As the official mobility partner of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), BMW will provide the 28-year-old, two-time US National Time Trial champion with financial support, and access to BMW resources and technologies to aid her quest to win a place on the US cycling team for the Games.

Americans were asked to vote online for either Stevens, wrestler Henry Cejudo or rower Ursula Grobler, after viewing testimonials from each.

Stevens rose from beginnings on Wall Street to take up competitive cycling at 25, but has since won races including the Fitchburg Classic, the Cascade Classic and a stage at the Route de France.

She was delighted with the selection, and said: "As a female competing in a sport in which funding is notoriously difficult to obtain, I'm so grateful to become a member of the BMW Performance Team.

"To know that I have my peers to thank for rewarding my passion and drive for competitive cycling with their vote makes this even more of an honour."

Stevens joins swimmers Ricky Berens, Natalie Coughlin and Janet Evans, triathlete Matt Chrabot, track and field stars Bryan Clay and Sanya Richards-Ross, gymnast Jonathan Horton, sailor Clay Johnson, Paralympic track and field's April Holmes and Paralympic swimmer Mallory Weggemann on the BMW team.

Trudy Hardy, manager of marketing communications and consumer events at BMW North America, said: "We are so proud of all three of these talented and committed athletes, and our congratulations go to each of them as they continue to reach for their Olympic dreams.

"We are also happy to have had the opportunity to empower our passionate BMW community to select the final member of our team, and look forward to witnessing together the future successes of Team USA."

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