CYCLING: Track teams will be able to qualify two riders in sprint and keirin after the International Cycling Union (UCI) finalised event and discipline quotas for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

A total of 528 athletes [325 men and 203 women] will compete in 18 events at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. There are a number of changes compared with London 2012 that also impact road and BMX.

The biggest change that will impact Australia is to allow track teams to qualify two riders in sprint and keirin for Rio 2016.

UCI President Brian Cookson says it means "we will see more of the world's very best riders compete".

Australian Olympic sprint champion Anna Meares is happy with the decision tweeting “Woohoo! 2 riders per nation passed 4 track in RIO.”

The limit of one rider had prevented Meares from competing at the Olympics with her sister Kerrie in the past. It also meant her team sprint bronze medal partner from London 2012, Kaarle McCulloch, did not get to race an individual event in 2012.

McCulloch could now get that option in Rio 2016 or Stephanie Morton who beat Meares in the sprint at the 2014 Nationals. It will also mean Australia’s men will have an track spot on offer.

At the 2012 Olympics, British track great Chris Hoy missed the men's sprint after the UCI allowed only one rider per team. Teammate Jason Kenny won gold in London, four years after taking silver behind Hoy in Beijing.

Although Hoy won keirin gold in London, he had led a British 1-2 in Beijing.

With the change from three to four athletes in the women’s team pursuit, one quota place has been transferred from the Men’s Road to the Men’s Track to balance the quota.

For BMX, three more nations will be able to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games compared with 2012. Furthermore, there are now three different ways of qualifying instead of two. Finally, the minimum age of participation has been lowered to 18.

Brazil are guaranteed places in road, mountain bike and BMX events.

“With Brazil being granted quota places for Road, Mountain Biking and BMX the 2016 Games provide a genuine opportunity to build on the already significant progress the sport has witnessed there in recent years.

“Today’s confirmation of qualification systems really does signal the count-down for riders aspiring to compete in the Rio Olympic Games.”

AOC and UCI