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MANCHESTER, England, Oct 31, 2008 (AFP) – Britain’s squad of track cycling
stars might have dominated the boards of the Olympic velodrome in China, but
for the man who helped orchestrate those remarkable achievements it’s back to
business.

Dave Brailsford, the Performance Director of British track cycling,
returned from Beijing a happy man after seeing his riders claim seven of the
10 gold medals on offer at the Laoshan velodrome in August.

But he won’t let his squad of deserved medal winners rest on their laurels.

Ahead of Manchester hosting the first leg of the five-leg World Cup series
this weekend, Brailsford says it’s time to forget the heady emotions of
victory parades in the wake of Beijing and get back to basics.

“For some riders it’s all about Beijing and an opportunity to say thanks
but if you count World Cups and World Championships, we’re 24 races away from
London (in 2012),” Brailsford said Friday.

“After this one, 23 to go, not that many so we need to get our act together.

“As far as I’m concerned Beijing’s behind us and good riddance. I haven’t
enjoyed it, personally anyway, since we’ve been home.

“And for me, it’s not about floats and the Queen and things like that. It’s
about racing.”

He added: “Today for the first time since we got back, I got up and
thought, ‘Ha!’

“I’m happier today than I have been since I got back from Beijing.

“It’s good to be racing, back in the day job.”

Victoria Pendleton, who won the women’s sprint gold in Beijing, cruised
through qualifying on Friday.

Double gold winner Bradley Wiggins, in the scratch race; Ed Clancy, in the
individual pursuit; Wendy Houvenaghel, in the individual pursuit, were the
other Beijing medalists on the race programme.