OLYMPIC BMX FINALS POSTPONED

Olympics homepage>>

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

Preview: Day five at the Laoshan

Brad on Cav: He's like a schoolkid he's so up for it

Day four as it happened: Team pursuit gold and another world record

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

Tough day for the Dutch

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?

Cooke and Thomas to get heroes' welcome in Wales

Positive test for cyclist at Olympic Games

Bettini chasing second Olympic gold

Romero poses nude for ad

British quartet eyeing new world record

As Olympics approach two new drugs emerge

Beijing Blog

Beijing Blog 2

Beijing Blog 3

Picture special: Women's time trial

Cancellara wins men's time trial gold

Men's time trial reaction: Steve Cummings on his ride

Women's time trial reaction: I feel fantastic, says Pooley

Pooley wins silver in women's time trial

Cooke's secret was the skinsuit

What the papers say... about Nicole Cooke

Analysis: women's road race

Gold for Nicole Cooke in Women?s road race

Reaction: It?s a dream to win Gold, says Cooke

Women's Olympic road race picture special

Sanchez gives Spain gold in thrilling men?s road race

Who is Samuel Sanchez?

Tactical analysis: Reading the men?s Olympic road race

British riders suffer in hot and humid Olympic road race

Rebellin misses out on golden birthday

Brailsford confident ahead of women?s road race

Olympic Games 2008 homepage>>

Olympics: latest news>>

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

From paupers to kings: The lottery funded revolution>>

Track results at the Worlds and Olympics 2004-2008