"The life of an athlete is full of disappointments": France has hurt top athlete by non-selection for the Olympics

There's just over two months left until the Olympic Games in Paris, and that means the battle for the scarce slots on the French team is also intensifying. One of France's best female cyclists, Evita Muzic of FDJ-Suez, will not be at the start in Paris: she has announced on social media that she has been overlooked.

Among the men, it was primarily reigning champion Richard Carapaz who was indignant about his non-selection. Among the women, Muzic is one of the first to speak out. The 25-year-old Frenchwoman has had a very good year so far, with top ten finishes in races such as Strade Bianche, La Flèche Wallonne, the Vuelta – where she beat Demi Vollering in an uphill finish – and the Tour of Burgos.

Nevertheless, the French prefer to go with Audrey Cordon-Ragot, Juliette Labous and Victoire Berteau for the Olympics on home soil. "It was a dream of mine to participate in the Paris Olympic Games, but I will not be there. The national coach has decided otherwise, and I can only accept this decision with bitterness and regret."

Muzic explains her feelings about not being selected for the Olympic Games

"Bitter because I had made this competition a big part of my plan. The Paris Olympics are the event of the century, a unique opportunity to wave the blue-white-red flag in front of the home crowd, to compete for a medal and inspire future generations," says Muzic.

"It's regrettable because I thought that my performances this season had shown that I deserved a spot on the team," she states. "I won a stage in the Vuelta and showed myself on courses that match the profile of the Olympic Games. I believed in it."

Nevertheless, the FDJ-Suez rider will not be there. "But I am still one of the biggest supporters of the French team. The life of an athlete is full of disappointments, which you have to learn to deal with to become stronger. Now I look ahead to the Tour de France Femmes, more determined than ever."