Simon Jones leaves Team Sky for role with Cycling Australia

Former Great Britain coach Simon Jones will leave Team Sky to become Cycling Australia's high performance director.

Jones, Team Sky's head of performance support and innovation, will take up his new role with British Cycling's biggest rivals in April.

Shane Sutton, the former British Cycling technical director forced to resign from his role in a row over claims of sexism, had been strongly linked with the role in his homeland.

"The opportunities to lead a national cycling program do not come around very often and I'm excited and privileged to be a part of the Australian cycling team," said Jones.

"I believe my career to date has provided me with a perfect apprenticeship for a role like this having worked within two national systems, been to three Olympic Games, and have worked at different levels, from scientist, coach, manager, innovator and leader."

Jones, who has dual nationality, spent 12 years with British Cycling, spanning the Sydney and Athens Olympics. In 2007, he left to work at the Western Australia Insititute of Sport in Perth before returning to the UK in 2013.

He joined Team Sky in 2014, but said he was looking forward to a return to focusing on the Olympics.

" I'm truly passionate about the Olympics, and what sport and specifically cycling can do to inspire people and in turn have a positive impact on their daily lives," he said.

"Being part of that is something unique, and what I value about sport."