A British Cycling survey has laid bare the 'toxic' culture among riders – after star sprinter Matt Richardson was pulled from the World Championships over allegations of discriminatory language.
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Richardson → lay → language
There has been a significant fall in morale among riders and staff, the survey found, with around a third indicating they had seen 'thoughtless, inappropriate, or unacceptable behaviour'.
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they → find → behaviour
It comes with Richardson under investigation, with team-mates accusing him of having a 'God complex', as reported by The Times.
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mates → come → Times
Richardson, 27, was sent home from the Cycling World Championships on Monday with the 'misconduct' probe over his behaviour still ongoing, while his 23-year-old cyclist girlfriend Emma Finucane remains at the competition in Shanghai and raced to a silver medal in the Women's Team Sprint on Wednesday morning.
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girlfriend → send → morning
Now the survey suggests the problems run deeper than first suspected.
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problems → suggest → ?
One of the lowest-scoring questions related to the effectiveness of the 'senior leadership team'.
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One → score → team
When respondents were asked for words to describe the organisation's World Class Programme, 'driven' was the most common answer, but 'toxic' was second alongside 'supportive'.
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toxic → ask → supportive
A British Cycling survey has uncovered a 'toxic culture' among riders - just days after Matt Richardson was kicked out of the World Championships for alleged discrimination
Richardson is not competing at the World Championships amid the ongoing misconduct probe but his girlfriend Emma Finucane remains
The Times also reported that 13 of the 41 riders who responded to a question asking whether they had 'witnessed or experienced thoughtless, inappropriate, or unacceptable behaviour in the last year' indicated that they had.
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they → uncover → year
Richardson has been accused of using racist and discriminatory language towards others.
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Richardson → accuse → others
'At the velodrome he’s the golden boy,' they added.
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they → ’ → velodrome
'Matty is one of their best chances of a gold medal in LA and he knows it.
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he → know → it
British Cycling began investigating Richardson after a formal complaint was made, it is understood.
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it → begin → Richardson
The Olympic medallist broke his silence on Tuesday, writing on Instagram that he was 'deeply disappointed' and would co-operate with Team GB, who he joined after leaving the Australian programme in 2024.
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he → break → 2024
He said: 'I understand the seriousness of what has been raised in recent reports about my withdrawal from the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.
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what → say → Championships
British Cycling has said it looks into matters like this through its established procedures.
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it → say → procedures
I will co-
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I → co → ?
I assure everyone that I will do so properly, and appropriately and with contrition for the feelings of anyone who might be affected.
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who → assure → anyone
'Out of fairness to everyone involved, and on advice, like British Cycling, I will not be commenting further until any process is complete.
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process → involve → Cycling
I am deeply disappointed to miss the World Championships, and I wish the Great Britain team and every rider competing the very best.
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team → disappoint → Championships
Richardson has been described as having a 'God complex' and being 'arrogant'
Sophie Capewell (left), Finucane (centre) and Rhianna Parris-Smith are pictured with their silver medals on Wednesday after coming second in the Women's Team Pursuit
Richardson's exit sent shockwaves through the sport, while his girlfriend Finucane welcomed her parents to Shanghai ahead of the competition on Monday.
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girlfriend → describe → Monday
Her brother, Sean, 21, told the Daily Mail of his family's 'shock and surprise' at the latest development.
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brother → tell → development
He said: ‘We are all pretty shocked and surprised - he’s a lovely guy.
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he → say → ?
He’s been here a lot and never shown any signs of that sort of behaviour.
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He → show → behaviour
My parents flew out to Shanghai yesterday - none of us knew.'
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none → fly → us
Finucane, who won four gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, competes in the Individual Sprint, Team Sprint and Keirin.
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who → win → Sprint
Ultimately it was China who took gold in the Team Sprint, with Finucane and Co settling for silver and Germany taking bronze on Wednesday.
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Germany → take → Wednesday
In a statement sent to Daily Mail Sport, a British Cycling spokesman said: 'British Cycling can confirm that Matt Richardson has been withdrawn from the Great Britain Cycling Team squad for the upcoming 2026 Tissot UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai, China.'
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Richardson → send → Shanghai
When approached by Daily Mail Sport about the misconduct allegations which are believed to have prompted Richardson's withdrawal, the organisation added that they would not be commenting further at this stage.
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they → approach → stage
Richardson and Finucane live together in Manchester and have been dating since February 2024 after 'knowing each other for a long time'.
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Richardson → live → time
Responding to the survey, a British Cycling spokesperson said: 'The wellbeing of our staff and riders is fundamental to everything we do at British Cycling.
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we → respond → Cycling
Richardson's partner is fellow British cyclist Finucane, who welcomed her parents out in China amid the storm engulfing her boyfriend
'
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who → welcome → boyfriend
The Culture Feedback Survey, which has been the subject of recent reports, is independently run to provide a valuable tool to help us learn and improve.
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us → run → tool
The majority of team members say they love their jobs and overall favourability has increased, ranking 'very good' in the latest study.
'
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favourability → say → study
However, it is important to recognise others want to see improvements, and we are committed to listening and acting on this.
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we → recognise → this
As a result, the GB Cycling Team has developed an action plan that is being implemented alongside wider work across British Cycling, focused on leadership, development, feedback and wellbeing.
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that → develop → leadership
UK Sport is aware and supportive of the action we are taking.'
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we → take → action
A UK Sport spokesperson said: 'It is critical to us that the sports we invest in have a safe, healthy and high performing culture where athlete voice is included in decision making.
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voice → say → making
'That is why the sports we work with undertake periodic, independent surveys of their athletes and staff within performance programmes to form one part of the assessment of the culture within those environments.
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we → work → environments
We have engaged with British Cycling on the findings of their most recent culture survey and are aware of the action plan that they are already implementing to address some of the themes it raised.
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it → engage → themes
'We will continue to work with British Cycling as they embed this plan and ensure their performance culture is of the highest possible standard.'
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culture → continue → standard
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