The three man Irish road race team for the Olympic Games appears finally to have been settled, with Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale), Dan Martin (Garmin-Sharp) and David McCann (RTS Racing Team) being confirmed today by the Olympic Council of Ireland.
The OCI has rejected an appeal by Matt Brammeier, which was lodged in an effort to change that original selection.
Last month Cycling Ireland’s selection panel picked Daniel Martin (Garmin Sharp) and Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale), both currently competing in the Tour de France, for the three-man team, along with David McCann (RTS Racing Team).
Brammeier was one of those who were unsuccessful under CI’s original criteria, which allocated points based on a combination of race results and selector assessment.
He appealed the result on June 7th. CI’s appeal committee decided his objection had sufficient merit for the selections to be weighed up again, but CI’s selectors ruled that the original decision was the correct one.
Brammeier and his agent Andrew McQuaid subsequently appealed to the OCI prior to the national road race championships on June 24th, where the rider took a record third consecutive title.
The OCI has now issued a final ruling today.
“The OCI's Appeal Tribunal met Mr. Brammeier's legal representatives on Saturday last, July 7th in Howth and heard the lengthy appeal submission,” it stated in a release. “The OCI Appeal Tribunal was chaired by Susan Ahern (executive member) along with William O'Brien (first Vice-President) and Dermot Sherlock (Hon. Secretary General) plus legal counsel.
“Based on the findings of the Tribunal the appeal was not upheld.”
It has added that Brammeier still has the option of applying to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).