JULY 22 - WHILE many British athletes competing in the Beijing Olympics have begun jetting off to the pre-Games training camp in Macau, where temperatures are set to nudge the 90s, the country's cyclists are heading off to Newport in Wales to acclimatise.

 

There the thermostat will be cranked so to replicate the conditions that cyclists like Mark Cavendish, Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton can expect to face when they get to China.

 

The team, who are predicted to win up to 12 medals in Beijing, will arrive in Wales on Thursday where they will stay until the eve of the opening ceremony before travelling to China.

 

They will stay at the Celtic Manor hotel, which is due to host the 2010 Ryder Cup, and will cycle each day to the practice at the Velodrome when each daily training session will be open free to the public.

 

The weather in Beijing is somewhat different to that of Newport but the team need to train in similar conditions to prepare adequately for the Games.

 

Temperatures at the Velodrome track will be turned up to simulate the high temperatures that the riders will experience in China.

This was also done, to great success, when the team trained for the Athens Games four years ago where they won four medals, including two gold.

Doug Dailey, from the GB team, said: "The excellent quality and speed of the track makes the Wales National Velodrome the perfect venue for our riders to prepare for the Olympics in Beijing.

"The track, staff and venue were perfect when used in preparation for the 2004 Games and will help once again get the riders ready for more medal success in 2008."

Councillor Mike Hamilton, Newport's cabinet member for leisure and continuing learning, said: "The similarity of the track to the actual Olympic cycling venue in Beijing makes it an ideal location for the British Olympic Cycling team preparations.

"Newport City Council wishes them well and fingers crossed for some gold medals in China."