BikeBiz

No wonder I dont watch XC mpuntain biking if they stick to fields.

No wonder I dont watch XC mountain biking if they stick to fields.

what a joke,a course to test the best riders in the world?a third rate venue that will best be fogotten after the olympics,

I don't get it ????? Who where the experts? Would or could it be more of a case of what makes good TV in regards the amount of accessible camera points for coverage? Never heard of the place... The word farm says it all.

Thetford has hosted MTB racing for over a decade and it is just as flat as Benfleet. The real question is what was wrong with the original venue which had an equal number of fairly small hills?

But you'd never say, as fun and fast as it is, that Thetford represents the peak of UK MTB courses.

And it seems to be getting further and further from London. It would be quicker for Londeners in the West to get to Afan than here.

Has anyone who commented actually been to the venue? I ride and run there regularly and believe me, it will be a fantastic course - there are some lung-busting climbs and good technical sections through the woods.

Unfortuately, the photo used is NOT of the area, and quite misleading. Look up Hadleigh Castle, or better still come down and ride it.

Thetford isn't exactly world class though is it?

The argument of it having to be close to London in Essex is a joke surely or are they going to now move the sailing from Weymouth to Essex too?

The credit for the photo mentions Suffolk council, not Essex, So it's possible the picture shows Hadleigh in Suffolk, but either way that pic isn't of the hilly site I go past on the train everyday ! I reckon it'll be a good site. The valley referred to is about a 100ft change in elevation, so there will be a good challenge there. Loads of trees and a few ditches too.

OK. So that does look to be a little better that the assumed Hadleigh on the Essex/Suffolk Border. But you can’t hide the fact that there are far better venues for it, and that’s the key thing.

i may have blundered with the pik, apologies. Anyone got one of the course by chance?...?

Image you have now is correct, its part of Hadleigh (thats Hadleigh - Essex NOT Hadleigh - Suffolk) Its lumpy NO way flat and will be very testing. The story talking about field is a little misleading as all the area is known localy as the Salvation Arm Fields,

100ft. Really? And that is meant to be a fitting course for World Class XC competitors? I gain more elevation cycling to the end of my road. Demonstrates just how little Coe & the rest of LOCOG care about Mountain Biking and if the UCI have given the go-ahead for this course ignoring some of the superb biking that is to be found in the UK then they are also fools.
Not that it should really matter that much. I've no doubt that British Cycling will largely continue to ignore Mountain Biking instead investing its time & money in track & road riding. A 2 man MTB team for Beijing? Pathetic effort.

I wrote to Lord Coe a few weeks ago, asking that he seriously reconsider locating the 2012 MTB event away from the chosen site. he replied with a hand signed letter assuring me that he was taking it seriously and that no decision was going to be taken until after the current Olympics was finished. Of course this monday (two days later) the new venue is officially announced. Hello left hand, this is the right hand here...

Anyhow, all that aside, I appealed to him as a former athlete, who won gold for GB at the Olympics to remember that he expected the best facilities when he ran. He should remember that when rubber stamping less than credible venues for 2012.

South Wales is within the maximum venue range set down by the IOC and we all know the potential locations there would not just tick the right boxes, but would create an Olympic MTB event that would set new standards in how an Olympic MTB event should look. It'd be a deserving test for a gold medal.

Actually, looking at the current 2012 venue, I might put myself down for selection. Anyone got Brailsfords number?

Actually I've been looking at the site from the train and 100ft may have been a little under what it actually is. Anyhoo, the site is in no way flat and the elevation changes quite a lot up/down as you move across east to west.
The best part for me is that I live only 1/2 mile from it, so I'll definitely be wandering up there to watch !

I can't believe the idiosy of some people. You don't say its a rubbish book if you haven't read it, you don't say someone's cooking is crap if you haven't tasted it, so please do not comment if you haven't been biking in the area. I ride in the area twice a week, and yes, it is not world class, but it will be in 4 years time. The best motorcross course in the 60's & 70's in the country.

The height is 54 metres (not a mountain!) but very steep inclines. I would like all you cynics to come down and try some of the trails I use and you will be pleasantly surprised.

It ticks all the boxes and is the best venue in terms of spectator and media viewing.

you don`t have to try something to know its crap,suggest you take a trip to the world champs course at fort bill and see what a world class course is.I climb higher just to get to our trails.trust me even when its built people won`t travel to use it and why would they .

1. Big mountains do not necessarily make good race courses. The aim is to have closely contested, fast races rather than a slog up a hill and a long descent per lap.
2. Yes, there may be better courses but they may not necessarily have the required infrastructure or they are too far from London.
3. The National Championships this year were held at a venue with similar topography... they produced some great racing.