Britain given maximum five spots for Olympic Games men's road race
By Matt Westby
Last Updated: 18/01/16 6:00pm
Great Britain have been allocated the maximum of five spots for the Olympic men’s road race in Rio.
The International Cycling Union (UCI) confirmed on Monday that 144 riders representing 61 nations would take part in the event, which will be held over 256.4km on August 6.
The other nations to receive the maximum allocation of five are Belgium, Colombia, Spain and Italy.
Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Switzerland will all have to make do with four, while world champion Peter Sagan's Slovakia have only been given one place.
Britain have not been so fortunate in the Olympic men's time trial, which will be contested by 40 riders on a 59.6km course on August 10.
They have been given only one place, while Belarus, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States have all been awarded two.
The road-race allocation is good news for Chris Froome, who is aiming to win both the Olympic road race and time trial in Rio.
The allocations were based on the UCI's national rankings in 2015. Nations must confirm the number of riders they will enter by February 1, with any places not taken up being reallocated by the UCI.
The allocations for the women's Olympic road race and time trial will be announced in June.
