It can’t be just my personal opinion that the Olympics have got off to a cracking start since the opening ceremony on Friday – despite some miserable weather for part of yesterday, the excitement in London is wonderful and it seems that even the most die-hard anti-Games people have changed their minds! (Even the predicted public transport “chaos” hasn’t really materialised…but let’s not mention the empty seats issue, despite the fact that I’m sure I’m not the only one who is desperate to get their hands on more tickets!)

This past weekend saw both the men’s and women’s cycling road race take part on an wonderfully scenic course through London and down to Surrey, and back again. Starting and ending on The Mall, cyclists rode a course past Green Park, through Knightsbridge, down Old Brompton Road and Fulham Road and on to Putney and beyond towards Box Hill in Surrey where they did several laps (differing amounts for the men’s and women’s races) before returning back to London.

Whilst the men’s race on Saturday took place in brilliant weather – drawing around 1 million spectators – yesterday’s women’s race was undertaken in terribly rainy conditions for a large part of the race. (Having listened to the cyclists’ interviews post-race, this wasn’t much of a hindrance!) There was still a great atmosphere amongst all those watching the race, and it was great to see the crowds really getting behind the cyclists and cheering them on.

Many congratulations to British cyclist Lizzie Armitstead for her silver medal – and Britain’s first medal of the Olympics. What a performance!

Here are some photographs of the event from the Brompton Cross area of Fulham Road. (Many thanks to the excellent photographer – not me! – for donating the photographs for this website. He/she wanted to remain anonymous, but if you have any photos of the event you’d like to share, either post a comment below or email me at webmaster@kensington-chelsea.com – would be very happy to receive and post them!)

At Brompton Cross - the 3km to go mark

Crowds at Brompton Cross

Here come the cyclists!

The cyclists go by

Accompanying Olympics road race vehicles

The closing stages of the race - the leading trio of Olga Zabelinskaya (RUS), Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) and Marianne Voss (NED)

The chasing pack