GB cycling under review

BRITISH Cycling and UK Sport have ordered an independent review into the relationship between Team Sky and the Great Britain Olympic squad.

Dave Brailsford, the performance director at British Cycling, is also the head of Team Sky, while several other team members, including riders and coaches, are involved with both set-ups.

According to a report published yesterday, global consultancy Deloitte will explore the operational arrangements and risk management provisions between the two squads, in addition to assessing whether performance targets are being achieved.

"This is an independent review and it will benefit us and UK Sport and ensure that everyone is complying with the requirements that UK Sport would wish us to," British Cycling president Brian Cookson said.

There have been fears of conflicts of interest, not least because the 2012 Tour de France will finish as the London Olympics begins. But UK Sport's communications chief Russell Langley played down the significance of Deloitte's review, which is due to end in the summer.

"It is not being done from any negative angle, but to ensure that both programmes are working well and can deliver what they need to," Langley explained.

Team Sky made their debut on the Pro Tour in January and boast Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins among their line-up.