Rain delays BMX star Reade's bid

(GETTY IMAGES)

Shanaze Reade was made to wait 24 hours in her quest for Olympic glory when heavy rain forced the postponement of today's BMX races.

The 19-year-old Briton is due to race in her rescheduled semi-final at 02.00BST tomorrow morning, with the final following 90 minutes later.

Some teams were already at the Laoshan track when organisers took the decision to postpone "in consideration of the fairness of the competition". Reade, the world champion and a winner in the test event on the course last year, was one of the favourites, despite suffering a heavy fall in Wednesday's seeding run.

The bad weather also forced the women's mountain bike race at the same complex to be put back 24 hours until Saturday. Riders were still training at the course in the rain but said the surface had become slippery and clogged with mud in some sections. More than an inch of rain fell during the day, but the weather was expected to improve over the next 48 hours.

The men's mountain bike race also takes place on Saturday. Two Britons are taking part: Oli Beckingsale, who finished 23rd and 17th in the last two Olympics, and Liam Killeen, who was fifth four years ago.