Veteran Steve Cummings has been called up to the British cycling team for the Olympic road races in Rio after Peter Kennaugh failed to recover in time from a broken collarbone.
British Cycling confirmed the change yesterday, saying the 27-year-old Kennaugh had volunteered to step down after struggling to recover from the injury.
Cummings, 35, had been first reserve but created a clamour for his inclusion after a brilliant solo victory on the seventh stage of the Tour de France last week.
 British Cycling programme’s director Andy Harrison said: “I am disappointed for Pete but I respect his decision and I’m sure he can bounce back and finish his season strongly.
“Clearly Steve is in excellent form and I’m certain he will do Team GB proud.”
Chris Froome will lead the team along with Team Sky colleagues Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard. Adam Yates, currently enjoying an impressive Tour de France where, is also in the team.
Cummings, who rides for the Dimension Data team, had been controversially left out of the initial roster which apart from Yates consisted of all Team Sky riders.
He had said there was a conflict of interest for coach Rod Ellingworth because of his positions at Team Sky.
“As always when selecting a team for a road race, the ideal situation is to leave the decision as late as possible as it’s difficult to predict riders’ form and health so far out,” Ellingworth said in a statement.
“Since the selection panel made the original decision, there’s been 38 days of world tour racing during which time we’ve had some excellent results from the British Cycling squad, for example we’ve had British riders wear the yellow, green and white jerseys at the Tour de France.”
The Olympics road race will be held on August 6.

Dennis quits Tour for Rio preparation
Australian Rohan Dennis quit the Tour de France on yesterday rest day in order to concentrate on his Olympic preparations.
Dennis is part of the Australian team for the Rio Games and will compete both in the road race and time-trial.
“It has been an incredibly tough two weeks of racing at the Tour de France and Rohan has been an asset to the team, both with his fifth place in the first time trial, and working in support of our leaders throughout the race,” said his BMC Racing sports director Yvon Ledanois.
“The next two weeks are crucial for him as he prepares for the Rio Olympics and given the final time-trial here at the Tour de France isn’t suited to him, his preparation is best done at home in order to avoid further fatigue.”
Dennis, who won the opening stage time-trial at the Tour last year and wore the race leader’s yellow jersey for a day, was sitting 126th overall at more than two and a half hours behind leader Chris Froome.
There are five stages left in the race this year, four of which are in the Alps. The 26-year-old was part of the team pursuit squad that took silver behind Great Britain on the track at the last Olympics in London.
He’s also a two-time world champion in team pursuit.
He held the world hour record for three months last year before it was beaten by Britons Alex Dowsett and then Bradley
Wiggins.