British Cycling to act after 'toxic' survey responses

British Cycling and the GB Cycling Team have introduced an action plan to tackle a toxic culture, as revealed by a recent survey of riders and staff. According to The Times, the independent survey, funded by UK Sport and conducted by Happiness Index, found a decline in morale among elite riders and concerns over senior leadership accountability.

British Cycling's spokesperson emphasized that staff wellbeing is "fundamental to everything we do" and that the action plan aims to address these issues. The survey, which included questions about the culture of the World Class Programme, used words like "driven" (most common among athletes) and "toxic" (second most common). The Happiness Index calculated satisfaction scores of -42 for male riders and -31 for female riders, indicating a significant drop from previous surveys.

While most team members expressed love for their jobs, and overall favorability was rated as "very good," the report highlights that some want to see improvements. British Cycling has committed to listening and acting on these concerns, focusing on leadership, development, feedback, and wellbeing in their action plan. UK Sport supports this initiative, recognizing the importance of a safe, healthy, and high-performing culture where athlete voice is included in decision-making.