David Brailsford hits out at London 2012 cuts

Brailsford (centre) has hit out at the funding cuts

David Brailsford, British Cycling’s performance director has heavily criticised the reduced levels of funding for top sports in the build up to London 2012.

The funding cuts will affect the top British Olympic sports, including cycling as UK Sport look to distribute increased funds to less popular sports in Britain such as handball and volleyball.

Brailsford, 45, picked up the 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award following Great Britain’s record haul of 14 medals, including eight golds, at the Beijing Olympics.

He described the cuts, that will reportedly cost cycling’s elite programme over £500,000, as a “real disappointment” and believes they could have a negative influence on performance.

“A funding reduction like this just two and a half years prior to the Olympics is a real disappointment,” he said.

“We’ve done our planning based on the original figures [announced after the Beijing Olympics] and it will have an impact. The reduction in resources will have a material impact on the programme, which could influence performance.”

He added: “I understand and support UK Sport’s position in increasing funding for some of the smaller sports, but it’s a shame it’s come at the expense of those sports with a track record of delivering medals.”

“I had always been led to believe funding was based on a meritocratic system. But if we’re moving to a ‘have-a-go’ Olympics we’ll just have to go with it.”