Shane Sutton alleged to have referred to para-cyclists as ‘gimps’ and ‘wobblies’

I've got a boss like this; ex military, operates through fear, bully etc. It's great, he really motivates me to do my best...

Nah not really, it's a bloody nightmare.

According to the BBC, Shane Hutton has resigned.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/36153485

Hopefully BC continue the investigation and don't use his resignation as an excuse to sweep it under the carpet.

- Crowd: A witch! A witch! A witch! We found a witch! We've got a witch! A witch! A witch! We have found a witch. May we burn her?
- How do you know she is a witch
- She looks like one.
- Bring her forward.
- I'm not a witch! I'm not a witch !
- But you are dressed as one.
- They dressed me like this. - No, we didn't.
- And this isn't my nose. It's a false one.
- Well?

- We did do the nose.
- The nose?

And the hat. But she is a witch !
- Did you dress her up like this?

- No, no!
- Yes. A bit.
- She has got a wart.
- What makes you think she's a witch?
- She turned me into a newt!
- A newt?
- I got better.
- Burn her anyway!

Let's cut through all the speculation and demand an answer from Sutton now on the only question that really matters to the Road.CC comments section.  Does he or does he not favour a ban on disk brakes in pro races??!! 

"I don't get the same maternity leave as my wife, how is this equal? "-

if you are in England you do get the same maternity leave as your wife, and you can split it between you as you wish.

See, even this bloody conservative government is more forward thinking than BC.

No, I haven't read it. I'm sure the sales figures show that some people have, though.

Apropos to nothing, has anyone read Nicole Cooke's book, The Breakaway? Definately worth a read …

Lets all take a deep breath and calm down. Not one of these accusations have, as yet been corroborated, so rather than calling for the guy's head on a stick lets just wait for the investigation.

The accusations could be true, or they could be sour grapes. Faux outrage on social media doesn't really help the situation though.

Gizmo, I'll volunteer for Trott higging duties, I'll even waive the fee

A few of Darren Kenny's phrases and actions offend me, firstly he has gone to the Daily Mail, a racist cyclist hating publication.

His statement about equality is bollocks to, why does everyone strive for 'equality' as opposed to 'what is due'. I don't get the same maternity leave as my wife, how is this equal? But to the point, how much pf British Cycling's money, resource etc. comes from Paralympian or Female cycling? If funding is based on certain gender, events etc. then it benefits all that these are prioritised.

Also, AST1986 your reference to Fergie shouting, he caused abh to Beckham from what i remember.

JonD scapegoat is correct in this instance, Kenny said it was an in joke, who was he joking with? Name names, shame them all, otherwise single out the loudest and most famous voice.

The timing is terrible as well, in the build up to the olympics Kenny will get maximum traction. Why did he not speak out when involved, surely he has led many more people to suffer by his selfishness!

Am I alone in finding this all a little upsetting?  For years we have been told that the BC system is the medal factory, the exemplar of extracting the very best from people.  And now it's apparently a hive of bullies, sexists, anti-paracyclist prejudice and who knows what else (are there any homosexual riders?)

Steve Peters would undoubtedly not approve of some of the things being reported, but having read his book I suspect he might approve of some of them.  Some people need an arm around them to perform at their best.  Some people need shouting at to wake them up.  Some people need to be told they're not good enough before they put the extra shove in to prove how good they are.  Of course, the skill is using the right approach for the right person at the right time - and if you get it wrong then you're the bully/wimp/sexist/etc.  Jess V has a big bum.  It's a tool of her trade and source of her power and as such Sutton has a right to mention it - but obviously taken out of context that might sound terrible.  Similarly, much as I love Vicky P and without knowing her I get the distinct impression she had a need to prove herself especially to male role models.  Was part of Sutton's approach to knock her down to make her prove herself?

I still consider anything written in the Daily Mail to be lies until proven otherwise.

Lastly, can someone please give Laura Trott a hug, tell her not to listen to all this nastiness and just keep being amazing?  I don't say that to be sexist but she's probably my second favourite rider and I'd be horrified if her career was derailed by all this upheaval.

Sutton strikes me as a hard man with a typical 1950's era hard man attitude to things.  It can get results, but has a limited lifespan and burns a lot of people along the way.  Probably not surprising really, given that his racing career was under the tutelage of Charlie Walsh as Australian Head Coach.  Walsh was very successful at getting results over quite at long period, but was also in later years criticised for his hardnosed approach, favouritism of some athletes, disdain for others, intolerance of any question or criticism.  The culture prevented it coming out for 20 years, but now some very respected athletes  such as Scott McGrory, Kathy Watt and Baden Cooke are telling their stories, and it is not pretty.   Sutton probably learnt a lot from Walsh and what Cycling Australia was like then.  British Cycling is correct to conduct a full review. 

Sutton's position is now untenable so expect him to be gone, sooner the better given the proximity to the Olympics.  Clearly there is a wider embedded malign culture at BC that needs root cause treatment.  Plot lost much.

Big difference between a ruthlessly obsessive high performance, high achievement, marginal gains environment dedicated to winning versus an abusive, dictatorial, fearful and oppressive cabal.

Cycling authorities need to grow up, reform and move into modern times ditching this sort of outdated offensive nonsense.

I reckon he probably had a bit of crazy party in his office the night before, and was overheard saying "get those effin' gimps and wobblies out of of here now!".

I do agree that this abhorrent attitude towards female cyclists is indicative of BC as a whole, and needs to be adressed, but that doesn't for one second mean that Sutton should be allowed to continue pedalling his small-mindedness to future GB cyclists. I for one respect Varnish for speaking out, even though it undoubtedly means the end of her career, which in it's self is a tragedy. 

This isn't a primary school sports day where everyone is a winner just for competing. There is obviously a place for uncompromising coaching standards, tough motivation and harsh words if an athlete isn't putting in the expected effort. However these are elite athletes (male, female, paralympian alike) and should be treated with the respect that their dedication deserves. I'm sure it's hard enough for anyone to get a training place at the top of British Cycling, even harder to have the ability to nurture and encourage that talent in the right way. But it would seem to me that if you systematically undermine any group due to a culture of casual unthinking discrimination then you are throwing medal chances away and frankly bringing back medals is what the coaching team are paid to do.

Sutton shouldn't be the scapegoat here, there needs to be a full review of the organisation to understand where the problems are coming from and who was doing something about it

I'd hazard a guess that Shane Sutton is equally foul mouthed and obnoxious to men / women and the disabled alike.  Cycling at an elite level is about tolerance to physical pain and Shane Suttons success at managing people at that level isn't because he asks nicely.  I wonder how many athletes who have tolerated his abuse (dare I say benefited from it) are now a little upset that their technical director is not there for them 3 months before the Olympics.