Wednesday 19 October 2016 19:49, UK
British Cycling has begun the search for a new performance director.
Cycling's national governing body has been without a performance director since Sir Dave Brailsford's departure in April 2014 to concentrate solely on Team Sky.
Shane Sutton was then promoted from head coach to technical director, before leaving his role in April, 100 days prior to the Rio Olympics, amid allegations of discrimination which are subject of an independent review. That review is scheduled to conclude shortly.
British Cycling programmes manager Andy Harrison has held the head role since, but now Britain's most successful Olympic sport is seeking a new chief.
Harrison will stay in charge in the interim and could be an applicant for the top job.
There was a clamour for Sutton to return from some riders during the Olympics, although such a move would be controversial and some insiders have been told that scenario has been ruled out.
A British Cycling statement read: "British Cycling, with the support of UK Sport, has appointed Positive Dynamics to assist in the recruitment of a performance director for the Great Britain cycling team.
"Appointing a performance director is a part of the Tokyo strategy submitted to UK Sport in February and will enable the Great Britain cycling team to build upon the success the team enjoyed this year and provide greater support to performance staff and athletes."
There is likely to be no shortage of candidates as a troubled year for British Cycling has also featured numerous successes, including six gold medals out of 10 on the track at the Rio Olympics to finish top of the medal table. Britain also finished top of the cycling medal table at the Paralympics.
Sailing's Stephen Park admitted prior to and after the Olympics that a role at the National Cycling Centre may interest him.
The performance director's remit could be expanded from just the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines - track, road, BMX and cross-country mountain bike - to the non-Olympic disciplines. These include downhill mountain bike.
