Richard Usher has been employed by Team Sky since 2011 and considers them a major part of his elite yet diverse client base.
As well as being a partner in a longstanding general practice in Cheshire, Usher has worked in various sports over the last 15 years and that experience has made him a valued member of the team.
After working his way up the ranks with the England rugby union squad, Usher became a first-team match doctor in 2002 and that year also formed part of the medical committee for the Manchester Commonwealth Games.
He then made the switch to top-flight domestic rugby and spent time as medical officer for Premiership sides Bristol and Northampton, whilst also taking on roles with England's hockey and blind football teams.
Usher remains an RFU-appointed Medical Officer to the England students' side - a post he has held for the past 10 years - and acted as a Sports Physician for the men's and women's hockey teams at the 2012 Olympic Games.
The WTA and ATP tennis tours were also added to his list of employers before Usher was invited to join Team Sky on a part-time basis at the start of the 2011 campaign.
Ster ZLM Toer proved to be a baptism of fire for the affable Englishman as Serge Pauwels fractured his elbow on the very first stage, but Usher rose to the challenge and has never looked back.
He said: "I absolutely love being part of this team. Prior to 2011 I'd had no real interest in cycling, but I'd kept in touch with Phil Riley since we'd done our sports medicine diploma together at Bath University, and when he and Richard Freeman approached me to join Team Sky I saw it as a fantastic opportunity.
"The Ster ZLM Toer was a great race to hit the ground running and I've enjoyed every moment since. Cycling is so different from all the other sports I've worked in. If you take rugby for instance, the size and physicality of the athletes is totally different, and the fitness and stamina of the cyclists is way beyond that of the rugby players."
Usher attended races such as the Tours of Algarve, Norway, Poland and Britain in 2012, and is looking forward to taking on more work with Team Sky in 2013.
He added: "This part-time role suits me with regards to my general practice, rugby and tennis commitments, but I was delighted when Team Sky asked me if I could do more race days next year. I haven't worked on a Grand Tour yet, so it would be fantastic to do one of those, but I'll be happy to work wherever I can.
"I've definitely been bitten by the cycling bug. I bought a bike last year and have got really into riding, and when I'm not working I like to play golf, go sailing, and spend as much time as I can with my family."
