The Official Olympic Thread

[Alex]

David Haye could learn a lesson or two there

[Shaggy]

Turns out our judo silver medalist had a broken thumb whilst competing. Hardcore

Lovely Gemma?

[CJ]

Me too



Didn't know that. Ha! He's still fully involved isn't he.

Am fairly sure that it was mentioned when he was carrying that bloke

[Reece]

Lovely Gemma?

Oui.

[Reece]

The posh rowing lasses are on the BBC 1 couch right now.

"We've won the olympics!!!"

[CJ]

So do we think people will take up sport now and more importantly keep up with it

[PTP]

The posh rowing lasses are on the BBC 1 couch right now.

"We've won the olympics!!!"

I got emotional again watching it haha

[Neil Young]

Still hasn't been explained why the prowling cat laps are even close to being necessary.

It's good though - you get to laugh your head off for a few laps before the sprinting really starts. So it's a beautiful blend of comedy and sport.

Ok, I'll have a go for our most avid new fan of cycling.

It all comes down to the basic fact that if you're in someone's slipstream then you're expending much less energy and after a bit they start to tire and it's easy to come past them.

So if someone were to lead you out for two and a half laps at pace then you can just nip past them at the end and they'd lose every time.

So there are two things they can do: go slowly and hope you go past them early so they can get on your wheel and lead you out, meaning they can nip past you in the last bit of the race. Or go slowly and, when you're not expecting it, suddenly shoot off so you aren't on their wheel and by the time you're up to speed, they've got a gap that they can hold to the finish.

So it's all a tactical battle to put yourself in the better position to get over the line first in the final lap.

And sometimes there isn't any "cat and mouse" ("prowling cat" ) and one rider just powers off from the very start, hoping to catch the other rider napping. Forstemann of Germany beat Hoy like that in the World Championships earlier this year. But you can't do it often and it sometimes doesn't work - for instance, Kenny tried it against Baugé earlier this year too but Baugé managed to catch him and then just powered past him in the last half lap.

[Imy]

Hahaha they've just shown the scenes in the presenting box thing last night from Mo's race. They were all going mental - even Michael Johnson - he's basically an honorary Brit now isn't he

Just saw that on the news, Johnson

What do people think of Jake Humphrey as a presenter by the way? I mean he's clearly no Ortis, but I think he's quite good. Has a bit of the Adrian Childs about him but generally, having come from kids tv, he's alright.

Much prefer the lovely Mishal

[Shaggy]

Ok, I'll have a go for our most avid new fan of cycling.

It all comes down to the basic fact that if you're in someone's slipstream then you're expending much less energy and after a bit they start to tire and it's easy to come past them.

So if someone were to lead you out for two and a half laps at pace then you can just nip past them at the end and they'd lose every time.

So there are two things they can do: go slowly and hope you go past them early so they can get on your wheel and lead you out, meaning they can nip past you in the last bit of the race. Or go slowly and, when you're not expecting it, suddenly shoot off so you aren't on their wheel and by the time you're up to speed, they've got a gap that they can hold to the finish.

So it's all a tactical battle to put yourself in the better position to get over the line first in the final lap.

And sometimes there isn't any "cat and mouse" ("prwling cat" ) and one rider just powers off from the very start, hoping to catch the other rider napping. Forstemann of Germany beat Hoy like that in the World Championships earlier this year. But you can't do it often and it sometimes doesn't work - for instance, Kenny tried it against Baugé earlier this year too but Baugé managed to catch him and then just powered past him in the last half lap.

Thanks.

Okay, I get why they do it. The slipstream stuff. But what I don't get is why it's necessary to have those laps. It's too long for a sprint - so why not have one or two laps of racing from the off, a flat out sprint instead of pissing around?

Also...during the prowling cat stage, sometimes one cyclist pedals up to the top of the track, right by the crowd. The other fella follows him. Why? Why doesn't he just shoot off and leave the other one for dead?

[Shaggy]

100m final line up and result prediction

1. Blake - 9.65
2. Gatlin - 9.67
3. Bolt - 9.72
4. Bailey - 9.74
5. Gay - 9.81
6. Powell - 9.83
7. Thompson - 9.96
8. Bledman - 9.98

[Imy]

Neil looking good in The Jessop House old people's home Olympic video.

[RichC]

****ing precise there

[Imy]

100m final line up and result prediction

1. Blake - 9.65
2. Gatlin - 9.67
3. Bolt - 9.72
4. Bailey - 9.74
5. Gay - 9.81
6. Powell - 9.83
7. Thompson - 9.96
8. Bledman - 9.98

All under 10 secs! that would be awesome.

Anyway, my top 3:
1) Blake
2) Bolt
3) Gay

[Shaggy]

****ing precise there

All under 10 secs! that would be awesome.

Anyway, my top 3:
1) Blake
2) Bolt
3) Gay

Yep. So long as it's not windy and rainy. Fast track and six absolute bullets in the field.

I don't think Bolt is right and I fear he'll get beaten.