Coach Ricardo Lynch - Ricardo Makyn

GLASGOW, Scotland:

In his heyday, cyclist Ricardo Lynch was one of the best Jamaica had ever seen on two wheels.

That wasn't so long ago, and while Lynch, now 28, is still looking at another five years or so of competitive action, his focus these days is on coaching and helping to prepare Jamaica's five-member cycling team at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

This new direction in his life has come as a bit of a surprise for the Olympian, who has been working with the Jamaica Cycling Federation as a coach for a few months now.

Lynch, who became the first Jamaican cyclist in 16 years to compete at the Olympic Games after his Beijing 2008 ride, is also hoping to help encourage more Jamaican participation at the Olympic Games in the future.

more cyclists

"I want to see more cyclists go to the Olympics. We want to send a team rather than an individual. That's the goal," Lynch noted before speaking on his new role.

"To tell you the truth this isn't something I planned but I did the coaching courses just in case, just to ensure that I could have a better understanding of what I was doing and to see how far I could push myself," Lynch said.

"So I did the coaching courses at Union Cycliste Internationale just for my own improvement."

"Retired? No I'm not quite done yet, not until I am about 35. I am still a young person at 28," Lynch added. "I have been off the bike now for about six years to pursue my studies, I am already done and I have been training now for about three months to come back on the bike soon."

Until then he will be doing his best to help the current crop of Jamaican cyclists to a positive Commonwealth Games campaign, but it hasn't been an easy transition for him.

"It's been a little difficult, especially to get in touch with the persons I needed to start training. The resources are always a challenge as well, so far we have gotten a few persons on board who can help us but for the most part it has been a very difficult adjustment. You're on the administrative side, while when you are the rider you only have to worry about riding, but now you have to concentrate on everything," Lynch said.

The main difference

"The main difference is the mental capacity of the riders that I will be guiding. I would normally have to focus on myself now I have to focus on several persons and be ready to give them ideas, advice, and maximise their focus level for competition," Lynch added.

"I will be looking to get them to relax and be comfortable and confident in themselves; total preparation. I will try to impart the calmness and concentration that I have managed to master over my years of competition."

While, he is not expecting Jamaica to return with a cycling medal this time around, Lynch believes the team will have an encouraging showing.

"Once you go out there to compete anything can happen. Certainly coming back with a medal would be awesome but you have to be realistic and try to go out there and come out with at least some top 10 finishes,"

"I believe on the track we can finish in the top 10, on the road there will be over 200 guys competing and if we finish in the top 50 I think we can walk away from that feeling very proud and take that experience and apply it for future competitions," Lynch said.

Xavier Mirander won a silver medal in the 1000m match sprint event in Christchurch in 1974, while David Weller took home a bronze in the same event four years later in Christchurch for Jamaica's only cycling medals at the Commonwealth Games.