Cycling: Rowing ace Romero takes aim for Beijing cycling gold

(GETTY IMAGES)

Rebecca Romero is aiming to become the first British woman to earn medals in two summer Olympic sports after being named in the cycling squad yesterday.

"Having already been to the Olympics as a rower and then retired I never thought I'd return to the Games," said the 28-year-old Romero.

"Having taken up cycling my aim was to qualify and getting the selection letter made it real that I was going; and not only am I going but I'm going as the world's No 1."

The British road race champion Rob Hayles has missed out, however. Hayles won the British national road race title last month, but the four men selected to compete in Beijing are Jonny Bellis, Steve Cummings, Roger Hammond and Ben Swift.

Shanaze Reade will compete in the women's BMX, with a male rider to be selected for that event at a later date.

The familiar names of Athens – gold medallists Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins, and Victoria Pendleton and Nicole Cooke – are all included in the 14-strong squad.

Dave Brailsford, Team GB Cycling team leader, said: "The Great Britain cycling team has continued to develop to such a point where it is clearly both the strongest and most professional cycling team from Great Britain in living memory. The very tough selection decisions which had to be made are a testament to the strength and depth of talent within our programme."

GB cycling squad for Olympic Games (Beijing, 8-24 August)

Men

Road: Road race: J Bellis, S Cummings, R Hammond, B Swift. Individual time trial: S Cummings. Mountain Bike: O Beckingsale, L Killeen.

Track: Team Pursuit: E Clancy, S Burke, P Manning, G Thomas. Madison: M Cavendish, B Wiggins. Team Sprint: R Edgar, C Hoy, J Kenny, J Staff. Keirin: R Edgar, C Hoy, B Wiggins. Sprint: C Hoy, Kenny. Points Race: C Newton. Individual pursuit: B Wiggins.

Women

Road: Road Race: N Cooke, S Laws, E Pooley. BMX: S Reade. Track: Sprint: V Pendleton. Points race: R Romero. Women's individual pursuit: R Romero, W Houvenaghel.