Great Britain Cycling Team technical director Shane Sutton believes the squad’s ‘winning mentality’ is returning after a successful UCI Track Cycling World Cup in London.
Great Britain won four gold medals and a bronze in the three days of competition at the Lee Valley VeloPark Velodrome.
After a difficult world championships earlier this year in Colombia, when Great Britain collected two gold medals, Sutton is happy with the response his squad has shown in this season’s track competitions as they aim to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
“I think we'd lost our discipline,” Sutton said.
“I think we got a little bit of complacency come into us, which was really evident in Colombia. I said there we needed to freshen up and we did; it was becoming Groundhog Day for a lot of people.
“I've got to take my hat off to all the riders. At the end of the day, they're the ones that deliver.
“They probably don't need it, but they do want it. That's the most important thing. Seeing that want back in their eyes, that whole drive and passion kick back in is a nice thing. Colombia was a big learning towards that.
“Our winning mentality is coming back. We're not just relying on the women's team pursuit winning. We're getting there now and starting to get some results, which is nice. For me, Mexico was fantastic. Here, it's been good. I wouldn't say it's been great. But it is part of the building process.”
Wins in both the men’s and women’s team pursuits on the opening day were followed by victory in the Madison for Owain Doull and Mark Christian, plus a bronze medal in the points race for Elinor Barker on Saturday.
Trott completed the medal haul on Sunday with yet another inspired omnium performance. The team’s attention now turns towards the final round of the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Colombia in January before February’s world championships in Paris.
And with less than two years until the Rio Olympic Games, Sutton is content with how the team is developing.
“For these guys it's all about Rio,” Sutton said.
“When I sit back and I look at where we are at in this phase two years out from London, I think we're healthy. I wouldn't say we're great, but I think we're healthy.
“I think we've got everything in place now to give the athletes what they need and to drive it forward to Rio.”
