Sir Chris Hoy urges British Cycling to accept reforms and guarantee 'vital' £43m funding

Sir Chris Hoy has issued an emotional appeal to British Cycling’s 10 regional chairs urging them to do everything in their power to ensure that new reforms are voted through at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the national council on Saturday.

Rejection of the new code of governance could see British Cycling forfeit £43million in public funding from UK Sport and Sport England. Table tennis had its £9m funding suspended earlier this month after rejecting proposed reforms.

"Since joining British Cycling's lottery-funded world class programme, the opportunities afforded to me… have been genuinely career and life-changing,” Hoy, the six-time Olympic champion, wrote in a letter circulated to the regions on Thursday night.

“The next generation of riders deserve this opportunity too - along with the peace of mind of getting to the end of their careers knowing that no stone was left unturned in making sure they achieved everything they could have in sport.”

"During my career and since retiring, I have also seen the many other ways in which government funding is put to exceptionally good use. Getting more people on bikes would make for a healthier, happier and greener country - something we can all agree is hugely important.

"However, both this and the elite success we have all enjoyed and been inspired by over recent years is under threat if the funding is withdrawn. This weekend's vote is vital for all areas of our sport, and I would urge everyone with a vote to consider the implications that this withdrawal of funding would have on not just cycling, but our society as a whole."

A 75 per cent majority will be required to vote through the changes at today’s EGM, which will be held at The Park Royal in Warrington. There are three possible outcomes. Either the proposed changes are voted through, they are voted through with amendments, or they are rejected.

The main sticking points which have come back from regional ‘mandate’ meetings, where members have advised their elected councillors which way they want them to vote at the EGM, are believed to revolve around the make-up of British Cycling’s board – in particular guaranteed places on the board for representatives from Scottish and Welsh Cycling.

Also, the role of the various cycling commissions and who has ultimate power over certain technical matters; the board or the national council. There have also been concerns voiced about the speed at which the reforms have been pushed through.

British Cycling is hopeful that the council will be able to reach consensus in time to vote through the changes on Saturday, although any amendments will have to be signed off by UK Sport and Sport England lawyers to make them compliant with the new code.

If not, its funding is likely to be suspended while a new EGM is called. The absolute deadline to sign off on the reforms is Oct 31.