Italian wants British ride

CYCLING : Max Sciandri, the Italian cyclist, wants to ride for Great Britain in the 1996 Olympics, and has been granted a British professional racing licence because he was born in Derby of an Italian father.

"I have given up trying to get selection for Italy in the World Championships," he said. "I do not seem to be getting aywhere with the Italian selectors. When I had good form and I was riding well they still did not seem interested. Above all else I wantto compete in the Atlanta Olympics."

Sciandri is 24th in the world rankings, and has won a Tour of Italy stage as well as the Kellogg's Tour of Britain in 1992.

However, Doug Dailey, the Bristish national coach, says that before Sciandri could be selected he would first have to "meet strict Olympic eligibility requirements".