Olympics decision from Seb Coe

THE north of England looks set to miss out on any sniff of Olympic action after organisers vowed to keep events within three hours of the capital.

The Echo in Essex has reported that the county is ahead in the options for mountain biking races.

Lord Seb Coe has seemingly ruled out a site in Wales.

It's a crying shame seen as some of the best hills are in the North and this could have been the perfect chance to spread the excitement, as well as the investments, as far as possible.

So book your trains!

According to the Echo, former Olympic Gold medallist Lord Coe said his team was "really working through the Essex option" and was not looking beyond that.

Lord Coe said: "We're currently scoping another site in Essex and working painstakingly with the federation on that.

"It's a case of watch this site.

"It's the same process that goes on pretty much for all our venues, we have to sign them all off with the international federation both in scope and in scale."

Weald Country Park, in Brentwood, was ruled out as a venue earlier this year on the grounds that it was not hilly enough.

Now parts of the Salvation Army Farmland and Hadleigh Country Park are currently being considered by the International Cycling Union after the charity gave their approval for the land being used.

Any venue must be within three hours of the Olympic village in East London.

Comments

[Nick Kinghorn]

The Ashdown Forrest in E Sussex is ideal with 5,000 acres of great hills and superb views over both the north and south downs and only an hour from central London. It is council owned, Seb I implore you to exert some influence since it is the answer to all the problems.

[Barry]

I ride Hadleigh country park quite a bit and believe me it would be very challenging

[lee]

i ride the downs a few times a week, top riding in spot on surrounds. mind u, stay on the paths or risk the quaded farmers wrath!