Reg Barnett

Londoner Reg Barnett was a specialist track cyclist and, after being runner-up in the National Sprint Championships in 1966, went to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Jamaica and finished fifth. He was the national sprint champion the following year, and again in 1968.

At the 1967 World Championships in Amsterdam, Barnett became the first Briton to reach the sprint quarter-final since Dave Handley in 1960. Also in 1967, Barnett enjoyed probably the best win of his career in beating the legendary Daniel Morelon on the line in their semi-final at the Champion of Champions International Trophy at Herne Hill.

Barnett, along with Les West, turned pro in November 1968 with the Holdsworth-Campagnolo team and he concentrated on road racing. Barnett enjoyed a nine-year professional career and rode with such teams as Falcon, TI-Raleigh and, finally, his own team, Barnett-Edwards-Shimano – he was owner of Reg Barnett Cycles at the time.

Barnett won the National Professional Sprint Championship four times between 1969-73 and was runner-up to Australian Gordon Johnson in 1971. Barnett also took part in the World Professional Road Race Championships in 1971, a race won by Eddy Merckx. As part of the 10-man Great Britain team, however, Barnett did not finish, like seven of his team-mates.