Can you explain their contribution? In the Rio Olympics the british velodrome team used Cervelo bikes like every other top team.
https://www.cervelo.com/en-ca/races-and-athletes/british-cyc...
https://www.cervelo.com/en-ca/races-and-athletes/british-cyc...
http://www.mclaren.com/appliedtechnologies/case-study/uk-spo...
"A good example is our collaboration with Team GB cyclists. Drawing on our design expertise, we created sensor hardware to be fitted within bike frames. A non-GPS positioning system was created (GPS being unreliable inside velodromes) and bespoke data analysis software developed to monitor speed, power, cadence and other valuable metrics."
However, chances are Cervelo only manages to deliver their newest designs to British cycling in time for important races.
The scenario likely is somewhat like this: Cervelo develops new bikes in cooperation with British cycling, as that gives them a rich sponsor willing to pay for experimental designs.
Also, bikes like these bikes are custom sized to their rider, and making one takes lots of time.
British cycling doesn't have any incentive to finalize their design months before the Olympics because that would give Cervelo time to make bikes for the competition, and would rob them of time in which they could try out yet another bike.
So yes, others can order those bikes, but chances are they cannot get them delivered in time.
Also, chances are that British cycling knows better what kind of bike they want. Not everybody has the resources to evaluate zillions of minute variations on a bike frame in a wind tunnel.
(Some background info at http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/racing/olympics/british-... (2012))
CF vacuum resin infusion layup (which I assume they're doing) is pretty fast, I can't see how making a complete bike from scratch would take more than two days if all the parts are in stock.
(That doesn't mean they don't have long wait times still.)
On the materials side there are things such as the resin the British team coats the bikes in is applied and manufactured by McLaren.
I think the greatest contribution is probably the data analysis they provide the team during the events (for example, the british team bring their own cameras, sensors on everything that moves, etc.) . More info: http://www.mclaren.com/appliedtechnologies/case-study/uk-spo...
Next thing we'll hear about how they helped design the athlete's antiperspirant.
http://venge.specialized.com/#/sworks-mclaren-venge/working-...
Not true. There was actually quite a bit of variety. The French (patriotically) used Look bikes for Example.