Abergavenny cyclist hits out at Olympic rule change (From Free Press Series)

Abergavenny cyclist hits out at Olympic rule change

10:30am Thursday 22nd July 2010

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ABERGAVENNY cyclist Becky James has hit out at the sport’s decision makers after a recent rule change put a huge dent in her London 2012 glory bid.

The UCI - the Union Cycliste Internationale - announced earlier this year that only one competitor, or team, per nation would be allowed to enter each event in the capital which hits the two-years-to-go mark on July 27.

So while at the Beijing Olympics, Team GB took a one-two in three disciplines, James will now be forced to go head-to-head with Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton to be selected for the individual events.

And while quick to insist she will not let the situation get her down, James admits she is less than impressed with the rulings of the powers that be.

“No one is impressed at all about the UCI’s rulings,” said James. “Just because the GB team has done so well recently and at the Beijing Olympics - it’s not really fair.

“It should be that the best riders have the chance to win the medals so if the best two riders are from GB then they should get gold and silver and the same if the rider was from France or somewhere else.

“It means it is going to be a very tough challenge and a lot harder to get into London 2012 but what is meant to be will be.

“All I can do is train hard for it now and if I am good enough at the time when the team is picked then that will be great. “London is still a big aim of mine and everything between now and then is a stepping stone for that.”

James announced herself on the world scene last year when she claimed double world junior gold and received a boost last week when she was named in the Wales squad for the Commonwealth Games in India.

The announcement capped off a busy few weeks for the 18-year-old Abergavenny Road Club ace who has just moved up to Manchester to train full time with the GB under 23 squad.

James is the first to admit the last two weeks have been a shock to the system but with a triple assault on the podium planned in Delhi she is not planning any rest days any time soon.

“It’s great to have the chance to represent Wales as we don’t get to do that very often,” added James. “I’ll do the sprint, 500m and the keirin and so it is going to be a busy event but I am used to doing all three so it should be fine.

“The morning after I found out that I was going to the Commonwealths I already had butterflies in my stomach and was feeling really nervous and excited about it.”

- Lloyds TSB, proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and supporter of Team GB on their journey to London 2012. LloydsTSB.com/London2012.

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