by Justin Davis

COPENHAGEN, March 27, 2010 (AFP) – Britain and fellow track powers Germany and Australia were warned on Saturday that attempts to leave weaker nations behind thanks to illegal technological advances will not be tolerated.

International Cycling Union (UCI) chief Pat McQuaid said he was particularly concerned about the way some teams are flouting rules by using expensive equipment that “is not commercially available”.

And the Irishman called on three of track’s biggest nations to “start competing on a level playing field” in the run-up to the London Olympics in 2012.

“It has become apparent to the UCI that over the past few years it has got a little bit out of control,” McQuaid said at the world track cycling championships on Saturday.

“We sometimes have teams riding on prototypes (bikes) that are costing 50,000 if not in the hundreds of thousands of pounds to develop.

“That works against the Olympic Charter, it’s against UCI rules and it’s against the spirit of fair-play. I’ve written to all the federations and reminded them that any bikes they use must be within the rules as they’re laid down.”

McQuaid said between now and the 2012 Games the UCI would move to “guarantee” that all teams would be using equipment, including clothing developed via nanotechnology, that fell within the rules.

“We’re particularly concerned about the way this is going in the run-up to the London Games.

“At London in 2012 we can guarantee there will be no-one using bikes, equipment and not even clothing (that is illegal) – because we are aware of developments in nanotechnology that can aid athletes in ways that would be outside the rules.”

McQuaid added: “There are three countries involved, Britain, Germany and Australia and they are incidentally the three strongest countries in track cycling.”

Cycling’s richest nation, Britain, are at the forefront of technology in cycling and often say it is the tiny details which, combined, which make the difference between victory and defeat.

Formula One team McLaren have leant a wind tunnel for testing to the British-funded Sky road team, which has enlisted the support and expertise of McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT) to provide technical support in the lead up to the squad’s debut season.

Britain’s cycling chief Dave Brailsford said he has “always worked with the UCI and will continue to do so”, but he seemed unconcerned about the UCI’s warning.

“I think they’re just trying to find parity,” he told reporters.

“If the smaller nations want to start investing the same amount of money as the governments of Britain, Germany and Australia do then they’re free to do so.”