Hi-tech GB cycling suits shredded

Victoria Pendleton was one of the Team GB cyclists to strike gold in their special suits

The suits worn by British cyclists at the Beijing Olympics have been shredded to stop rivals using their technology.

None of the Team GB cycle squad, who brought home eight gold medals, were allowed to keep the suits as a memento.

British Cycling's performance director Dave Brailsford wants information about the skin suits to remain a secret ahead of the London Games in 2012.

Brailsford said: "We got them back and they were shredded as we believe the technology will hold well for 2012."

Even the manufacture of the suits, which reduce air drag, was done under a veil of secrecy.

"Our skin suits were sent out to Japan so that the person who put them together in Japan did not know where they were from and there was no link," explained Brailsford.

"Those suits were created by British Cycling and Adidas put the labels on."

Brailsford revealed British Cycling also considered a plan to cope with the most common injury in cycling - a broken collar bone - except it involved deliberately injuring one of their riders.

"Ed Clancy (who won gold in the Olympic team pursuit) said he would not mind having his two collar bones broken.

"But then, thankfully, someone said 'what on earth are you doing?' and this madness was stopped."