Mountain biker Grant Ferguson has today been added to Team GB’s cycling squad for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
The 22-year-old will compete in the men’s cross country event at Rio 2016, which is set to be held on 21 August – the final day of the competition at the Games.
Ferguson enjoyed a highly successful 2015 in which he won silver at the U23 European Mountain Bike Cross Country Championships before taking his first ever win at the World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy.
The Scottish-born rider finished the year strongly too, with a bronze medal in the men’s U23 race at the Mountain Bike World Championships in Andorra. He made his debut in the elite category at this year’s worlds yesterday having achieved a career-best 15th at elite World Cup level in May.
Ferguson said: “I’m thrilled to have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Rio Olympic Games thanks to the support of British Cycling. I was fortunate enough to be on the BOA’s Olympic Ambition Programme in 2012 and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience so to be able to actually compete this time is really exciting and I can’t wait to get out there.”
Team GB Chef de Mission Mark England said: “Being able to add Grant to our cycling squad and ensure we have representation across all four disciplines is fantastic news for Team GB. Grant is a young, exciting rider who’s progressed quickly to elite level having excelled in the junior ranks.”
Ferguson’s inclusion takes the number of selected cyclists for Rio 2016 to 27 following the announcement of the road, track and BMX riders last month.
British Cycling and the BOA are also able to clarify the process by which non-programme riders considered by the original British Cycling selection panel were able to appeal.
Riders eligible to appeal were contacted by British Cycling on June 27 and were able to take advantage of a 48-hour appeals window in line with the process available to programme riders.
Two appeals were received and considered under British Cycling’s major event selection appeals procedure but were unsuccessful.
The selected athletes are:
Men’s Mountain Bike:
Grant Ferguson, aged 22, hometown Peebles
Men’s Track:
Jason Kenny, 28, Bolton
Phillip Hindes, 23, Manchester
Callum Skinner, 23, Glasgow
Bradley Wiggins, 36, London
Mark Cavendish, 31, Douglas
Owain Doull, 23, Cardiff
Steven Burke, 28, Burnley
Ed Clancy, 31, Barnsley
Ryan Owens, 20, Aspley Guise, Beds
Women’s Track:
Rebecca James, 24, Abergavenny
Katy Marchant, 23, Leeds
Laura Trott, 24, Harlow
Katie Archibald, 22, Milngavie
Joanna Rowsell Shand, 27, Carshalton
Elinor Barker, 21, Cardiff
Ciara Horne, 26, Harrow
Men’s Road:
Geraint Thomas, 30, Cardiff
Chris Froome, 31, Nairobi
Adam Yates, 23, Bury
Peter Kennaugh, 27, Douglas
Ian Stannard, 29, Chelmsford
Women’s Road:
Lizzie Armitstead, 27, Otley
Emma Pooley, 33, Wandsworth
Nikki Harris, 29, Draycott
Men’s BMX:
Liam Phillips, 27, Taunton
Kyle Evans, 22, Wigan
