Great news for Ireland as two more Rio 2016 places confirmed

We'll start with the good news.

The international cycling federation [UCI] has confirmed that Team Ireland has been approved for two road racing slots at this summer's Rio Olympics. The news further bulks out the Irish squad heading to Brazil later this year. Indeed, with the Men's Hockey team already qualified and the Women's Rugby side scheduled to play their final qualifier at U.C.D, in June, Ireland could travel with their largest ever squad. A statement on Cycling Ireland reads:

The places are in the Men’s Elite Road Race, and over the coming months Cycling Ireland will make a nomination to the Olympic Council of Ireland regarding the selection process for these places. The Road Race at the Olympics takes place on the weekend of August 6-7. 'The qualification process for track cycling and BMX is ongoing with Irish riders still in contention. On the track, the qualified places will be confirmed following the UCI Track Cycling World Championships which take place in London from March 2-6. 'Eoin Mullen and Shannon McCurley are the two riders in realistic contention for qualification spots, in the Men’s Sprint and Women’s Keirin respectively. Kelvin Batey will be competing in the BMX World Championships in Medellín Colombia this May, after which the qualification slots will be announced by UCI.'

At London 2012, Ireland had three participants in the Road Race - David McCann, Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin. McCann finished highest, in 55th place. Better news... Alexander Vinokourov, who took gold in London, has retired. Now for the bad news... Ireland have never won an Olympic medal in cycling. But, for those out there who view life as a glass half full, the likely combination of Martin and Roche are more than capable of getting themselves into the leading group. After that, anything can happen.