Edinburgh cyclist Callum Skinner in GB Olympic team

Edinburgh cyclist Callum Skinner has been named in the Great Britain cycling team for the Olympic Games in Rio along with fellow Scot Katie Archibald.

Callum Skinner is part of a three-man track sprint team including Jason Kenny and Phillip Hindes

Skinner, 23, is in the men’s track squad. Archibald, 22, from Milngavie, will be part of the women’s track squad after recovering from serious knee and arm injuries sustained in a 70mph motorbike crash last December.

The duo will both be competing for the first time at an Olympic Games.

Gary Coltman, head of performance at Scottish Cycling, said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Katie and Callum on being selected to compete for Great Britain in their first Olympic Games.

“They have worked extremely hard and remained focused on achieving Olympic success for a long time – and selection is well deserved.

“I am confident they will do both Scotland and Great Britain extremely proud and on behalf of Scottish Cycling I wish them all the very best for a success in Rio.”

Joining the Scottish pair in the team are some stellar names including seven-time Olympic medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell Shand.

Former world champion and 26-time Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish also returns to the Olympic boards after competing at Beijing 2008. Jason Kenny, Ed Clancy, Phillip Hindes, Steven Burke and Welshman Owain Doull making up the remainder of the men’s track team.

World champions Becky James, Elinor Barker, Katy Marchant and Ciara Horne complete the women’s track squad.

Cavendish and Trott will ride in the multi-discipline omnium event, with double London 2012 champion Trott also appearing in the women’s team pursuit.

Wiggins will be chasing an eighth Olympic medal in the men’s team pursuit quartet with Burke, Clancy and Doull, with Cavendish providing back-up.

The team for the men’s road race will be led by double Tour de France champion Chris Froome, with Pete Kennaugh, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Adam Yates taking the other slots.

Lizzie Armitstead is GB’s main hope in the women’s road race, where she will be supported by Nikki Harris and Emma Pooley.

The sprinters are Kenny, Hindes and Skinner on the men’s side, and James and Marchant on the women’s.

Archibald, Elinor Barker, Horne and Rowsell-Shand have been given the nod for the women’s team pursuit squad, while Ryan Owens is the reserve for the men’s sprint trio.

Great Britain failed to qualify anybody in the mountain bike or women’s BMX competition but Kyle Evans and Liam Phillips will go for gold in the men’s BMX, both being well on the road to recovery from a recent training accident.

Cavendish, who was the only member of GB’s track cycling team not to win a medal in 2008 and missed out again in the road race in 2012, said: “I’ve made no secret that my aim is to win an Olympic medal and I’m so pleased to have been given this opportunity.”

Froome will be hoping to go to Rio with a third Tour title under his belt and the Team Sky star has talked about the prospect of doing a road race/time trial double.

“The Olympics are special for any athlete lucky enough to be given the chance to compete at a Games,” the 31-year-old said.

“I have great memories of London and winning bronze in the time trial. I will be giving it everything I can in Rio to try and win another medal.”