BRITISH NEWS: FRIDAY ROUNDUP

POOLEY ON TRACK FOR BEIJING
Emma Pooley?s preparations for the Olympics are certainly on track, as she has proven by winning the women?s Tour of Brittany.

Taking two stages and the overall classification, the race was scheduled as a key target in the British women?s preparation for the Olympic road race in Beijing.

?It was the most amazing team race I have had. I have never been in a team that worked so well together. It was a real pleasure to be with them and I have a lot to thank them for?, said Pooley who will be one of Britain?s three women in the Olympic road race.

Results:

1. Emma Pooley (Great Britain) 10.13.56

2. Joanne Kiesanowski (New Zealand) at 11s

3. Lauren Franges (US National Team) at 19s

TALENT SQUADS OUT AND ABOUT

The British Cycling Talent Team are arranging a Regional School of Racing for riders from across the country.

The sessions are not selection procedures for the talent development programme, but aim to make the participants better riders.

The RSR sessions are aimed at the Under 14 and Under 16 riders who will be competing at the National Track Championships.

Sessions will be based on the track and will focus on points and scratch races, over the distances to be used in the Nationals.

More details can be found here

PEAT WINS SEVENTH TITLE
Steve Peat won his seventh elite national downhill mountain biking title, in North Wales on Sunday July 20.

In a tightly-contested final round which saw the top-ten riders separated by less than ten seconds, Peat was joined on the podium by Marc Beaumont and Neil Donoghue.

The race came down to the wire, with Steve Peat of the Santa Cruz Syndicate team setting a time that was 4.5 seconds faster than second placed man, Beaumont.

Peat looked certain to take the crown until Gee Atherton came through the time check two seconds ahead of Peat. However, it was not to be for Atherton, who fell on the rough corners coming into the final part of the course.

Results:

1. Steve Peat (Santa Cruz Syndicate) 2:50.667

2. Marc Beaumont (Team Bike Radar) at 4.5s

3. Neil Donoghue (Team Bike Radar) at 6s

4. Ruaridh Cunningham (Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense) at 7.1s

5. Matt Simmonds (Chain Reaction Cycles/Intense) at 7.4s