Change in appeals process could see King and Varnish challenge Olympic omission

Riders such as Dani King and Jess Varnish have been given the opportunity to challenge their non-selection for the Rio Olympics, as British Cycling has amended its appeals process.

The organisation and the British Olympic Association brought in a new procedure this week to give non-BC funded riders who missed out on a place in Team GB’s Rio line up, the chance to appeal the decision if they think they should be in the squad. Previously only BC-funded athletes were able to appeal.

Varnish was controversially removed from Team GB in April, while King criticised BC selectors this week for her omission from the road squad, and said she had hit all the criteria required.

Steve Cummings is another rider not funded by BC who was not selected for the men’s road team, but has questioned the selection process, after a year that has seen him win three WorldTour races.

“The BOA raised concerns over the appealing process and in collaboration we’ve identified a pragmatic response to that, and the mechanics of that will be announced in the next few days,” said programmes manager Andy Harrison, who is managing the team in the interim following the departure of technical director Shane Sutton in April.

“It’s very much isolated and removed and independent from the selection panel.”

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A panel independent from the original selectors will hear any appeals, and all have to be complete by July 18 when the British team has to be presented for the Games.

“We felt it would be an equitable thing to do to open up the possibilities of that procedure existing for non-programme riders as like it did for programme riders,” said head coach Iain Dyer. “We’ve already been through that process for programme riders and its basically just being able to repeat that.”

Great Britain unveiled its 26-person squad for the Games in Manchester on Friday, with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, Laura Trott, Owain Doull, Lizzie Armitstead and Chris Froome among the line up for the track and road events.