Some amazing celebrities from the world of cycling joined us for our 2011 Dinner. Many will return in 2012 plus a few more to be announced soon.
2012 Confirmed Champions
Chris Boardman MBE
Chris Boardman MBE is one of Britain's greatest ever cyclists: an Olympic, triple world champion and world record holder. Chris has excelled at the highest levels within cycling and he remains at the heart of British cycling today.
Joanna Rowsell
Our new Cycling Ambassador Joanna Rowsell started 2012 in great style as the female star of February’s UCI Track Cycling World Cup where she won two gold medals. She was part of the world record breaking women’s pursuit team before adding another win in the individual event and now has her sights set on adding the Olympic team pursuit title to her name (the individual event will not be contested at the summer Games). Joanna will be giving her support to our cycling programme, especially our growing number of women’s events and attending our Champion's Dinner.
Ben Swift
Ben is a cycling ambassador for Action Medical Research and a rising star. 2011 saw Ben's first appearance in the Tour de France as a Team Sky rider. He has recently returned from Melbourne crowned World Champion in the Scratch Race and won silver in the Points race and Men's Madison. He will now take on Il Giro d'Italia and is aiming to join Mark Cavendish in the road cycling team at this year's Olympics. (Photo by Andy Jones)
Jody Cundy
5-time Paralympic Champion and the fastest solo Paralympian on two wheels. Born with a deformed right foot which was amputated at the age of three, Jody started his career as a Paralympic Swimmer –winning 23 international medals including three Paralympic and three World Championship Golds. He made the transition to Cycling in 2005 and has since won eight World Championship Golds, two Silver and is the reigning Paralympic Champion for both the 1km TT and Team Sprint events. The holder of three World Records is one of only a handful of athletes that have become Paralympic Champion in two different sports and was made an MBE in the 2009 New Years Honours list for his services to disability sport.
Dani King
In 2011 Dani became World Champion in the Women's Team Pursuit at the World Track Championships in Holland. Dani is also a winner on the road with six major results behind her in 2011.
Our host
Dermot Murnaghan
Dermot Murnaghan is one of the nation's best-known and most experienced news readers, currently presenting Sky News as well as quiz show Eggheads. A keen cyclist, Dermot joins the charity each year on its overseas tours including Sardinia 2011 as well as the London to Brighton for Action in September. Dermot will be hosting our Champions Interviews for the night.
2011 attendees:
Mark Cavendish MBE
The fastest man in the world on two wheels who has now joined Team Sky. Also crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year and is the 2011 Road World Champion. Cavendish has won a total of 20 Tour de France stages putting him joint 6th on the all-time list.
David Millar
David Millar has won three stages of the Tour de France and two of the Vuelta a Espana. He is the only British rider to have worn all Tour de France jerseys.
Chris Boardman MBE
Chris Boardman MBE is one of Britain's greatest ever cyclists: an Olympic, triple world champion and world record holder. Chris has excelled at the highest levels within cycling and he remains at the heart of British cycling today.
Geraint Thomas MBE
Geraint Thomas MBE is the Welsh professional racing cyclist who rides for Team Sky. He is a multiple track cycling world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the team pursuit.
Ben Swift
Ben Swift rode the 2011 Tour De France for Team Sky.
Photo by Tom Jenkins Dave Brailsford CBE
Dave Brailsford CBE is British Cycling's Performance Director and the man behind the GB Cycling Team's phenomenal Olympic success in 2008. Among many plaudits, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award and now manages Team Sky. Dave has also joined the charity on two of its overseas cycling tours.
John Herety
Currently manager of the Rapha Condor Sharp cycling team, John Herety rode for Great Britain in the 1980 Olympic Games and won the National Pro Road Race Championships in 1982. He also managed the British road racing teams at both the Sydney and Athens Olympics.
Dani King
In 2011 Dani became World Champion in the Women's Team Pursuit at the World Track Championships in Holland. Dani is also a winner on the road with six major results behind her in 2011.
