Fury as sour-grapes losers from France, Germany and Oz snipe at GB’s all-conquering cycling heroes
AN Olympics storm erupted after bad losers suggested that Team GB’s cycling sensations had cheated their way to glory.
Flops from Australia, France and Germany appeared to suggest our heroes cheated their way to glory after we claimed six golds to their combined total of just one.
Team GB chiefs laughed off jibes from Olympics losers after our cycle stars led a record gold rush in Rio.
The sniping came as sporting giant China’s stars were being blasted at home for letting “Little Britain” lead them in the overall medals table.
Our team bosses paid tribute to our super-clean, super-fit, super-talented stars as we sat in second place behind the USA, with China third.
A British Olympic Association spokesman said of our cycling success: “They’re all asking how we’ve done it and saying they don’t understand it.
“We say good — we don’t want them to know how we’ve done it!
“We have some of the best athletes, coaches, sports scientists and technicians in the world and we’re going to guard our formula for success as closely as Mary Berry guards her victoria sponge recipe!”
Aussie cyclist Anna Meares — her nation’s flag bearer — triggered the storm by blasting her British rivals after coming 10th in the individual track sprint event.
Meares, 32, bleated: “The British are just phenomenal when it comes to the Olympic Games, and we're all just scratching our heads.
“How do they lift so much when in so many events they have not even been in contention in the world championships?
“They’ve got it together, and to be honest I’m not exactly sure what they’ve got together.”
German world champ Kristina Vogel, 25, said of Team GB’s cyclists: "They were cannon fodder when you look at the last few years. Now they come along with a high level.
“I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything but it is all very questionable.”
French cycling sprint coach Laurent Gané said: “The recipe should be asked for from our neighbours because I don’t understand.
“I don’t know what they're doing. I’d love to know.”
Eleven-times world champ Meares later backtracked on her comments.
She tweeted: “I would like to clarify that I never said or insinuated that Team GB are cheating or doing anything suspicious.
“What I said was it makes me scratch my head to think how we can be better competitive with them at the Olympics.”
Last night a Team GB insider said: “It’s pure sour grapes.
“Our athletes are clean and have worked their socks off to prove they’re the best in the world.”
Cycling couple Jason Kenny, 28, and Laura Trott, 24, have won five golds between them in Rio.
Yesterday, team pursuit gold winners Sir Bradley Wiggins, Owain Doull, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and team-mate Philip Hindes shared a photo of them celebrating in a bar surrounded by what appear to be cocktails and wine.
Meanwhile China — with a whopping population of 1.35 billion — has been left reeling after being shunted into third place in the overall medals table by Team GB.
Fans have voiced dismay on social media.
One slammed them for losing to “an EU-quitting kingdom” adding: “The General Administration of Sports should commit harakiri and apologise.”
Last night Team GB’s women hockey stars made it to the final after thrashing New Zealand 3-0.
They are now guaranteed gold or silver, exceeding their 2012 bronze.