British Cycling has strongly defended its Olympic selection process - following the controversial omission of Hampshire's Dani King -  and backed its 26-strong team to top the medal table in Rio for a third straight Games.

Despite sending a team boasting the talents of Mark Cavendish, Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins to Brazil, much of the focus this week has been on riders who missed out.

London 2012 gold medallist King, from Hamble, described her omission as "unfair", while British time trial champion Hayley Simmonds called the governing body "disrespectful" in an angry Facebook post.

Totton's Jon Dibben has also been left out, with Cavendish preferred in the omnium, despite becoming a world champion on the track in the points race in March.

Concerned about the controversy surrounding these decisions, the British Olympic Association (BOA) asked British Cycling to change its stance on appeals so that non-funded athletes can ask for them too.

"During conversations with the BOA over the last 24 hours, they raised concerns over the appeal process," said British Cycling's programmes director Andy Harrison.

"And in collaboration with them, we've identified a pragmatic response - they requested it and we were happy to facilitate it.

"The intention is that it will follow the same appeal process as the funded riders, and it will be completely independent from the selection panel."

King and Simmonds will now be able to ask a British Cycling panel to review the reasons for their non-selection, as will track sprinter Jess Varnish, who was dropped from the Olympic programme last month, and Steve Cummings, perhaps the unluckiest of those not to make the men's road race quintet.

Head coach Iain Dyer described the appeal decision as an "equitable move" but said he would not take part in the process as he was on the original selection panel.

Dyer and Harrison were thrust into the limelight in April when technical director Shane Sutton stepped down amid denied allegations of bullying and financial impropriety.

Those allegations, some of which were made by Varnish, are now the subject of an inquiry led by UK Sport, the agency that funds British Olympic and Paralympic sport.

With that inquiry not expected to report until after Rio, Dyer said he could not comment on the specifics of the charges but was confident the process would paint an "accurate reflection" of the programme.

"I wouldn't for one moment condone bullying or cultures of fear or any of the other things that have popped up in the press," said Dyer.

"But what I would say about elite sport is that by its nature you select somebody and don't select others, and people are going to be upset if they've put in 100 per cent and not been picked."

When asked if Sutton's absence could have a negative impact on GB's medal chances, Dyer said: "For sure, Shane would have been a go-to person for some of (the team).

"But I'm not a new Shane and nobody is suggesting (he) is being replaced, it's just that we're moving forward."

With Sutton gone, Harrison is effectively in charge but he too was forced to defend himself last month after sending an email to riders that seemed to suggest their selection chances would be affected if they talked to the media.

Harrison said he "regretted sending it as soon as it went" but denied he was gagging riders.

"A high degree of effort and time was going into communicating with the media, and while we'd never stop riders from talking to the press, what I was trying to do was switch their attention back to preparing for Rio," he said.

Harrison said his focus now was on the team topping the cycling medal table in Rio and then doing it again in Tokyo in 2020, when he is determined GB will send a bigger team, with riders in every discipline.

No British riders qualified for the women's BMX or mountain bike competitions in Rio, although one place has just become available in the men's mountain bike event and a rider will be selected in the coming weeks.

"We have to diversify our medal opportunities and improve our competitiveness in mountain bike and BMX, male and female," said Harrison.

"They needed additional attention and we've done that. It's coming to fruition and will be a significant part of our Tokyo plan that has already gone to UK Sport."

But there was little comment on those riders who narrowly missed out on selection, such as Matt Crampton, Cummings and, most notably, King.

With the well-resourced GB squad aiming to be the most successful cycling nation at a third straight Games, there were always going to be disappointed athletes.

"I'm so excited to be selected for Rio," said Laura Trott, who has a good chance of adding two more golds to her collection.

"London 2012 was amazing, it was life-changing for me, and I'm so excited to see what me and my team-mates can achieve this time around."

The Rio Olympics will take place from August 5-21, with GB expected to take around 350 athletes from 23 sports.