Sir David Brailsford dismisses Rio conspiracy theorists after cycling medal haul
By Paul Vinnell
Last Updated: 18/08/16 11:10am
Sir David Brailsford has dismissed rivals who have questioned how Team GB's cyclists have once again dominated at the Olympics.
Every member of the track team goes home with a medal, with 11 won in total - six of them gold - but their incredible performance came off the back of a less impressive World Championships in London, in March.
Their medal-rush left their opponents scratching their heads, with some wondering out loud how the British team had pulled it off, particularly given their disappointing performance five months ago.
Australian track great Anna Meares, said: "The British are just phenomenal when it comes to the Olympic Games, and we're all just scratching our heads going 'how do they lift so much when in so many events they have not even been in contention in the world championships?'
"They've got it together, and to be honest I'm not exactly sure what they've got together."
Meares later insisted that she was not insinuating that Team GB had cheated in any way.
German cyclist Kristina Vogel went further, calling Team GB "very questionable".
And France sprint coach Laurent Gane, said: "The recipe should be asked for from our neighbours because I don't understand. I don't know what they're doing. I'd love to know. These are teams that do nothing extraordinary for four years - and once they arrive at the Olympics they outclass the rest of the world."
But Team Sky supremo Brailsford - who played a pivotal role in making Team GB the leading global superpower in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 - says there is no secret to Team GB's success.
"Once again I think the team has got their tapering and periodisation just right," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "The World Championships are in March every year. The Olympic Games once every four years in the middle of the summer.
"That period between March and the Games is absolutely pivotal. We got it right in Beijing, we got it right in London and they stuck to the same pattern and they got it right again for Rio, which is absolutely fantastic.
"I guess it's been a dominating performance once again from the British team and I think the last time we saw such a dominating performance was the prior Olympic Games in London.
"I guess people will ask questions about it. I think really for other nations and other competitors they should really put that energy into looking at their own performances and asking themselves why aren't they better and thinking about how they might want to catch up instead of questioning the performances of British athletes."
Brailsford said Team GB's dominant performance in the Rio velodrome is one of the greatest in British Olympic history.
"It's got to be right up there," he said. "The London Games were absolutely fantastic, but to come back again to an away Games and deliver this level of performance. I think for the entire team to deliver the performance that they are very likely to deliver now is unheard of.
"It hasn't been done before I don't think. So it's got to be right up there with one of the best - if not the best ever - performance in an Olympic Games."
