A Medway based professor is helping one of country’s top mountain bike riders prepare for the race of a lifetime at the Beijing Olympics.

Prof Louis Passfield, the University of Kent’s director for the centre for sports studies, has worked with bike racer Oli Beckingsale as fitness coach and sports science consultant for the past three years – and is now hoping to spur him on to glory in the Games.

The 31-year-old athlete visited the campus in Chatham Maritime for an intense training session.

Prof Passfield, said:“The Beijing Games will present steep challenges, such as stifling humidity, so Oli needs to be in the best possible shape.

“It’s part of my brief to put together the right type of training – for instance, to replicate the hot conditions of Beijing in a sports laboratory environment, and to put him through rigorous conditioning exercises.”

“Oli is in the best shape he has ever been in at the moment. His focus is on the World Championships in June and hopefully qualifying for a place at the Olympics.”

Highlights of Oli Beckingsale’s career to date include winning both the National Mountain Biking Championships and National Series for two years running.

A cross-country racer, he claimed second place in the Commonwealth Games of 2006 and sixth place in the European Championships of 2005.

Oli has also competed in two previous Olympics, in Sydney and Athens.

Prof Passfield said: “As a coach, it’s hugely rewarding to know you’ve made a difference to the overall preparation of an elite athlete. If he were to win at medal at the Olympics, that would be a tremendous thrill for me.”

Prof Passfield has worked as a consultant in sports science and sports nutrition for more than 15 years.

As a senior member of British Cycling, the national governing body for cycle racing in Great Britain, he has worked with many Olympic, World and Commonwealth gold medal cyclists.

Prof Passfield is also assisting the entire British cycling squad with their fitness preparations for the Olympics.