Day 2 Round-up

A GOLDEN NIGHT FOR TEAM GB ON THE TRACK

The second evening of action at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome has seen Team GB continue their strong performance on the boards.

The first world title got one of the loudest cheers of the night - Scotsman Neil Fachie and his pilot Matthew Rotherham taking the win in the men’s B 1km time trial. Jody Cundy (men’s C4 1km time trial), Jaco van Gass (men’s C3 1km time trial), and Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl (women’s B individual pursuit) also claimed gold medals, and there are still five days of competition to go.

We’re already halfway through the gravity-fuelled fun in Fort William and two of the four rainbow jerseys on offer have been decided. In the men’s junior downhill MTB, Germany’s Henri Kiefer overcame a stacked field secure first place, while New Zealand’s Erice van Leuven took the top spot in the women’s junior category, completing a dominant display from the Kiwis, who also took silver and bronze medals.

Prior to the finals, the elites also took to the iconic Nevis Range course to sort out seeding for tomorrow’s finals (live on BBC Sport from 12:30pm). Five-time and reigning world champion Loic Bruni threw down a dominant run, the Frenchman fastest in all sectors, while the defending world champion Valentina Holl did the same in the women’s qualifying. The big story though is that Team GB’s five-time world champion Rachel Atherton did make it into the start gate, qualifying for the finals despite coming down hard and dislocating her shoulder in practise on Friday.

As well professional cyclists, the world championship also saw 2,000 amateurs take to the roads of Perthshire to compete in the Gran and Medio Fondos.

Qualifiers aged between 19 to 84 were competing for the 20 different rainbow jerseys available, with three won by Team GB’s Emily Proud (19-34 women’s Gran Fondo), Mary Wilkinson (40-44 women’s Gran Fondo) and Linda Dewhurst (65-69 women’s Medio Fondo).

Although their competition doesn't start until tomorrow, that hasn't stopped the women's and men's elite BMX freestyle riders from testing out the purpose built park at Glasgow Green, as they took to the ramps for a practice run earlier today. 

Qualification begins tomorrow (Saturday 5th August) with semi-finals on Sunday and finals on Monday.

Ahead of the men’s elite road race (Sunday 6th from 9:30am) and the various time trial disciplines, the road riders were out and about in force on the Glasgow city circuit as crowds were able to catch a glimpse of the world’s best getting to grips with a fast and technical route.