Keep sniping at ‘incredible’ British team
BOSS PARK SLAMS DOUBTERS
BRITISH Cycling performance director Stephen Park gazed down from the summit of another Olympic velodrome medal table and told the cynics: “Carry on sniping.”
For the fourth Games in a row, Britain were top dogs and Park joined a group photo of the backroom staff who made it possible.
There are still those who believe success on a bike is cooked up in a laboratory more than through sheer endeavour in the saddle – five years ago the Russian hackers Fancy Bears tried to discredit GB success, notably five-times Olympic champion Sir Bradley Wiggins.
But as Park celebrated six gold medals – three in the velodrome and three in mountain bike or BMX categories – he said: “Everyone on the team can be proud.
“I always felt that in 2016, although I was looking on from the outside, the riders never got the recognition they deserved.
“I’m pretty determined to make sure we do have that this time.
“If you want to keep sniping, then feel free to give me a call. I’ll make sure there’s a bike available if you think you’re good enough.
“Just rock up and come and have a go because not one of these people would have beaten the riders who were here.” Jason Kenny’s
supreme keirin breakaway, wife Laura’s masterclass in the Madison with Katie Archibald, and Matt Walls’ surprise gold in the omnium gave Team GB another enviable stash of Olympic bullion.
Park, below, said: “It means a lot that we’ve topped the cycling medal table again. We’ve had a few tough years at British Cycling, different people taking different views.
“But I’ve always been very conscious of the legacy of the team. “Their performances in previous Games have been incredible and I’ve looked on in awe from another sport [yachting].
“The big question was whether we could maintain top-team status – and that’s proven to be the case. “The other question was whether we could still create the environment that was going to allow our very best athletes to come forward and perform under pressure.
“It’s a relief that’s happened.To be able to come here and equal the number of medals – and gold medals – from Rio was incredible.
“To leave being the only country in history that has won a gold medal in every Olympic discipline, and to have a team of young riders coming through, bodes well for Paris in
2024.”