World champion cyclists should inspire the nation to take up the sport

GB Cycling’s performance director Dave Brailsford today urges the nation to saddle up in the build-up to the London Olympics, in 2012.

Brailsford wants the team’s success at Beijing to be converted into increased participation, and for stars like BMX world champion Shanaze Reade to inspire a generation of younger people to take up the sport, according to The Guardian.

Speaking at a Westminster reception hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, Brailsford said: "What British Cycling is trying to do now is to take the same focus and drive as for the Olympic Games, and apply it to the participation drive."

His campaign has a good chance of success if figures quoted by Chris Peck, policy coordinator of the CTC are anything to go by. He told road.cc: “Cycling in London has doubled since 2000, probably because of the congestion charge and cycling becoming more socially acceptable and safer, with an improvement in driver interaction.

“In Leicester between 2003 and 2004 there was a 43% increase in cycling levels and Sheffield has seen a 70% rise over the same period.”

Meanwhile other parts of the country could still do with the “inspiration” Brailsford speaks of.

Peck says: “We know that in other parts of the country cycling levels are steady, if not declining.”