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Road To 2012
Olympic Mountain Bike International Training Day

Posted May 25 2011
Words And Photography By Luke Webber

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Physically demanding, tactical and fun - that was the verdict from the Worlds best mountain bikers, who got their first taste of London's 2012 Olympic Mountain Bike course.

As a prelude to the Olympic Test Event on July 31, Hadleigh Farm hosted its first major gathering of riders on the course, with a total of sixty professionals taking to the five kilometre track, which is entirely man made and optimised for television coverage.

Since British Cycling's coverage of the official course launch in March, the graded trails have started to become rougher on the surface, with further degradation expected to take place at the Test Event and through winter.

Although there have been no changes to the original design as yet, there is still scope for alteration before and after the Test Event - with the most likely change being the addition of an extended descent to contrast the current series of technical features which force riders to choose between predetermined A, B and C lines.

Speaking to riders following course riding the consensus was that the trail would weather well - with rocks becoming more pronounced.

Burry Stander and Todd Wells both compared the track to Canberra, which hosted the 2009 World Championships, adding that at present the track would best suit a 29er, with work on special equipment to be accommodated immediately by Specialized.

Winner of the Dalby World Cup, Julie Bresset, was convinced less by the course however, wanting longer and more demanding ascents - something mirrored by Nino Schurter, while Emily Batty believed a lack of any huge climbs or flat sections would be to her advantage.

Batty also predicted - along with many other riders - that the race would be a highly tactical one, with groups forming and breaking up constantly, before the medals are decided.

With course reconnaissance complete, riders decamped with a complete set of information before returning at the end of July, when the test event comes to Hadleigh.

This invite-only event will be the first and most likely only pre-Olympic race on the course, providing the first clues concerning how the Olympic race itself may pan out. Tickets for the public are on sale from May 26, with 5000 spectator passes available.