British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling federation) has announed that it's lottery funding has increased from two million pounds a year to four million in a four year development plan.

The increased investment is due to British Cycling proving itself with a clutch of medals in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and demonstrating that it can use lottery funding to good effect. This has helped to convince UK Sport, who dish out lottery money to fund a major development plan that will target the grass-roots up and aim to develop cycling at all levels.

But the performance director of the World Class Performance plan, Peter Keen, will be very aware that British Cycling will have to up their success rate in accordance with the increased investment and consolidate perfomances on the world stage. It's great news for road cycling but the pressure's on.

For quotes from Keen check out www.velonews.com