French track cyclist pays the price

French track cyclist Mickael Bourgain will pay the price for being selected for the Olympic keirin by having to race for France's Olympic road race team.

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Bourgain, who does not compete on the road, has placed his hopes in winning a medal in the keirin but to participate he must, according to the rules, also be qualified for another cycling event.

Because France has filled up its allocation of places in the other track events, Bourgain had to take part in another event.

The only spot available was in the road race and he will now race alongside established road professionals Sylvain Chavanel, Arnaud Demare and Tony Gallopin, according to French Cycling Federation (FFC) officials.

"Either we don't pick him, and that wouldn't be fair, or we select him for the road," FFC president David Lappartient told AFP.

"The proposal came from the Olympic squad's technical director and was accepted by the FFC."

Lappartient said the German team had been confronted with the same problem.

German Robert Forstemann, a track cycling sprint specialist and a real medal hope in the three-lap team sprint, has been picked for the Olympic cross-country race.

Lappartient said any chance the decision, which he stressed was in no way designed to upset the road racers, could cause an upset would be tempered by the fact Bourgain is a real medal hope for the keirin.

"This is in no way designed to devalue the road racing team," he added.

"But Bourgain has legitimately qualified for the Games and, since he is a real medal hope, it would not have been correct to act otherwise."

Bourgain's London Games qualification for the keirin did not come easily. He had to battle compatriot Francois Pervis for the sole spot available.

In the past two Olympics Bourgain has won two bronze medals, in the sprint (2008) and team sprint (2004).

It means Bourgain, with his imposing track sprinter's physique which is used to intense efforts of racing on several laps of a 250-metre track, will stick out like a sore thumb when he lines up for the Olympic road race on July 28.

The 250 km race begins and ends in central London but takes in Box Hill in Surrey nine times.

It is supposed to favour sprinters like world champion Mark Cavendish of Britain. France's bid will be led by Arnaud Demare, the under-23 world champion.

France team for Olympic road race:

Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma), Arnaud Demare (FDJ-BigMat), Tony Gallopin (RadioShack), Mickael Bourgain.