Beijing awoke to heavy rain this morning, and as the weather gradually deteriorated even further, the organisers of the Olympic Games decided to postpone the BMX competition.
Both the men?s and women?s semi-finals and finals were due to be held between 9am and 11am this morning, but the rain put and end to that. The water makes the steep wooden start ramp too slippery and the course itself too slow for the riders to safely clear the numerous jumps, meaning the covers were brought out and the action put back to Friday.
Great Britain?s Shanaze Reade yesterday qualified second fastest in the women?s event behind former downhill and four-cross world champion Anne-Caroline Chausson of France, while Liam Philips did not make it past yesterday?s qualifying rounds.
Reade is the current world champion, a title she won on this course in Laoshan earlier in the year, and the event was always likely to be a two-way tussle between her and the Frenchwoman. With the Games finishing on Sunday, if the weather does not improve enough to allow the event to be completed, medals will be awarded on qualification positions, meaning a silver for Reade.
Update Chinese TV is reporting that tomorrow [Friday] the weather should be good in Beijing, allowing the BMX - cancelled today - finally to go ahead. The women?s MTB race (in which GB has nobody competing) has now been postponed to Saturday and will take place before the men?s race, which remains in its scheduled slot.
BMX qualifying
1. Anne-Caroline Chausson (FRA) 36.660 seconds
2. Shanaze Reade (GBR) 36.882
3. Laetitia le Corguille (FRA) 37.145
4. Sarah Walker (NZL) 37.187
5. Gabriela Diaz (ARG) 37.590
6. Nicole Callisto (AUS) 37.717
7. Jill Kintner (USA) 37.913
8. Jana Horakova (CZE) 38.077
9. Jenny Fahndrich (SUI) 38.209
10. Tanya Bailey (AUS) 38.285
| OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: TRACK |
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Day three summary: Gold for Romero. Pendleton, Hoy in charge in sprints. Kenny the revelation
From rower to cyclist: Romero takes an emotional gold
Brits smash world team pursuit record in round one
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Preview: Monday at the Laoshan
Day two in pictures
Sunday's action as it happened
Preview: Sunday at the Laoshan
Day two at the track: Summary of the action
Hoy and Edgar clean up in the Keirin
Wiggins gets pursuit gold, Burke wins bronze
Newton storms to bronze in points race
Saturday's action as it happened: Two gold, a silver and two bronze for Britain
Blog: Life in Laoshan
Day one in pictures
Brits blast to team sprint gold
Day one at the track: Summary of the action
Friday's action as it happened: Gold for team sprint trio; Wiggins, Houvenaghel and Romero well in control
Burke blasts to new individual pursuit PB
British track stars raring to go
What makes the Laoshan such a challenge
Picture special: CW takes you inside the Laoshan velodrome
Saturday's preview
Friday's preview
Can these legs make an Olympic champion?
Cavendish unlikely to ride individual pursuit
How many medals will Britain's riders win?
| OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: NEWS |
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| OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: ROAD |
Picture special: Women's time trial
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Men's time trial reaction: Steve Cummings on his ride
Women's time trial reaction: I feel fantastic, says Pooley
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Who is Samuel Sanchez?
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| OLYMPIC GAMES 2008: GUIDE |
Olympics cycling results>>
Cycling event schedule>>
Great Britain rider profiles>>
Cycling event guide>>
Photo gallery>>
Every British cycling medal ever won at the Olympic Games
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Track results at the Worlds and Olympics 2004-2008
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