London 2012: GB's BMX riders go for gold - in pictures

Britain's Shanaze Reade made it safely through Wednesday's time trial and through Thursday's initial heats to reach today's semi-final heats. The women have been split into two pools - each pool will race three times. Reade is riding bike number 12 in the first pool Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian The semi-finals should be a formality for Reade, who only missed out on a medal at the last Olympics when she attempted a daring overtaking manouevre on the final bend and crashed in her bid for victory. Reade is a three times supercross world champion Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins She's jumping well and leaving plenty of riders behind her. She finishes second in run one, then first in run two Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins David Beckham and David Cameron must have enjoyed that Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian/Guardian In the other pool, France's Magalie Pottier (riding the number 1 bike) leads heat one, but the field is tightly bunched and the Columbian Mariana Pajon is a threat on her inside (on bike 5) Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins It's so bunched that cornering is proving very dicey Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Brazil's Squel Stein goes down hard and has to be carted off on a medical stretcher Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins The jumps are pretty spectacular around this course Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins In the other pool, Pajon (on bike 5) wins all three of her heats with Pottier of France (bike 1) second every time. Those two reach the final with ease Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins ... and they'll be joined by Reade who was second in run three of her pool Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian In the men's competition, Britain's Liam Phillips is well placed on the shoulder of Netherlands rider Raymn van der Biezen going into the first bend in the first race in pool one Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins There's a huge pile-up though, with Latvia's Rihards Veide among those felled. Only three riders escape safely and Phillips is one of them Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Phillips finishes second in race one Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Much to the thrill of the packed grandstands Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins ... who are reveling in the breakneck aerial feats Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins ... and he finishes third in race two Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins He then places fourth in race three to book a place in the final Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins In the women's final, Reade has the inside lane from the start ramp, but she never quite manages to worm her way into contention ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins instead it is Columbia's Mariana Pajon who finishes first Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins ... to the delight of her coaches Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Reade is despondent after coming home a lowly sixth Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian After the misfortune of Beijing four years ago, she must have hoped for at least a medal this time out Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins There's more disappointment for Britain in the men's final when Liam Phillips crashes out Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins Latvia's Maris Strombergs leads the pack Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins And it's he who crosses the line first to win gold in the men's race. So, no medals for Britain in a cycling competition - that's something of a rarity Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins