- .Team GB's cycling stars have impressed at the Rio Olympics
- .Britain have already won four golds and three silvers in the velodrome
- .Bradley Wiggins, Jason Kenny, Laura Trott have been among the stars
- .Their success has seen rivals unable to explain how they've done it
- .Anna Meares and Kristina Vogel have followed a senior French coach in suggesting there is something suspicious about Team GB’s dominance
- .Team GB's cycling chiefs have rejected the claims as offensive
- .OLYMPIC NEWS: All the latest from Team GB and more in Rio
Team GB cyclists' glorious success is embroiled in controversy after France, Germany and Australia have questioned why they have done so well.
So far the team led by Sir Bradley Wiggins has dominated in the velodrome and won six golds, four silvers and a bronze in the velodrome.
But Team GB’s amazing success is not being welcomed by everyone.
Germany's Kristina Vogel and Britain's Becky James wait to compete in the Women's sprint finals. Vogel beat James to the gold, but has raised questions over how Team GB have been so successful.
Team GB have had their remarkable cycling success at the Olympics put down to cheating
Kirstina Vogel of Germany, right, competes to win the second semifinal of the women's sprint against Katy Marchant of Britain. Vogel questioned how Team GB could peak for the Olympics
Vogel of Germany has followed Meares with her strong criticism of the British team
Britain have won four gold medals and three silvers so far in the velodrome in Rio
Laura Trott, Jason Kenny and Bradley Wiggins have been among the British stars to impress
Gold medalists Joanna Rowsell-Shand, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald celebrate on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Women's Team Pursuit
Their achievements on the track have been overshadowed by rivals whose noses have been put out of joint by the team's gold rush.
In what could be interpreted as sour grapes, the team’s Australian, French and German rivals have made thinly veiled comments questioning why Britain’s cyclists are streaking past them.
Anna Meares and Kristina Vogel have questioned how Team GB have reached such heights
Meares has been unable to explain Britain's incredible success in the Rio velodrome
Wiggins (right) helped Team GB to one of their track golds in the men's team pursuit
German world champion Kristina Vogel pointed to the dramatic improvement in performances by Team GB between world championships and Olympics.
‘They were cannon fodder when you look at the last few years,’ she said. ‘Now they come along with a (high) level. I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything but it is all very questionable.’
Australian Anna Meares added: ‘We’re all just scratching our heads. They’ve got it together, and to be honest I’m not exactly sure what they’ve got together. It is not just the Australian team that have questions.’
French sprint coach Laurent Gané said: ‘The recipe should be asked for from our neighbours because I don’t understand. I don’t know what they’re doing. These are teams that do nothing extraordinary for four years and once they arrive at the Olympics they out-class the rest of the world.’
Michaël D’Almeida, part of France’s bronze medal-winning sprint team, said: ‘We are human beings like them, we are made of the same stuff, we have a bike like they do, so why are they better?
'If I had the explanation I wouldn’t be here today with a bronze medal around my neck. I’m not in their camp, in their country, I don’t know how it works, I don’t know what goes on. I have my ideas about certain things.’
Australian track star Meares has hit out at Team GB following a disappointing Games
Michael D'Almeida of France has no answer to why Team GB have surpassed their rivals
British Cycling head coach Iain Dyer said: ‘We’ve won 12 world titles since London 2012. If that makes us cannon fodder coming into the Olympics then so be it.
‘If you look at some of the times that have been done here, some of the teams simply haven’t shown up. That’s the bottom line.
‘While we peak athletically for the Olympics, we also peak in our research and innovation for the Olympics.
British star Wiggins won his fifth Olympic gold medal following victory in the team pursuit
Iain Dyer, head coach of British Cycling, has rejected any claims his team are cheats
Dyer talks tactics with one of Britain's track stars, superstar sprinter Jason Kenny
‘The helmets we are using here, for example, we used in 2012 but haven’t used them again until now. The bikes obviously are new, the first time. And no end of different components and strategies are only appearing for the first time.
‘When you look at our opposition, generally once you’ve seen them at the Olympics with their new kit, you go to the next World Cup and they are still on the same equipment. That’s just not the way we approach things.’
He added: 'The times that have been done here, some of the teams simply haven’t shown up. That’s the bottom line.
'I don’t want to cite specific examples but you can all trawl through the times for World Cups and World Championships.
'Some of the people here are not even performing at the level of World Championships. It’s important every athlete who comes to the Olympics takes responsibility for their own performance.
Asked if he found the criticism offensive, Dyer replied. ‘If what I am hearing is true, yes, it is. It’s a shame. I can only point to the fact you can look at athletes here who are simply not at their best.’
Huge investment has also been made in technology, coaches say, to ensure the elite squad has the best equipment available.
Mark Cavendish is the latest British star to win a medal, claiming silver in the men's omnium
Callum Skinner has been one British star to step up his game and win a medal in Rio
Dyer says Meares is understandably disappointed after falling below her high standards
While others have struggled, Team GB's cyclists have only gone from strength to strength
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