LONDON, Feb 1 - London 2012 Olympic organisers have been ordered to change the proposed mountain biking venue because it is not hilly enough to challenge the riders. The request to move the venue from the Weald Country Park in the southern county of Essex came after a visit by inspectors from the International Cycling Union (UCI). "The UCI has asked us to find a course that meets new and challenging requirements that test the best mountain bikers in the world in 2012," said London 2012 Organising Committee spokeswoman Jackie Brock-Doyle in a statement on Friday. "While this is disappointing news, we have agreed that, together with Essex County Council, we will look at other possible venues within Essex that meet the new requirements of the sport." Mountain biking was introduced to the Olympics at the 1996 Atlanta Games and is staged on a course over 40-50 km for men and 30-40 km for women with obstacles including trees, rocks and streams.
|