TEAM SKY CHIEF Dave Brailsford accepted lessons could be learned from the report into British Cycling published last week which said a culture of fear had existed inside the elite training track programme.
However, the 53-year-old Englishman — who was performance director from 2003 to 2014 when British track cyclists became the dominant force — did not say what those lessons were.
The much-delayed independent review — a five person panel headed by British Rowing chair Annamarie Phelps — also said British Cycling lacked “good governance”.
It also heavily criticised the British Cycling Board and former Australian technical director Shane Sutton — who was accused by rider Jess Varnish of bullying and making sexist remarks.
“As in all walks of life you’ve always got to look at yourself first, if you’re the leader of an organisation you’ve got to look at yourself in the mirror and take your own responsibility,” Brailsford told Sky Sports after unveiling the Team Sky line-up for the Tour de France.
“That’s why my frame of reference would always be to start with myself; is there anything I could have done differently?
“Is there anything I could have learned from that and what can I do going forward to make sure I get better?
“So there are some lessons to be learned but I’m very proud of our time at British Cycling and to see how the sport has grown.”
Brailsford, who has also faced questions over a package delivered to Team Sky at the 2011 Criterium du Dauphine for then star rider Bradley Wiggins, said training an elite team is no picnic, but nodded toward the need to consider their welfare.
“High performance sport is a tough environment, there’s no doubt about it,” he said.
“It’s an environment where you’re trying to get the best to be the best, and to be the best in the world, and not everybody can do that.
“You do have to create that winning culture and winning mentality, and that’s what we tried to do and at times you have to push people and be pushed yourself.
“But that doesn’t mean you have to neglect the welfare of the athletes in any way. You have to be supportive with that. Of course not everybody can make it and that’s a challenge as well.”
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