David Millar will be aiming for gold in Athens

The pair secured their early selection for Athens by winning medals at the World Championship in Hamilton in October.

Millar is the world time-trial champion while Cooke won the road race World Cup and won bronze at the World Championships.

Both will be hoping to add to their medal tally in Athens.

Simon Clegg, chef de mission for the British Olympics team, said: "David and Nicole's performances over the past couple of years have underlined their reputations in world cycling.

The Olympics is my biggest goal next year Nicole Cooke

"David will start his event as reigning world champion and Nicole has shown she is one of the toughest young athletes around.

"These two selections will mean our cycling squad will be as competitive on the road as on the track."

Great Britain won four medals at the Sydney Olympics, including gold for Jason Queally in the 1km time-trial.

Millar achieved a lifetime's ambition in October by winning the time trial at the World Championships in Hamilton, Canada.

The Maltese-born Scot, who has also won stages in the Tour de France and the Tour of Spain, is relishing the chance grab Olympic glory.

"I had one specific goal over the last three months of this year,"he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"It was the World Championship time trial, which is in certain respects how I'll be treating the Olympics next year.

"It's given me a lot of confidence in how I'll prepare for next year."

Cooke was also delighted to be chosen for Athens.

"The Olympics is my biggest goal next year," she said.

"Going into next season all my preparation and all my training is going to be geared around the Olympics.

"I'm going for the road race and the time trial - they are two events which compliment each other with the type of training needed."