| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paul Curran | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1961-01-15)15 January 1961 (age 64) Thornaby,North Riding of Yorkshire, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline | Road & Track | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Rider | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Amateur teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stockton Wheelers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manchester Wheelers' Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1989 | Percy Bilton | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National Champion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Paul Curran (born 15 January 1961) is a former professional Englishracing cyclist fromThornaby,North Yorkshire.[1]
Curran rode for Great Britain in theOlympic Games,[2][3] won the national road championship and won several medals at theCommonwealth Games. With wins in top amateur races in France, he could probably have secured a professional contract with a continental cycling team but preferred to remain in Britain.
Curran began riding for his local cycling club Stockton Wheelers and at the age of 14 completed a ten-mile time trial atCrathorne, North Yorkshire in 24–49.[4] It was obvious he had talent when in 1977 he dominated the English schools national grass and track championship winning all three individual titles in the over-15-years category.
Curran earned his first international selection for Great Britain in the San Sebastian Europa Cup match. Although he rose to prominence in time trails and track events, he soon established himself as one of Britain's top road racers. In 1982 he rode for England in the Girvan pro/am three-day and was the highest placed British amateur on overall classification finishing 5th the race was won byTony Doyle.[4] However his season was still primarily based around track events.
Impressive results, winning several national track events led to selection forEngland, at the1982 Commonwealth Games inBrisbane,Queensland,Australia.[5][6][7] He competed on the track in the 10-mile scratch event and team pursuit. He won his first commonwealth medal taking the bronze medal in the team pursuit. Curran continued to perform well on the track and competed at the World Championships in 1983 in the team pursuit and 50 km point's race.
In 1984 he showed his versatility winning the Girvan three-day overall classification as well as theKing of the Mountains and sprint competition. Later that season he competed in the1984 Olympic Games in the team pursuit and points race. In 1985 Curran began focusing more on road racing, retaining his title in the Girvan three-day and was 4th overall in theMilk Race.[4] He was also 3rd in theBritish Road Race Championship behindJeff Williams andPaul Watson. After winning thePremier Calendar series and he competed in his first World road race championships in which he finished 29th.
In 1986 Curran was offered the chance to turn professional withRaleigh – Weinmann, however he decided to turn it down preferring to stay amateur. In 1986 he won two gold medals on the road at theCommonwealth Games in Edinburgh,Scotland, one in the team time trial and one in the road race. In 1987 he won theAmateur National Road Race Championship. That season he also won his third record breakingPremier Calendar series title in a row.
In 1988 Curran was selected for theOlympic Games road race finishing 36th, the race was won byOlaf Ludwig. After dominating the British amateur scene for several years in 1989 Curran finally turned professional. He joined Percy Bilton riding alongsideBob Downs andSteve Joughin. In his first season, he won the British National professional Criterium championships and was 6th in theKellogg's Tour of Britain, finishing ahead ofSean Kelly. However, when in 1990 the British-based professional season collapsed, Curran was left without a team and he reverted to amateur status in 1991. He went down with doublepneumonia and subsequently missed half of the season but bounced back in 1992 finishing 3rd in theBritish Road Race Championship.
He competed in motor-paced racing towards the end of his career including the last ever motor-paced World Championships in Sicily in 1994, His career ended when he broke his back in a serious accident during the Tour of the Pennines in 1996.[4]
Paul became occupied with his son, Karl in 1997 giving him a new hobby. Curran owns Paul Curran Cycle Sport inStockton. A time-served turner and ex-ICI apprentice onTeesside, he also builds wheels forPlanet X.[8]
Curran worked as aderny rider for thecycling events at theBirmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at theLondon Velodrome.[9]
British National Track Championships Madison, 80km (with Stuart Morris)British National Track Championships Madison, 80km (withHugh Cameron)British National Track Championships 50km Points RaceBritish National Track Championships Madison (withHugh Cameron)British National Track Championships Team PursuitBritish National Track Championships Madison (withHugh Cameron)British National Track Championships Team PursuitBritish National Track Championships 50km Points RaceBritish National Hill Climb Championships (Team) British National 100 km Team Time Trial ChampionshipBritish National Track Championships 50km Points RaceBritish National Track Championships Team Pursuit
Winner of theBritish National Road Race Championships (Amateur)British National Track Championships Team PursuitBritish National Track Championships Team PursuitBritish National Circuit Race Championships, Professional
