Community Hero: Doncaster cycling supremo gearing up for another great year of racing

NDFP Doncaster Cycle Festival L>R Martin Maltby

There is nobody more pleased to see the recent resurgence in the popularity of cycling than Martin Maltby.

The hugely successful Yorkshire leg of the Tour de France in 2014 - which boosted the county’s economy by an estimated £150m - has sparked a renewed interest in cycling in the region.

And with the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race rolling into Doncaster on April 30 that popularity is set to soar even further.

(l-r) Andrew Belk, Tony Batty, and Martin Maltby, of Don Valley Cycles are giving away a Giant Defy 5 bike as a prize. Picture: Andrew Roe

Martin is Doncaster’s ‘Mr Cycling’.

The 47-year-old Edenthorpe man is president of Doncaster Wheelers Cycling Club, race director of the Doncaster Cycle Festival and Danum Trophy Road Race, owner of the Don Valley Cycles shop, a member of the Tour De Yorkshire Doncaster stage organising committee and a British Cycling coach.

He took a moment to get out of the saddle and explain his work to promote his favourite sport in the community.

How did you become interested in cycling?

I stared competitive cycling in 1982 and as a 17-year-old I was picked to represent Great Britain in the Junior World Road Race Championships in Morocco. After a few successful seasons in the UK, I spent two racing seasons living and racing in Belgium. Don Valley Cycles first opened its doors in 1993.

What inspired you to get involved in the community work that you do?

My passion has always been cycle racing from an early date, I was fortunate to have lots of help and encouragement from many older cycle club members in my early days, and I find it very rewarding giving something back to younger riders now via the Doncaster Wheelers Go Ride coaching sessions we promote.

Describe a typical day in the role?

For me it depends on the day. Some days are heavily focused on race organisation while others I work with the Doncaster Wheelers Go-Ride coaches to develop future generations of cyclists.

All while managing the day-to-day running of Don Valley Cycles.

Each coaching session concentrates on a different aspect of cycling, for example:- cornering, safely riding in a group, changing gear, road safety, etc.