The Line

‘Dr Freeman is a man of great integrity and kindness. His care has helped me through the good times and the hardships of competing in the highest level of sport’ – Sir Bradley Wiggins

As team doctor for British Cycling and Team Sky, Dr Richard Freeman treated the world’s most successful cyclists, such as Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Victoria Pendleton. From 2009 until 2017, the ‘Doc’ was part of the team who became national heroes with Olympic and Tour de France victories.

In The Line, Dr Freeman reveals the medical principles and practices that helped lead these athletes to success – ideas that we now consider commonplace, but many of which were in fact the Doc’s own innovations. And in a sport where there’s an ethical line as well as a finishing line, Dr Freeman gives a frank and open account in response to allegations of misuse of medical treatment to enhance performance.

‘Without Dr Freeman, my career would have been shorter and less successful’ – Liam Phillips, BMX World Champion

Author Biography

Dr Richard Freeman was Head of Medicine at Bolton Wanderer’s Football Club and the English Premiership, before moving on to become team doctor at British Cycling and Team Sky between 2009 and 2017.

Dr Freeman’s patients in professional cycling have inspired a generation and are now household names: Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavandish, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Ed Clancy, Victoria Pendleton, to name just a few.

Dr Freeman is now enjoying a quieter life, returning to family medicine and spending time with his four grandchildren.