Former champion cyclist Stephen Pate's descent into family violence and drinking began after he failed to win Olympic selection three years ago, and ended in jail.

Pate, 39, pleaded guilty in the Victorian County Court to 11 charges after assaulting his wife twice in November last year and twice more in February this year.

Judge John Barnett said the gravity of Pate's offences was as much due to the ongoing fear he had instilled in his wife and children as the damage and injuries he caused.

He jailed the former world champion cyclist for 20 months with a minimum of eight months.

In court, Pate was described as "the Don Bradman of cycling" who won a "significant number" of Australian and international medals, including a world title in Belgium in 1988.

With his cycling career coming to a close, Pate pinned his hopes on selection for the Sydney 2000 games, the first time he was eligible as a professional to ride in the Olympics.

Despite winning the national title for the madison event in 2000, a coaching squabble left Pate out in the cold.

Judge Barnett noted the former champion suffered "enormous disappointment" as the team went on to win gold.

Pate stopped competing, became depressed and hit the bottle as he began to "unravel" psychologically.

Compounding his troubles, Pate fell off a roof in September 2002, keeping him out of work as a carpenter for three months.

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