Newton joins Brailsford's ranks after calling time on career

TWO-TIME world champion Chris Newton has called time on his cycling career and will turn his attentions to coaching Great Britain's future endurance Olympic medallists.

HANGING UP HIS BIKE: Chris Newton has called time on his career to join Dave Brailsford's coaching set-up at British Cycling (Getty Images)

The 36-year-old finished third in the points race at Beijing 2008 as Great Britain blazed a trail of destruction through the Laoshan Velodrome, scooping seven of the ten gold medals on offer.

Newton also has a team pursuit silver and bronze to his name from Athens 2004 and Sydney 2000 respectively, but he was among those to voice their disgruntlement when the points race was jettisoned from the Olympic schedule.

Newton will be 39 at the time of the London 2012 but, prior to the UCI's decision to restructure the programme, he admitted he had every intention of mounting a fourth Olympic charge.

Since the UCI's decision, which has also seen the axe fall on both the men's and the women's individual pursuit, Newton had been expected to compete in the omnium at London 2012.

At the World Championships in March however, fellow Brit Ed Clancy won omnium gold and with the UCI also changing the qualification criteria which will see only one athlete or team per nation in each event, Newton's chances of making the grade were reduced.

And Newton has revealed he believes the time is right to move into coaching, where he will oversee the Olympic Academy men's endurance squad.    

"I've reached the stage in my cycling career where I'm ready to step back from full-time racing and focus my attention on coaching the Men's Endurance Academy," said Newton, who has also been racing with road team Rapha Condor Sharp for the past three years.  

"I've achieved a lot during my cycling career and I'm very grateful for the support I've received from so many people in helping me reach my goals."