Bicycle Network Victoria: Tour de France Corporate Breakfast
Guest Speaker - Brian Stephens
AIS Men’s Road Cycling Coach and former Cycling Australia National Coach of the under 23’s. Brian has worked exclusively with the development of many of Australia’s top professional riders and also brother to Australia’s Tour De France legend, Neil Stephens. Brian will provide expert comments on the Tour status and share his insight of his own experiences from the Tour de France.
Brian Stephens is the men’s road cycling coach with the Australian Institute of Sport. A successful road racer himself, Brian has competed both in Australia and internationally, including in four Professional World Road Championships. His interest in coaching began in 1986 when he assisted his brother Neil Stephens in preparing for a successful attempt at the World Indoor Hour Record.
Brian began his official coaching career at the AIS in 1992 under head road cycling coach, Heiko Salzwedel. In 1998 he was appointed Cycling Australia’s Under 23 National Coach where he worked extensively with many of Australia’s top professional riders including Cadel Evans; Patrick Jonker; Henk Vogels; Robbie McEwen; Michael Rogers; Baden Cooke; and Matt Lloyd. More recently, Brian has worked with up-and-coming riders Cameron and Travis Meyer; Simon Clarke and Jack Bobridge (pictured with Brian opposite).
Under Brian’s direction, riders have won an impressive array of medals, including a gold medal in the 2009 World Championships (Jack Bobridge); two silver medals in the World Road Race (Wesley Sulzberger in 2007 and Will Walker in 2005) and a silver in the World Time Trials (Michael Roger s in 1999); and two bronze medals in the World Time Trials (Cameron Meyer in 2008 and Michael Rogers in 2000).
Brian has visited the Tour de France several times and has spent time in the team car on the race and will share his professional insight and personal experience of the legendary Tour.