024.

Great Britain Cycling Team Performance Director, Stephen Park CBE, said:

“We recruited Kaarle into the programme because we recognised her potential to develop into an excellent coach, and over the last 18 months it has been a pleasure to watch that potential come to fruition.  

“Kaarle has been an incredible asset to the team, not only developing her riders as successful, medal-winning athletes, but also as individuals off the bike. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank her for her contribution to the team and wish her every success in the future.

“I am confident that the focus and resilience of our riders, and the support they will receive from wider staff and coaches, will enable them to continue their fantastic momentum as we proceed towards the Paris Olympic Games.”

Kaarle McCulloch, Women’s Sprint Podium Coach, said, “'In all the time that I have been involved in sport there has not been a more rewarding period than my time coaching the women's podium sprint team at GBCT.   

“I am very grateful to GBCT for bringing me on at the beginning of my coaching career and having the faith in me to deliver the vision that I had for the team. I’m sad that I am unable to see out this Olympic cycle but it has been increasingly difficult to balance living in Manchester with commitments to my partner and family.  

“I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have helped me along the way and wish the whole of the GBCT the best as they work towards Paris.  Lastly, I would like to thank the women that I work with, it has been a privilege and I believe that among you there are rainbows and gold medals to come.”

The recruitment for Kaarle’s successor will start imminently.