Tickets have gone on sale for the Hadleigh Farm International – this summer’s mountian bike dress rehearsal ahead of London 2012.

The 5,000-capacity event, on July 31, will put the 5.1km cross-country course, completed in March, through its paces before the Olympic Games arrive in London 12 months later.

Tickets, available through Ticketmaster, cost £20 for adults and £10 for children aged 16 and under and adults aged 60 and over.

Racing starts at 11am, when the women’s field takes to the course, before the men line-up at 2pm.

The 100-rider, invitation-only event is the sole chance for riders to competitively race the course ahead of the Games, although British rider Liam Killeen was given a sneak preview earlier this year, while 2009 world champion Nino Schurter popped down to Essex to film a lap after last weekend’s Dalby Forest World Cup leg.

While building work is complete, the course continues to take shape, with four technical sections this week named by schoolchildren, but police have warned amateurs to stay away.

The Hadleigh Farm International is part of the London Prepares Series – a range of events to allow London 2012 organisers to test the venues, fields of play, scoring and timing systems.

More info at www.londonpreparesseries.com