First, athletes must meet UCI’s minimum criteria to be selected for the Olympics. That includes a number of requirements such as age, qualification events, UCI points, invitational, reallocation, quotas, and reserve athletes.
After that, there are quotes for the National Olympic Committee (NOC) to consider. Only a certain number of athletes from each country can compete in a given cycling discipline.
Some riders earn automatic Olympic berths by winning certain races, such as the World Championships. Every remaining athlete will be put on their country’s “long team” which will then be pared down by that nation’s coaches and decision-makers.
In summary, it’s a complicated process that is more often tackled by national cycling governing bodies than individual athletes.