Blood, sweat and gears

David Magilton asked Bolton's former British champion Roy Hunt, an expert summariser for BBC Television's Games coverage, to fill us in on the two races on Monday.

The blood, sweat and gears takes gets underway with the women's race at 10am, while the men hit the circuit at 1pm.

David Magilton talks to BBC's expertBolton's former British mountain bike champion and Roy Hunt about the two races be held at Rivington on Monday July 29. The women's event starts at 10am and the men's at 1pm. The BBC have called upon Roy's expertise and he will be an expert summariser on the day.

THE EVENT

THE sport of mountain biking has been recognised as a world-class event since 1990 when the first world championships were held, and a strong field from Canada and Australia are expected to challenge the home nations riders for the medals this year.

Mountain bike racing comprises uphill and cross country events but only the latter is being held at the Games.

To be a top cross country rider requires a combination of endurance, fitness and machine control.

Riders compete on a marked lap with climbing, descending, single-track and technical sections (tight turns or difficult terrain). Cross-country bikes are ultra-lightweight with front and sometimes rear suspension.

All the English riders are professional but professionals only account for 25-30 per cent of the field. Every country has its own national series where the riders had to qualify for the Games but there is a World Cup series with rounds in Europe and the USA.

Italy, France and USA have the best riders when you look at cycling as a whole but the English riders can compete with the best in the world. Expect to see around 35-40 riders in the men's race and 20-25 in the women's event.

The equipment

THERE is a real mixture of equipment levels as it is only the top ultra-light bikes that carry all round suspension because it adds extra weight.

This could make a big difference on the cobbled section between the Japanese gardens and the school where in the trials several people punctured. It takes a couple of minutes to repair a puncture and there can be no outside assistance.

Tyres are also a big factor. It is important the rider selects the right tyres on the rocky decent as it is easy to puncture and be taken out at a corner.

The cost of the bikes varies. Sponsored ones are usually priced at around £1,200 although Ollie Beckinsale will be using a £3,500 carbon fibre model.

Other inclusions are straight handlebars, up to 24 gears and powerful brakes. Mountain bikes can also be distinguished by their thick, heavy treaded tyres. Bike attachments designed to decrease wind-resistance are prohibited.

The route

THE event will take place on the slopes of Rivington Pike and will be free for spectators.

The course starts on a road section at the front of Rivington and Blackrod High School and takes a sharp left turn which leads to a short technical section.

It then goes over a bridge and back to the road where it cuts through the top of an estate to begin a one-mile uphill climb. This climb leads into Clondike Quarry and a short loop.

The course continues along the grassy Tramway before it reaches the top of the climb, where the route takes in the cobbled and rutted single track of Georges Lane and then into Wildows Wood for another loop.

The route returns to Georges Lane for half a mile before it takes a sharp left down a fast decent into the Japanese Gardens. This is the the best part of the course - a fast and technical section with four hairpin bends. It comes out with a sharp left up a rocky climb and down Snake Bite Alley, a very rocky decent. Usually more than a fifth of all riders are punctured in this section.

The course finishes after a wooded technical section behind the school before it leads through to the road and back to the start.

The course is around four-miles long and each lap will take approximately 22 minutes. The riders will complete either five or six laps.

The o

Ones to watch

HOPEFUL: Victoria Wilkinson

ENGLAND'S hopes rest with Liam Kileen, Barrie Clarke and Ollie Beckinsale in the men's race and Sue Thomas, Victoria Wilkinson and Jenny Copnall in the women's.

The qualifying race for the games was held over the Commonwealth course last month when Kileen and Thomas gained automatic selection. The other team members were chosen on their national rankings. England are hopeful of medals in the team events.

Favourites in the individual event are Canadian riders, world champion Roland Green and former world champion Alison Sydor. Australians Paul Rowney and Mary Gregson pose a big threat while Caroline Alexandra of Scotland and Nicole Cooke, of Wales, will be strong challengers.

The rules

PUSHING or leaning on other competitors or pulling their jerseys may lead to relegation in the results.

In such instances, the offending rider is allowed to finish the race, then informed how many places he or she has lost in the final rankings.

The number of places lost is at the discretion of the race commissaire, taking into account the nature of the offence and how it affected the result. Obstructing another rider in the final sprint may result in disqualification.

In the interests of safety, competitors are permitted to change their eyewear and receive food and liquids at specified feeding zones throughout the course. Any other feeding results in disqualification.

Helmets must be worn while riding.

The riders themselves are responsible for following the official route. A lapped rider may finish the lap but is then withdrawn from competition.

Faster riders must be allowed to overtake slower cyclists.

A rider may protest if they consider that they've has been disadvantaged by any action during the race.