Don't forget Shanaze: yet another gold in the cycling tomorrow by our BIGGEST STAR

[Part 2]

Rain stopped play, what the fuck? thats not BMX racing

Could be a huge disaster for Shanaze and the sport, London will definitely need to think about whether the event should be run indoors.

If it rains tomorrow it goes to saturday; rains saturday then it goes back to the last race on wed and takes the top 3 times.

For the girls rumours are that if its called off for good then it goes to total time of BOTH time trials.

It is forecast to stop but it's absolute bollocks that they never thought about it raining and appear to have had no contingency

 

[Melinda]

I think you must be missing something Mel.

My son was dribbling at the very sight of her looking like that!

Im clearly missing a key appendage.

Panting heavily, sweating, hair all over the place, the animal look in the eyes....she's got the mid-coital look down to a T. How can we not be seduced?

A sweaty strapping lass who goes like the clappers? Im sorry I dont get it.

 

[ScallyWag II]

Rain stopped play, what the fuck? thats not BMX racing

Could be a huge disaster for Shanaze and the sport, London will definitely need to think about whether the event should be run indoors.

If it rains tomorrow it goes to saturday; rains saturday then it goes back to the last race on wed and takes the top 3 times.

For the girls rumours are that if its called off for good then it goes to total time of BOTH time trials.

It is forecast to stop but it's absolute bollocks that they never thought about it raining and appear to have had no contingency

They were saying earlier that the track is partially clay and would be way too slippy. Showed a shot of it completely under covers so hopefully if the rain holds off it will be dry.

Didn't realise what the plans might be if it gets cancelled completely. Shit, Shaneze would be well out of it if they count both runs

 

[JTG]

Hopefully it's all academic, but logically if they only count one run in qualifying, how can they count both later on?

 

[Part 2]

Like I said, just rumour, but hasn't been disputed by a team manager from one of the bike companies, who I'd expect to know. Although I wonder if the athletes are aware beforehand of how the race would be settled if the process isn't completed. It will look shit for the sport if it's settled on time trials.

Do any other events rely on good weather?

At the world champs 4 years ago there was talk of always having the event indoors after it was threatened by rain. It happened the following year when it was run in Bercy in Paris. The track was a bit shit and riders didn't like it (although loads have complained about the big start hill and supercross style track too as they feel it's a waste of their strength training). It is possible to build a good indoor track though, will need considering for 2012 I would think. Alternatively, they could schedule it towards the start of the games and hope for 2 days good weather over the 2 weeks.

The rain was torrential when I turned on the telly at 2am and any race would have been cancelled, they have 3 layers of tarpaulins on the straights so they should be dry enough. Using clay surface is a bit of an oversight on the part of the track builder really whose probably used to building them in the sunshine, a bit of surfacing would make it rideable.

Weather looking okay for the re-scheduled start. Best set the alarm for 2am again

 

[ymu]

Fuck

They showed footage of her making the same mistake in training, I'm sure. Summat to do with twisting the bars too hard in the air against the direction of the jump - her coach told her off for it when she wiped out. Taking too many risks?

 

[N_igma]

Whoever said "break a leg" to her before the race didn't mean it literally.

 

[Part 2]

Fuck

Taking too many risks?

Yea, I think so, trying to ride every race like it's the final, looks very amateur, like she did years ago, out of control almost. ACC will win if she doesn't get it together.

Strombergs looking super strong in the mens though, will be a top battle on the first straight between him and Day.

 

[1927]

You gotta laugh at the 2 aussies taking each other out. It really isnt their games is it?

 

[Part 2]

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Shanaze and ACC do the same in the final.

Second semi looked like she's been told to calm down and just do enough to get to the final.

Once there she'll go all out, Gold or bust I reckon.

 

[ymu]

I know she's extraordinary - but with a single race to determine the finals, how could Chris Hoy be so certain that she'd win a gold - more certain than he was of his own? The skill might be in finding the gaps etc, but surely no single BMX race can determine a champion with the chance involved?

 

[ymu]

Oh yes.

Chris was right.
*nods

 

[Part 2]

Fastest lap of the semis too. I think she still has more in the tank, wonder if she'll hammer the first straight or try overtake.

Bag o nerves me

e2a: Has 5th or 6th pick of the gate so gonna need a good start then cut evryone off.

 

[Psychonaut]

So is there just one single lap left for the final? cos I need to calibrate my stress-o-meter.

 

[alfajobrob]

Fastest lap of the semis too. I think she still has more in the tank, wonder if she'll hammer the first straight or try overtake.

Bag o nerves me

.

Same its ridiculous...grown man here in bits.....this is the athlete I wanted to win most...GWan girl!!!

 

[ymu]

Is the final one race because of the delay, or because someone made a fuckwitted decision?

I'm caring more about this one than most too. She's fabulous.

 

[ymu]

Crap

 

[alfajobrob]

Nooooooooooooooooooooo........................................

 

[ajk]

Oh toss.

 

[Psychonaut]

but..

look at the walking race

 

[Part 2]

Final was always just one lap.

Move in the last berm was dirty, no way she was gonna make it, if it had been the other way round there'd be uproar. ACC had the first corner down, downhill riders are alway better in the berms. Rivalry between them has been intense, noticed she hugged a few others but not ACC. I reckon she could of jad her on the last straight.

Gutted for her really, went all out but ultimately pressure was too much I think.

e2a: Worth mentioning the first corner for women was way harder having to cut right back in.

 

[Jazzz]

Fuck

They showed footage of her making the same mistake in training, I'm sure. Summat to do with twisting the bars too hard in the air against the direction of the jump - her coach told her off for it when she wiped out. Taking too many risks?

I think you had it here. Three falls of her own making entirely in six runs. To be fair I think the other girl simply rode a better final, taking a right line on the bends and maybe Shanaze wasn't going to catch her without the risk when she fell.

Damn exciting though and I stayed up for it!

 

[isitme]

unlucky

 

[ScallyWag II]

Couldn't stay awake for it, but just seen a replay. What a shame. Looks like she might have broken her hand as well.

 

[Melinda]

Just heard on Radio4. Still havent seen it, but sounds like she went out fighting though? I also heard she had broken her hand

The report said instead of settling for silver she took some mad risk and came a cropper? Too much pressure I guess, too much time to wait to race.

She'll be gutted, but possibly not as gutted as Nick.h.

So just her and Cav then, alone in a whole team of medalists.

 

[ymu]

Just heard on Radio4. Still havent seen it, but sounds like she went out fighting though? I also heard she had broken her hand

The report said instead of settling for silver she took some mad risk and came a cropper? Too much pressure I guess, too much time to wait to race.

ACC got a tighter line on the second burm and overtook on the inside as Shanaze went wide. Shanaze almost caught her on the inside of the last burm but hit ACC's back wheel as she caught up and went flying. Looked nasty.

 

[Melinda]

What do you think is going to happen to her reputation in the GB Cycling team and in the sport as a whole?

I can imagine that in the well drilled world of track cycling what Shanaze did could be seen as reckless.
But sometimes people are respected for 'going for broke,' even if they fail in the end and come away with nothing.

She only nobbled herself in the end, but what if she had brought ACC down as well?

 

[Part 2]

What do you think is going to happen to her reputation in the GB Cycling team and in the sport as a whole?

I can imagine that in the well drilled world of track cycling what Shanaze did could be seen as reckless.
But sometimes people are respected for 'going for broke,' even if they fail in the end and come away with nothing.

She only nobbled herself in the end, but what if she had brought ACC down as well?

If I could read French I'd imagine there's a message board where they're saying she moved toke out ACC. She is their Shanaze and has achieved a hell of a lot more, that was always her last race, she's retired.

Wreckless is the word I was thinking when I woke up 20 minutes ago.

Her coach will be the one to go i reckon. After all the earlier falls she shouldn't have been choosing the inside line on that first berm and it would be up to him to tell her. The pressure from the race scene is like that of the England football coach, he's at least the 3rd of the past few years, Jamie Staff was the previous one. BMXers aren't used to being told how to ride and it really is such a different discipline that BCF haven't really got their heads round it IMO. They probably thought they could get away with her raw talent this year and have another 4 years to get to grips.

On the off chance anyone is in the area the British Champs is on this Sunday in Peterborough. The highlight of the grass roots calendar, I expect it will be a good atmosphere and a chance to see some good racing.

 

[Flashman]

Probably a bit too aggressive if there is such a thing in BMX, if she'd have held the lead after the first corner she would have won it I reckon.

Only 19 though, a lot more to come from her.

 

[SpookyFrank]

I was afraid that this thread title had something of the jinx about it