Bradley Wiggins alleges rampant racist, homophobic & sexist language within British Cycling in bombshell revelation: "The line between critical and derogatory was so blurred"

Sir Bradley Wiggins has lifted the lid on what he describes as a deeply troubling culture inside British Cycling during his time with the national programme, claiming he overheard racist, sexist and homophobic language from senior figures within the organisation.

The five-time Olympic champion, who became Britain’s first Tour de France winner in 2012, made the allegations in his new autobiography The Chain. He says discriminatory comments were openly made during his career — including remarks aimed at Victoria Pendleton and Shanaze Reade — and that one gay member of staff was forced out of his job due to what Wiggins called “homophobia on another scale”.

In excerpts reported by The Sun, Wiggins writes that he “heard the word ‘f*****’ used to describe a gay member of British Cycling’s senior management team,” adding that the individual later resigned because of the culture he faced.

He also recalls instances in which women riders were subjected to crude and demeaning comments, alleging that a senior staff member joked about Pendleton’s performance “peaking when she was on her period” and made similarly offensive remarks about Reade.

“Before a World Cup meet in Manchester, the team pursuit squad gathered in the middle of the Velodrome. Around us, on the track, Victoria Pendleton was putting in a training effort. ‘How’s Vicky going?’ I asked one of the staff," he recalls. “‘She’s good,’ came the reply, ‘but she’s going to get better because the painters are in this week.’ The silence was deafening. We were four lads, definitely not choirboys, but we all understood that what was being said was totally out of order."

Wiggins reflected: “In elite cycling, the line between critical and derogatory was so blurred as to be meaningless. Would I have wanted my daughter in that system? Absolutely not. The way women were spoken about was especially awful.”

The 45-year-old says the incidents left him disillusioned with the sport’s leadership, describing moments of “jaw-on-the-floor silence” among teammates who were stunned by the comments but afraid to speak out.

“I heard the word ‘f*****’ to describe a gay member of British Cycling’s senior management team. In the end, the guy quit his role, stating that he couldn’t work with someone whose homophobia was on another scale. Clearly, if anyone had to quit, it should have been the person who made the comment. But then again double standards were all over the place," he writes. “Victoria Pendleton fell in love with her coach and he lost his job, while another person in the organisation was having an affair and a blind eye was turned. I mean, for crying out loud, you can’t pick and choose who you fall in love with. It’s not a crime last time I looked.”

British Cycling has issued a statement in response, saying it “does not tolerate any form of discrimination” and emphasising that significant cultural reforms have taken place since an independent review was conducted in 2017 following similar historical allegations.

A spokesperson said: “Over the past two Olympic and Paralympic cycles we have demonstrated rider-centric cultural change that supports our riders to continue to chase their dreams and win well in a safe and supportive environment. We are committed to continuing to provide a respectful and inclusive culture for our riders to thrive, both on and off the bike.”

Wiggins, who retired from professional racing in 2016, revealed he once turned down an offer for a statue outside the Manchester Velodrome because he “felt rejected and unappreciated” by the federation. His new book, The Chain, revisits both his triumphs and the uncomfortable realities behind British cycling’s golden era.