Joanna Rowsell Shand signs up for British Cycling Breeze programme

Double Olympic champion Joanna Rowsell Shand has today been announced as an ambassador for British Cycling’s HSBC UK Breeze programme.

Between April 2016 and March 2017, over 47,000 places were filled on women-only HSBC UK Breeze rides across the country, representing a 50 per cent increase on the previous twelve-month period and the programme’s most successful year since its inception in 2011.

The programme relies on a group of volunteer ride leaders – known as Breeze Champions – to support other women on free, guided bike rides across the UK. Rowsell Shand will now act as an ambassador for the programme as well as leading rides in her local area as a HSBC UK Breeze Champion.

She said: “I’m thrilled to have recently become a Breeze champion and to be able to act as an ambassador for what is a truly fantastic initiative. I’ve spent my life training and competing in the velodrome, but now, having retired, I have rediscovered the joy of riding my bike for leisure, for fun, and I know this is a passion I share with thousands of other women across the country.

“Creating an atmosphere in which all of these women feel comfortable, welcomed and encouraged is so important, and HSBC UK Breeze is clearly doing great work in this area. I recently led my first HSBC UK Breeze ride, and I am looking forward to organising many more and meeting great people along the way.”

Head of recreation at British Cycling Jill Puttnam added: “It’s fantastic to confirm this great news regarding HSBC UK Breeze. The huge amount of women taking part in Breeze rides is a testament to the hard work of our Breeze champions and the welcoming, inclusive and fun environment they create, both for beginners and more experienced riders.

“Joanna recently completed a HSBC UK Breeze ride leadership course, and I know that getting more women on bikes is a passion that she shares with British Cycling, so to have such a terrific role model and decorated athlete on board is wonderful news.”