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Fed up with hearing about the Olympics? Spare a thought for the stunt riders who this week are trying to ignore the fact that the biggest sporting event in the world has arrived on their doorstep.
It is not just gripes about the missiles on roof tops, bans on chips and eye-popping team uniforms testing their good humour, it is that the cyclists had been within a whisker of performing in the opening ceremony – expected to be watched by one billion people – only to have their slot cancelled with less than two weeks to go.
Joe Maher, a cyclist who rides in mountain bike trials (where cyclists pass through obstacle courses without their feet touching the ground), says he would have been joining 100 volunteers on bikes and stunt BMX riders – some, according to reports, complete with flaming bikes – to perform in front of the huge crowd.
"I was really exicted when I got the email," says the 25-year-old. "It took a couple of days to sink in." The trial riders had completed more than 20 hours of rehearsals for the ceremony directed by Danny Boyle. But instead, the whole segment has been dropped so the show can conclude in time for the audience to get home on public transport.
Maher says that at rehearsals there were around 50 BMX riders rehearsing half-pipe and quarter-pipe jumps, alongside his team of four trial riders, who had yet to be given a final routine. Now, says Maher, the riders are so disappointed that none of them are going to see the event – despite being given tickets for the dress rehearsal.
Another rider, who does not want to give his name because of the non-disclosure agreement all participants were given, says he kept the news that he was in the ceremony secret from everyone except his mum, who was "crazy proud" he would be representing the UK in the extravaganza. Boyle had apparently come up with some exciting ideas. "Oh my days, it would have been a phenomenal show. At the last rehearsal, we were all together and it looked pretty amazing.
"I keep seeing the Olympics on TV and to be honest I just want to forget all about it," he says, sadly.
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