USA Cycling announces preliminary Tokyo 2020 squad

With a postponed Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, USA Cycling has decided to take advantage of the year-long delay.

On Thursday, 38 riders were named as part of the preliminary roster across three cycling disciplines - track, road and mountain bike. The BMX freestyle and racing teams will be announced at a later date.

“This is one of the few areas where the COVID situation is helping us,” USA Cycling chief executive Rob DeMartini told AP.

Generally, the preliminary squad would have been announced eight weeks out from the Games but with the Olympics not until 2021, it meant that the governing body has a longer period to work with the cyclists.

“We have now a year to both train and develop them in a more focused way, but also market them in a better way,” DeMartini added.

Mandy Marquardt, who has type 1 diabetes, was one of 12 athletes named on the roster for track cycling.

Speaking exclusively with Tokyo 2020, the 28-year-old said despite the postponement her goals remain the same.

“I just know that Tokyo now is the goal. A new goal. But my goals currently have not changed. It’s just a new date.”

The announcement also meant that no cyclists outside the long team could go to the Olympics, according to USA Cycling.

The USA won two golds and five medals in total at Rio 2016, and have set a goal of winning seven medals in Tokyo.