Team Sky was launched in January with £30 million ($44 million) backing from broadcaster BSkyB with star rider Bradley Wiggins (pictured), the triple Olympic champion, who yesterday won the opening time trial in Rotterdam of the Giro d'Italia, the squad's debut in a major stage ride.

The review, by Deloitte, which is due to be completed by the end of the summer, will be looking at several aspects of the relationship between Team Sky and the Olympic squad, including that the resources being poured into the professional road team are not detracting from the target of Britain doing well at London 2012.

UK Sport is investing £26.39 million ($39.11 million) of National Lottery funding into British Cycling in the build-up to the London 2012 Olympics.

Russell Langley, the head of communications at UK Sport, told The Guardian: "One is to look at operational arrangements between Team Sky and the track squad, how the programmes work together."

Brian Cookson, President of British Cycling, said: "This is an independent review and it will benefit us and UK Sport and ensure that everyone is complying with the requirements that UK Sport would wish us to.

"We're as anxious as anyone that the team shouldn't lose any competitive advantage and this is a way to ensure that every bit of Lottery funding that comes to the UK cycling team is used to their benefit."

But the main thing the review will try to establish is that performance targets are still being met in the build-up to London 2012 as Britain tries to repeat its incredible performance at Beijing in 2008 when they won eight gold medals, including seven of the 10 titles available on the track.

Langley said: "That is the key one.

"We invest millions of public money in British Cycling and we and they will be judged by the medals won in 2012."

David Brailsford, the performance director of British Cycling, heads Team Sky while Shane Sutton, the head coach of the track cycling team, also has a leading role.

Several other leading British Cycling officials also have key roles with Team Sky.

Langley told The Guardian: "It [the review] is not being done from any negative angle, but to ensure that both programmes are working well and can deliver what they need to."


Related stories
May 2010: Wiggins in the pink at the Giro d'Italia
January 2010: Wiggins officially launches Team Sky
September 2009: Team Sky given pro licence for 2010
May 2009: BSkyB to pour millions into British Tour de France team
October 2008: British Cycling launch new Sky team