Silent witnesses
Big-name riders did not give any evidence to the cycling inquiry
THE independent review into the culture of British Cycling may have been seriously undermined because the majority of riders on the world-class performance programme did not give evidence.
The report, due to be published soon, is expected to be damning and a key conclusion is that ‘a culture of fear’ existed at British Cycling under former performance director Sir Dave Brailsford.
Although the review panel took evidence from a large number of interviewees, their report does not appear to include the testimony of big-name riders such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Kenny and Mark Cavendish.
A draft copy of the report, sections of which have been seen by this newspaper, states: ‘There has been no feedback from members of the endurance programme (both male and female). The panel did not receive any feedback from the male road programme.’
The same draft copy states that ‘some members of the sprint discipline team (both male and female) are highly critical of its culture and climate’.
The review, commissioned by UK Sport and British Cycling, was sparked by allegations from ex-sprinter Jess Varnish against former technical director Shane Sutton in Sportsmail last April.
The five-strong panel, led by Annamarie Phelps and including former England rugby coach Stuart Lancaster, spent six months compiling evidence. But insiders have been stunned by the fact that many of the riders who have enjoyed unparalleled success on the road and track — and might have been less critical — have not been heard.
As one observer said: ‘You’d think, when they sat down in October and started to write the report, they might have thought: “Hang on, we haven’t heard from Wiggins, Kenny or Cavendish. Should we not chase them?”’
In fairness to Phelps, chairman of British Rowing and vice-chair of the British Olympic Association, and the panel she led, a request was made to British Cycling to make riders aware of how they could contribute to the review. Two blanket e-mails were sent, advising riders on how to make contact.
Sportsmail has seen one e-mail sent to riders, just eight weeks before the 2016 Rio Olympics and, therefore, at a time when their focus would have been solely on success on the track.
Written by one of the coaches and forwarded to the riders, it says: ‘There doesn’t appear to be a lot of information out there about putting forward your views, so I thought I would let you know how you can contribute if you wish.
‘Feel free if you wish to share with others. It took a bit of hunting to track down the e-mail address!’
Riders were then presented with a form that included a series of questions. Seemingly, most riders did not respond and were not subsequently pursued for comment, even though certain individuals at British Cycling were contacted directly to speak to the panel.
Many staff members and even Brian Cookson, current president of cycling’s world governing body and former British Cycling president, have also not given evidence.
There appears little doubt the final report will be critical of the setup essentially created by Brailsford — even if it delivered unrivalled success for British Olympic sport.