2008 track racing

Great Britain have been allocated 22 spots for the track events at this summer’s Beijing Olympics – but because of the qualifying restrictions placed on the events, can’t actually take them all up.

Britain’s track team will be made up of a maximum of 11 men and three women.

For example, Britain have qualified two places for women’s sprint and two for the women’s endurance events (the individual pursuit and the points race) but can take only three women riders in total.

It means there will be a selection dilemma in the coming weeks as British Cycling decide whether to take two sprinters or two endurance riders.

The other headache is deciding whether to take six endurance riders and five sprinters, or seven endurance riders and four sprinters to take up the 11 male places.

All the world champions and World Cup winners have qualified non-transferable places, which means the likes of Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Bradley Wiggins and Chris Newton have already clinched specific spots.

So, how can Great Britain's track places be allocated? For the full breakdown, read on.

MEN
Britain can take a maximum of 11 male riders to fill the spots the team has qualified for the track events. They can be split any way the nation sees fit – but places qualified by specific athletes through winning the world championship or World Cup could be lost if not filled by those riders.

SPRINT EVENTS
Britain has qualified seven spots in the sprint events – the team sprint, Keirin, and sprint.

They can take a maximum of five riders for these three events. If they were to nominate five, it would leave just six places for the endurance events. If they were to nominate four, that would leave seven places for the endurance events.

Team sprint (3 riders)
Three riders from the sprint pool can be nominated

Keirin (2 places)
• Chris Hoy has qualified as world champion and World Cup winner
• Another rider from the sprint pool can take a place in the Keirin

Sprint (2 places)
• Chris Hoy has qualified as world champion
• Another rider from the sprint pool can take a place in the sprint

PURSUIT EVENTS
Britain has qualified a maximum of seven spots in the pursuit events – the team pursuit and the individual pursuit. They can name a maximum of six riders for these events.

Team pursuit (5 riders)
• Britain can pick five riders specifically for the team pursuit. Those riders can then take up other places – such as the individual pursuit – if needed

Individual pursuit (2 places)
• Bradley Wiggins has qualified as world champion
• Another rider from the endurance pool can take a place in the pursuit

OTHER ENDURANCE EVENTS
Britain has qualified for both the Madison and the points race. They can name a maximum of three riders for these events.

Madison (2 riders)
• Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish won the world championship and it is very likely they will take the place in the Madison, however, Britain are not restricted to picking them. They could choose other endurance riders.

Points race (1 rider)
• Chris Newton has qualified as World Cup winner.

WOMEN
Britain has qualified the maximum number of spots for the women’s events – five. On offer are two sprint places and three endurance places. However, Britain can only take three riders to fill those places.

The biggest selection dilemma is whether to take a second sprinter, or take up the endurance places and pitch one of the pursuit riders into the points race.

SPRINT EVENT
There is just one event for the women’s sprinters – the sprint. Great Britain can name a maximum of two riders for the sprint.

Sprint (2 places)
• Victoria Pendleton has qualified as world champion
• Another sprint place could be allocated

ENDURANCE EVENTS
Great Britain can name a maximum of two riders for the these events.

Individual pursuit (2 places)
• Rebecca Romero has qualified as world champion
• Another pursuit place could be allocated

Points race (1 place)
• There’s one place but as Great Britain did not qualify directly by winning the world championship or World Cup, it must be filled by one of the three women track riders selected. There could be the option to draft someone in from another discipline.