The BC independent review

What does it say?

While British Cycling has been very good at winning medals there were other deep-seated problems, with many staff referring to a “culture of fear” on the World Class Performance Programme.

Did this get to the bottom of things?

That depends where you’re standing. Former BC coach Ken Matherson told the Times it was a “whitewash”. The panel denied this. It’s also true the final report is more nuanced than the draft leaked to the Daily Mail in March, though this was before those criticised in the report were given the right to reply. The review also notes there were no contributions from endurance riders or male road riders, whose ranks contain riders like Bradley Wiggins who might well be expected to have a more favourable view of BC.

What is BC doing?

A number of changes are already under way, due in no small part to the delays in getting the final report out that have allowed the organisation to get going. In February it released a 39-point action plan tackling the key recommendations of changing leadership (it has a new chair and brand new chief executive), training for staff and improving selection procedures. Also, its funding from UK Sport is now conditional on it implementing the changes.

Will this make a difference?

The jury is out but the plan is that it will now give rider and staff welfare a higher priority.