Test track meeting seen as success by 2012 organisers

Julien Absalon and Catharine Pendrel secured victory in the men and women’s events respectively at the Hadleigh Farm Mountain Bike International Invitational, witnessed by nearly 5,000 spectators at the recently-completed Essex venue.

The event marked the first competitive opportunity for Olympic hopefuls to try the course ahead of London 2012, although some racers believe changes are needed before next year.

“This is a key event for us as part of our London Prepare events,” said Jevans. “One of the main reasons that we test is for the field of play and the athletes.

“Every athlete has a questionnaire that they fill in. They give us that feedback and then there is a debrief to the international federation. As we have done with all our events, we then take that feedback and take the course to the next level.”

On the course, two-time Olympic gold medallist Absalon secured victory in the men’s event by one minute and 20 seconds.

Switzerland’s Christoph Sauser was the Frenchman’s nearest rivals and Karl Markt of Austria came third, while Lee Williams’s 20th place saw him end the day as Great Britain’s fastest rider.

In the women’s race, world No 1 Pendrel won at a canter as she finished 56 seconds ahead of Georgie Gould of the United States.

n Doncaster professional Graham Briggs was crowned National Circuit Race Champion after a thrilling victory in Beverley, East Yorkshire, on Friday.

The Rapha Condor-Sharp rider opened a weekend of cycling events in style with his title win, and after a series of leisure rides around the region on Saturday, the weekend was capped off with the East Yorkshire Classic road race on Sunday.

Part of the blue riband Premier Calendar Series, yesterday’s race was won by Continental professional Jeremy Hunt, while Briggs and his Rapha Condor team-mates settled for minor placings.

Friday’s victory entitles Briggs to wear the red, white and blue of national champ for the next 12 months.

“It was a very elite leading group with some great riders and I wasn’t feeling too great but it all came good in the end,” he said.

Meanwhile, in time trialling, Richard Hamilton (Yorkshire Velo) took third spot in the Cheshire Road Club 50-mile event at Goostrey, covering the course in 1hr 56in 10sec, almost six minutes slower than winner Simon Bridge (Leigh Premier).

n Britain’s Shanaze Reade suffered a disappointing day in the UCI BMX World Championships in Copenhagen.

The defending world champion was fastest in Saturday’s time trial, but was out of sorts yesterday as she could only manage eighth in her semi-final.

After missing the gate she tried to come back but had to admit defeat in the last turn to come home well down the field.