Drake praised by key figures

Sir Chris Hoy and Sir Dave Brailsford praised Ian Drake after British Cycling’s chief executive announced he will step down in April.

Drake’s association with the national governing body began in 1995 and he has been chief executive since 2009.

The announcement comes after numerous controversies, including an investigation into British Cycling and Team Sky by UK Anti-Doping over “allegations of wrongdoing”.

Six-time Olympic champion Hoy said: “It was his vision to connect elite success with inspiration to participation, instilling in all athletes the awareness that it was not enough to win medals, but that we also need to inspire people to ride their bikes.”

Team Sky principal Brailsford, British Cycling performance director until April 2014, said: “Ian’s legacy to cycling has been huge. He has been the architect of the grassroots revolution of the sport over the last decade and led British cycling to unprecedented success in Rio.”