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London 2012: Introducing... David McCann

The Belfast rider will compete in both the road race and time trial events at this year’s Games.

Credit: John Giles/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Event: Time trial and road race (cycling).

Who is he? 39-year-old RTS Racing Team rider David McCann travels to London to take part in his third Olympics, having represented Ireland at Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000).

He has been Irish national road race champion three times, national time trial champion six times, is a former An Post Ras winner and also a Commonwealth Games medallist.

The Belfast native makes up the road race team along with Nicolas Roche and Dan Martin, and will also compete in the time trial event at the Games for the first time.

Road to London: McCann was originally named in the Irish team but his place was put in doubt when Matt Brammeier launched an appeal with Cycling Ireland over the decision not to pick him. However, the Olympic Council of Ireland rejected the multiple Irish champion’s appeal meaning McCann will make a return 12 years after his last appearance.

What he says about himself: “I’m excited to be going there (to London) but at the same time daunted by it. It’s the highest level in the world and everyone is upping their game so I’ll have to do the same.

I’ve never done the time trial event at the Olympics so it’s kind of unfinished business. It’s a dual focus this time – on the road we’ve got a real good chance to do well and then I’ll be going for the time trial myself.

Medal chances: By his own reckoning, McCann sees the time trial as his strongest chance and says anything outside a top ten finish would be a disappointment. Jimmy’s going with two.

On the Twitter: Nope.

If you meet him at a bar, ask him… what he plans are after this season, which he has announced will be his last.

If he was a YouTube video, he would be... this clip of a human bicycle. Sure why not.

YouTube credit:

London 2012: Introducing… John Joe Nevin

London 2012: Introducing… Nicolas Roche