Stephen Gallagher, the former Ireland and Northern Ireland international, has signed an extended coaching contract at World Tour level with his business partner Dan Fleeman. The duo - who own Dig Deep Coaching - will work until at least the end of 2025 with Canyon-SRAM Racing. Magnus Bäckstedt, 2004 Paris Roubaix victor and Tour de France stage winner, has already been confirmed as the team's new lead directeur sportif.
Gallagher and Fleeman have been key figures on the Zwift Academy, which seeks to find new talents for the pro ranks, and also coach their own stable of athletes, including Irish riders like Darren Rafferty (Hagens Berman Axeon). They will now coach the riders of Canyon-SRAM Racing, including Kasia Niewiadoma and Chloe Dygert, for the next three seasons.
Gallagher, who won Rás Tailteann during his racing days and represented Ireland at the Worlds, said he was delighted to confirm his and Fleeman's involvement with the team as directors of performance, having already worked with the riders this year.
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"It has been an exciting year to work in a new environment and meet the riders and staff who make up the community of Canyon-SRAM Racing. Building the working relationships with the staff and trust among the riders has been a positive experience during 2022," Gallagher said.
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Gallagher continued: "It is a privilege to be part of the Canyon-SRAM Racing family for another three years. We are delighted to have the trust of the team management and riders to help them all deliver optimal performances in the future. Setting longer-term goals and interventions are a great way to develop and grow with the team.
"Our ambitions are based on individual rider development, well-being, and team goals. We want to develop further strategies to help riders become better all-around athletes, which include initiatives on and off the bike, we also want to build on the vast amount of experience within the team to help deliver results over different terrains.
"Modern-day racing is becoming more demanding, and with higher workloads than ever, if we are to meet those demands, balancing those factors in both training and racing along with recovery will be another key area to help us see riders develop in the long term over the coming years."
Gallagher (42) rode for six years at Continental level, including for Flanders-Afin, Giant Asia and Sean Kelly-An Post. He won Rás Tailteann in 2008 and was the last Irish cyclist to claim the final yellow jersey before Daire Feeley (All human-VeloRevolution) won the race this year.
Gallagher rode the junior and U23 road Worlds on the Irish team and twice represented Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games. Towards the end of his career he rode for UK team Sigma Sport and competed in his last UCI-ranked races in 2011.
