Gallery: London 2012 Olympics: Mountain Bike Course Preview

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London 2012 Olympics: Mountain bike course preview

Cannondale rider Paul Beales demonstrates one of the man-made features on the Olympic mountain bike course at Hadleigh Farm in Essex

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
A provisonal map of the course

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
The venue – Salvation Army land at Hadleigh Farm

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
The course is beginning to take shape. The large tree on the right is the site of the 'oak tree drop' and the tunnel is visible just below it

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
National, local and bike media were invited to see the progress so far

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
On the right is a zig-zag climb, on the left a fast descent, and in the foreground work has begun on a rock garden descent

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
The zig-zag climb

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Riders will ascend this hill via a series of switchbacks

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Tight corners like these should produce some exciting racing

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Riders Billy-Joe Whenman, Maddie Horton and Paul Beales with representatives of local council, LOCOG and the Salvation Army

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
A yet-to-be-named rocky drop

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
It looks a lot steeper in real life!

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Maddie Horton tackles the drop

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
What the course lacks it length, it certainly makes up for in technical challenges

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
To the right of this picture is Hadleigh Farm itself, where the Salvation Army runs a farm and rare breed centre

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Billy-Joe Whenman and Paul Beales tackle the zig-zag climb

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
The rock garden descent is still being built by Martin Seddon's four-man team

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
A combination of rock steps and tight corners makes the climb and athletic and technical challenge

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
The sweeping views of the Thames Estuary should be good for the TV cameras...

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
... shame about the oil refinery though!

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Top of the 'oak tree drop'

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Billie-Joe Whenman tackles the 'oak tree drop'

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Billie-Joe Whenman tackles the 'oak tree drop'

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Riders will pass close to each other at various points on the course, giving them a good idea of how they are faring in the race

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Maddie Horton says she's impressed by what she's seen so far

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar
Maddie Horton bursts out of the tunnel

© James Costley-White/BikeRadar