London 2012: Olympic Games mountain biking test event

The women start the first race on the course Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The women go down the rockfall at the start of their race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Esther Suess from Switzerland comes through the Rabbit Hole as her team-mate Katrin Leumann goes over the top. They finished 10th and 11th respectively Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Julie Bressett of France on her way to finishing third in the women's race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Catherine Pendrel of Canada climbs a hill with the Thames Estuary in the background. She won the women's race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The riders get a great view across the estuary towards the oil refineries, but they don't get long to enjoy it Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The view across the Thames Estuary Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Tricky moments as the riders descend the rockfall at the start of the men's race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Christoph Sauser of Switzerland starts his descent. He finished second in the men's race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Spectators line the hills to watch the male riders race down a descent Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The men can see what lies ahead, and above, as they climb the switch-back hill Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Tim Lemmers starts a descent. The Dutch rider failed to finish Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Hadleigh Castle and Southend in the background Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The same scene moments later. It's such a beautiful shot it's worth looking at again Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Julian Absalon of France, the reigning Olympic champion, wins the men's race in style Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Lee Williams of Great Britain feels the heat and the pain – he cut his arm in a fall and finished 20th in the men's race Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

The podium awaits. For all the buildup to the cycling events at the London Games, visit our dedicated page Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian