I then received an email advising me that a certain amount of money was going to be taken from my account. However, we still did not know what he had been awarded as the ticket price for both the Velodrome and Hadleigh Farm were the same. Then finally we were told that we had been awarded two tickets for the Mens Mountain Biking.
We were both excited and intrigued in view that Essex is not renowned for it's mountains. Hadleigh Farm the actual location for both the mens and womens event is owned by the Salvation Army and is a farm with a Rare Breeds Centre plus grassland and woodland covering 550 acres.
Construction on the pupose built site started in July 2010 and was completed on time and within budget using 500 tonnes of rock and 3,500 tonnes of crushed stone. The course is just under 5km's and situated on open hillside. A new concept for Mountain Biking as such events are normally held in forested areas. The course was designed to be a physical and technically challenging course, with demanding climbs and descents with some gradients measuring 70 metres from top to bottom. However, the course was well received by riders, spectators and TV crews alike because you could see everything very easily.
Good news is that the course will remain after the Olympics and be adapted for public use, with plans for a visitor centre, bike hire shop and a network of multi user cycling tracks.
The day arrived for our visit and we were advised to go by train and use the courtesy buses from the station to the event. I must say a very slick operation was in progress to get visitors into and out of the farm and it was weird being on a double decker bus (top deck up the front of course) and being driven across a temporary metal road on a field and stopping at a bus stop. However, it worked and resulted in the minimum of queueing both in and out of the event. All the staff, police and army personal were very cheery and helpful, which made this very hot day very enjoyable.
By getting to the site early we managed to walk around one complete circuit, sort out good vantage points before racing began. The competitors had to complete 7 laps, and during the racing we were able to walk around the entire course once, thereby seeing the competitors tackle all of the major obstacles.
After Julie Bresset of France won the women's race the day before, all eyes were on the French rider Julien Absalon (winner in 2004 & 2008) to see if the French could get the double. Being a very hot day with very dry conditions the race started and maintained a fast pace. Unfortunately Team GB's only rider young Liam Killeen fell at the bottom of Deane's Drop after the first lap, breaking his ankle. Very unfortunate, because he was getting tremendous support from the fans as he was going around the course. Then it was announced to a shocked audience that Julien Absalon had retired due to a mechanical problem.
The pace up front was relentless but the Czech world champion Jaroslav Kulhavy had just enough strength to beat off Nino Schurter of Switzerland in a sprint finish ahead of Italy's Marco Fontana who ended up with bronze and if the Spanish rider Jose Hermida had not unshipped his chain on one of the last climbs he may have even been in the mix for a medal. Winning time was 1hr 29mins 07 seconds.
A great time was had by both of us and it would be nice to go back and see how they have changed the course for us normal people to have ago. Some of the pictures below try to capture what it was like on the day.
Julien Absalon
Deane's Drop
Bottom of the Rock Garden
Technical Area
Medal Ceremony
No comments:
Post a Comment