Sutton, British Cycling's high performance manager of the road and track programmes, said that Sir Alex - the most successful manager in British football history - and his staff wanted to try to discover why they were so dominant at the Beijing Olympics, where they won a record eight gold medals.

 

In an interview pubished in the Herald Sun newspaper in Melbourne, Sutton said: "They were really keen to see what we were doing, and taken aback by the way we worked.

 

"Now they've invited us to see what they do."

 

Sutton is widely credited with being one of the architects of British Cycling's success and said that it was a determination to beat the Australians that led to the development of such a brilliant programme.

 

Sutton, who left Australia 25 years ago to base himself in Britain as a professional cyclist before moving successfully into coaching, told the newspaper: "They [Australia] set the bar high and fortunately we jumped over it.

 

"Our training is all based around having to be better than the Aussies because we know they'll come out fighting.

 

"It's what inspires us."

 

Britain won a total of 14 cycling medals in Beijing, compared to Australia's one.

 

Four years earlier, in Athens, Australia had won 10 medals, including six gold.

 

But Sutton warned that Britain would not get complacent about the Australian threat.

 

He said: "Australia will come again and it could be in four years' time.

 

"Their head man, Shayne Bannan, is as good as anyone and their set-up is first class.

 

"People are quick to criticise, but I don't think they look at the broader picture.

 

"The Australian programme is very healthy.

 

"They might have stood still a bit in some areas while we have moved forward, but their men's road team is one of the best and their under-23 system might be the best in the world.

 

"Everything goes in cycles and this is our time."

 

To read the full interview visit http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24673033-2863,00.html.