TRIPLE gold medallist Chris Hoy has revealed the secret behind the remarkable success of Britain’s cyclists.

It’s a bit technical but here goes ... they did the opposition’s heads in.

Dave Brailsford’s team emerged as the talk of the Games with eight golds, three silvers and two bronze.

As he woke yesterday as the first GB athlete to win three golds at one Games since 1908, Scotsman Hoy said: “We battered the other teams into submission.

“You could see their morale was completely dented by the first few days.

“I was quite surprised at how badly some of them performed. Some of them didn’t even reach the levels they had at the World Championships in March.

“That couldn’t be a physical thing because you’d aim to peak for the Olympics. I think it was mental.

“The lower your morale, the more you feel the pain. When they saw how our team was riding, everyone else just started to crack.

“The emotional side of it is almost tougher than the physical part.

“Before each race you think about what you’re going to do, your plan and execution.

“Then you have the race itself and afterwards the examination of what you did and how you might improve, how you should plan for the next one.

“Right now, I’m physically and mentally drained.

“The main emotion this morning is less exhilaration and more a mix of relief and exhaustion.

“For the first time in months and months I’ll be able to walk up a flight of stairs without worrying whether my legs feel tired.

“To finally get it all finished is a wonderful feeling. For five days I’ve been battling to keep my head above water.

“I can pinpoint times in the last four years when I’ve gone through real suffering.

“Certain sessions I’ve done have been horrendous.

"The only thing that gets you through is the thought of the Olympics and the gold medal. What’s happened out here hasn’t really sunk in.

“Last night I went out with the pursuit team, Vicky Pendleton and my girlfriend for a few beers but it wasn’t a big night.

“We were just too tired — Jason Kenny didn’t even make it out. But tonight will be a bigger night and the one after that bigger still.

“I’m so looking forward to going home and being able to do normal things — to see friends, have a beer without worrying about it.”

Boss Brailsford said: “Hoy encapsulates Olympic ideals of fair play and working hard.

“He is so committed — he is the real deal. But he is always laughing and joking around the dinner table too. He’ll talk to anybody.

“He embodies everything about great Olympic athletes.”