British Cycling members vote for change

At an extraordinary general meeting of its national council on Saturday, British Cycling accepted proposals to fall in line with sports minister Tracey Crouch's code to promote diversity by October.

Had it not have done so, then the sport faced losing more than £40million of UK Sport and Sport England funding, a point Hoy was eager to make in a rallying cry on Friday.

A 75 per cent majority vote was required for the reforms to go through but three of 10 regions had rejected the proposals at regional mandate meetings, prompting six-time Olympic champion Hoy to pen an open letter to those responsible for making the decision.

The proposals have been approved, though, with one amendment which would allow the 10 English regions to nominate a board member.

Julie Harrington, British Cycling's chief executive, said: "Today, British Cycling's National Council voted in favour of changes to our constitution in order to ensure that we are compliant with the Code for Sports Governance.

"Our membership also voted for an amendment to create the role of a director nominated by the English regions to go alongside those nominated by Scottish Cycling and Welsh Cycling. We have heard the concerns of our National Councillors and we will actively work with our membership to ensure that the voice of the enthusiast remains central to our purpose.

"Securing funding for elite and grassroots participation through these changes will enable us to inspire more people on to two wheels across communities the length of the country.

"Without secured funding we will not be able to share our love of the sport and enable others to try it. Our sport is growing and growing up. Today's vote is the start of an exciting new chapter for British Cycling and our sport."

Speaking on Friday, Hoy was clearly worried which way the vote was going to go and signed off his letter by writing: "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."

Earlier this month Table Tennis England saw its Sport England funding of almost £9million suspended after its members narrowly voted against accepting the same proposals. The governing body has called an EGM next month in a bid to reverse the outcome.