BMX: Reade romps to victory

Shanaze Reade romped to home victory at Saturday's rain-affected Olympic BMX test event and believes the result bodes well for London 2012.

Heavy rain looked like it would curtail the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup meet before the day's finals had even begun, leaving thousands of spectators disappointed.
However, after a three-and-a-half hour delay a reduced schedule got under way and Reade was able to warm the cockles of the on-watching British crowd.
The 22-year-old finished first and second in the quarter-final and semi-final stages respectively, before producing a superb performance to win the medal race.
"It was good to race," she told Press Association Sport. "Mentally you kind of switch off and think the race is not happening.
"Then you have to build yourself up again and turn it round.
"To do that just shows how mentally strong all my mental preparation is going.
"You can't forget all the volunteers and all the track builders, who did a superb job to turn it round."
The second day of the test event was due to start at 1400 (local time) but was put back until 1530 after a downpour at the Olympic Park course.
Racing was then further delayed until 1630 with the rain showing no sign of abating.
Rumours were abound that organisers would call off the event, leading some rain-sodden spectators to leave the Stratford venue.
However, the course was eventually deemed fit for racing at 1730, allowing Reade to secure a confidence-boosting victory.
"It definitely gives me extra confidence going into next summer," she said.
"To do it a year before the Games for sure gives me confidence.
"I have never done such a big event in England before so to have all these supporters in the crowd makes things so much easier."
The Crewe-born rider finished the race in 38.275 seconds, putting her 0.449 seconds ahead of New Zealand's Sarah Walker.
Lauren Reynolds of Australia grabbed bronze, while reigning world champion Mariana Pajon did not finish after a heavy fall.
The Colombian rider was one of several to come a cropper on the difficult track, although Reade believes it is still a great course.
"I think the track is very good," she said. "Obviously I am going to be biased because I won it.
"I think a few tweaks could be made here and there but I think like every track is the same.
"It really has good potential."
In the men's event, New Zealand's Marc Willers won gold with a time of 41.847 seconds.
Joris Daudet of France nabbed second spot and Nicholas Long eked bronze ahead of Sylvain Andre.