British Cycling has suffered a further blow in the run-up to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after women's endurance coach Paul Manning quit his key role.

Last week, key male sprint coach Kevin Stewart was fired for serious misconduct, including a "pattern of long-term inappropriate relationships with athletes."

Just eight months after the Tokyo Olympics, Manning, who played a major role in the success of the women's Team Pursuit team at the last two Olympics, decided to step down from that role.

British Cycling said his resignation had nothing to do with Stewart's departure.

Manning offered no explanation for leaving the British team in a statement to The Times (open in new tab), which first revealed that he had left the role.

"Coaching the Great Britain Cycling Team allowed me to recognize what it feels like to be part of a high-performance team when it is working extremely well. [And I feel well-prepared for the final push toward the 2021 Tokyo Games. The remaining time with the team will be focused on success for 2021."

During his racing career, Manning was a longtime member of the British track team and was highly regarded for his ability in Pursuit; after winning gold in Team Pursuit at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he was hired as a coach in 2009 and spent eight months with the men's Endurance team before taking over as women's endurance coach in April 2010.

Manning was named High Performance Coach of the Year at the 2012 London Olympics when Laura Kenny, Dani King, and Joanna Lowell won gold in the women's team pursuit with a new world record. Last week, the Women's Team Pursuit team won gold at the European Championships in Bulgaria in a time close to the world record and many other medals.

British Cycling released a statement saying that it would immediately begin the search for a new women's endurance coach to replace Manning.

"We will immediately begin recruiting a new podium women's endurance coach, but we are confident that the strength, focus and resilience shown by all athletes on the team will ensure that we remain on track for success at next year's Olympic Games," British Cycling's Tokyo Performance said John Norfolk, Head of Planning.

"I would like to congratulate Paul on an outstanding career with the Great Britain Cycling Team, both as a rider and coach, and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter. [Paul can leave proud of his significant contribution to the success of the women's endurance squad and aware that he has laid the foundation for this legacy to continue in Tokyo and beyond."