Britain swing Salzwedel's services

Successful track coach Heiko Salzwedel has been signed to the Great Britain cycling programme, according to an announcement by the German Cycling Federation (BDR). Just one week after declaring his resignation from his post as head coach of the Danish track programme, the 51-year-old German has declined offers from the German federation and will become sports director of the most successful current outfit in the world on January 1.

"This is a delightful task. There are nearly perfect structures," said the man who guided Denmark's team pursuit squad to a silver medal at the Beijing Olympic Games. His contract will run until the 2012 Olympics in London.

After studying at the Leipzig DHfK, Salzwedel worked for the BDR before heading up Cycling Australia's road programme until 1998. He helped develop the likes of Robbie McEwen through the Australian Institute of Sport and made a name for himself as a tough but effective coach. He also worked with T-Mobile in developing its squad before it was taken over by Bob Stapleton, after which he signed on as Denmark's head coach.

His role within the structure of Danish cycling was one of his biggest challenges and bore fruit with the unprecedented performance of his charges in Beijing.