Thursday 23 February 2012

The Track Cycling World Cup - 10 things

The crowd at the World Cup
The crowd in the Olympic Velodrome

  • We went to the Olympic Velodrome last weekend, to watch Day 3 of the official test event - the Track Cycling World Cup.
  • We got to the Velodrome at 8am and left at 4:30pm.  It was so exciting I could have happily stayed there for twice as long.
  • Graham and Cam cheering on Team GB
    G and C - still cheering on Team GB after eight hours in the velodrome
  • The commentator was delightfully partisan:
"In lane 1 is Mr AB from Russia. In lane 2 is Mr CD from Mexico.  In lane 3 is Mr EF from Australia.  AND IN LANE 4, REPRESENTING GREAT BRITAIN, IS THE WORLD CHAMPION, THE WORLD RECORD HOLDER AND THE FOUR TIMES GOLD-MEDAL-WINNING REIGNING OLYMPIC CHAMPION...SIR.CHRIS.HOY!"
  • Everybody screamed, shouted and stamped their feet when the commentator said that. 
  • Chris Hoy lining up for the Keirin
    Bottoms and bikes - lining up to start the keirin. Can you spot Chris Hoy?
  • By the end of the day I had lost my voice.
  • Velodromes are heated to 28 degrees C on race days to give optimum speed to the riders.
  • In the pens
    The countries' pens in the middle of the track
  • Watching all the countries' support teams in the pens in the centre of the track proved almost as entertaining as the races.  The Dutch had at least 4 technicians per rider and had brought their own coffee machine into the pens - very classy.
  • The thighs on the Greek male cyclists were of absolutely epic proportions.
  • One of my tweets made it up onto the big screen in the stadium.  My 12 year old said patronisingly that he was most impressed that I knew how to tweet from my phone.
  • 
    My tweet on the big screen!
    My tweet on the big screen - "well done, Mum"
    
  • The track has a resident joiner, who was ushered out onto the track, clutching his toolkit, to inspect the wood and make necessary repairs each time there was a crash.
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This coming weekend we are heading back to the Olympic Park to watch Tom Daly in action in the Aquatics Centre test event, the Diving World Cup.  Tickets will be going on sale soon for more Olympic test events - you can find details here.

    5 comments:

    1. Cool pictures and very impressive that you got your tweet onto the big screen. I don't know how I missed tickets for this as it would have been fun. I just seem to miss the dates. Can you remind me somehow when the athletics tickets become available - I'd really love to sample the stadium!

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    2. How fantastic!! & not just your Tweet but your lovely photo in the bog screen too!! :o)

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    3. Gosh you made me feel excited just reading about it. There is something about a cyclist's thigh...

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    4. Oh my I'd be no good there those thighs & firm buttocks!!! My nephew has met Chris Hoy at Henley Regatta - how come I cant mix in these circles - although I'd probably be ushered away by security!! He said he is a lovely bloke!!

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    5. Looks like fun - going to try and get some test event tickets (hopefully with more luck than for the real thing!!!!)

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