A HAMPSHIRE Olympic champion cyclist will miss out on the chance to compete in Rio 2016.

Hamble's Dani King, a gold medal winner on the track at London 2012, has not been selected to represent the UK at the next Olympic games.

Despite strong recent performances on the road, Emma Pooley has taken her place in the women's road team.

And Totton's Jon Dibben, who became a track world champion in March, has been left out of the men's team 

King said that she was left "heartbroken" by the news that she had not been selected but that she will always be proud of her gold medal.

The news comes after a leak earlier this week appears to have revealed the team line up before the official announcement in Manchester on Friday.

Pooley, who has competed little over the last two years, finished fourth in the National Time Trial in Stockton on Thursday, one minute behind winner Hayley Simmonds.

Considering Pooley is a former three-time winner of the event, that result is unlikely to placate King, who this week questioned the selectors' decision in apparently dropping her from the Olympic squad.

Her comments placed the spotlight back on British Cycling, whose build-up to the Games was marred by the resignation of technical director Shane Sutton after allegations of sexism and discrimination.

In another move which will be questioned, Mark Cavendish is expected to be selected for the omnium and team pursuit despite his relative lack of experience in the latter, with former Hounsdown school pupil Dibben left out.

The selectors are clearly of the opinion that Cavendish's strong medal chance in the omnium makes his selection worth the gamble.

According to reports, Steve Cummings is also set to miss out on a place in the men's road race team with Adam Yates, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Peter Kennaugh selected to support Chris Froome.