The first of eight laps is complete and it is Alan Hatherly of South Africa who is in front, though GB's Charlie Aldridge is also among the frontrunners. Tom Pidcock is also among the chasing pack.

The tight and twisty course means there are few opportunities for overtaking.

Disaster for Ede-Karoly Molnar - the Romanian's tyre has come off his back wheel, which is now bent out of shape.

This event is brutal

Sam Smith
Former British number one on BBC TV

There are many in this stadium with a question as to the fitness of Rafael Nadal in terms of how that leg is holding up.

He didn’t seem to be moving terribly freely.

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

So what will give?

Both men are likely to be playing their final Olympics - given they are already approaching 40 - and the stakes are higher for Djokovic.

The Olympic gold is the only honour missing from his trophy haul.

Djokovic is locked in. As we knew, he is the sharper and better player at the moment - and it is showing.

After coming through deuce to hold in the opening game, he takes a break point earned after a thrilling exchange which has Nadal scampering all over the court.

Advantage Serbia.

The world number two is already keen on testing Nadal’s movement and employs another dropshot on his way to holding for 3-0.

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Paris

They're off! A huge roar erupts as the lights turn green.

Can you spot Tom Pidcock and Charlie Aldridge riding side-by-side on the right of this photo?

Pidcock's name cued huge cheers around the venue as he was announced.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jill Douglas
Reporter on BBC TV

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Pidcock has got his family here, he's been training hard for this one. He's got a big target on his back, he's the favourite. He's a fantastically cool, calm and collected rider. Eight laps of this 4x4 course will be tough. He will have his head in the right place, make no mistake.

He did plan to complete the Tour de France, but he retired after stage 13 with Covid. He tested positive for about six days. I'm told he's had no ill effects after suffering with it. He's not the only athlete to have had it coming into this race.

He's done it before, coming from 31st to the front of the grid. He knows what is to come and he is ready.

Apparently Tom Pidcock described this course as "bland" a couple of days ago.

It looks anything but. It looks absolutely terrifying.

They've just started and have got a pretty gruelling hill to navigate within the first couple of minutes. The riders are also all so tightly packed together at the beginning, it's so treacherous.

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Paris

Tom Pidcock is a generational talent, a multi-skilled rider both on a mountain bike and a road bike.

Since winning that Olympic gold in Tokyo three years ago, he’s won the world and European cross-country titles, while on the road, he’s won a stage of the Tour de France as well as the Strade Bianche and Amstel Gold Race.

Though his recent Tour de France campaign was cut short by a bout of Covid, he’s going for the double here in Paris - mountain bike today, road race on Saturday.

With Mathieu van der Poel opting out of the mountain bike, Pidcock’s main contenders are likely to be Swiss duo Nino Schurter and Mathias Fluckiger.

He’s had an ice vest on and a cold towel around his neck to keep as cool as possible in these sweltering conditions, right up until the last minute.

Image source, BBC Sport

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Image source, BBC Sport

The gladiators have arrived on the terre battue, ready to begin battle in the midst of ferocious noise.

Roars greet each player striding out on to court, when they jog into the middle and as they come together for a cosy photo at the net.

Loads of love for Djokovic, of course. But Roland Garros is to Nadal what the Coliseum was to Maximus.

Sam Smith
Former British number one on BBC TV

There are very few secrets between the two [Nadal and Djokovic] camps and they first met here at Roland Garros almost two decades ago, in the quarter-final with Djokovic retiring with a lower back injury.

And it was also here they last met in 2022, with Nadal winning and going on to take his 14th title.

The men's mountain bike race is about to start and you can watch that on BBC Two - though it will switch to BBC One after the one o'clock news.

Our additional channel on iPlayer and red button is the place for Nadal v Djokovic. What a choice!

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Paris

Tom Pidcock isn’t the only Brit racing today. He’s joined by Charlie Aldridge, who will make his Olympic debut.

Aldridge, 23, was crowned under-23 world champion in Glasgow last year.

He’s reached the Olympics in his first year on the senior circuit - not bad at all.

The fans are ready. Not long to wait now!

Image source, BBC Sport

Success for Team GB at the South Paris Arena.

Liam Pitchford has beaten Fiji’s Vicky Wu 4-0 to reach the second round of the men's table tennis singles.

Next up for Pitchford is Slovenia's Darko Jorgic, who is seeded 13th, 12 places ahead of the Brit.

Harder tests to come for Pitchford...

Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Image source, BBC Sport

Look at that! Heart emojis.

You just wanna stick a towel down on the clay and soak it all up, don’t you.

Absolutely carnage in the media tribune as what feels like every journalist in Paris tries to grab a seat.

Never seen anything like it.

Spotted Billie Jean King on the way upstairs. She’ll find a seat, no sweat.

Great Britain's Team Eventing group have spoken to BBC One after winning gold, Team GB's first of this Olympics.

Laura Collett: "On top of the world. I have never, ever ridden into an atmosphere like that. Luckily, London is one trusty partner, so are my team.

"There's no words to describe the atmosphere, all three days. I didn't think anything would top the cross country, it was unreal."

Ros Canter: "I had behind whoever was taller than me, which is most people, it's been amazing.

"I can't really talk. I'm done."

Tom McEwan: "It was alright actually, she was amazing. I much prefer doing it myself. It was class from Laura, poetry in motion.

"It has been a bit of a rollercoaster, I'm gutted for Ros missing out on an individual medal."

Yasmin Ingham (reserve rider): "It has been amazing to experience these games, I'm just so proud of them. Something to celebrate them tonight.

"The support we've had has been amazing, it's a massive thank you to everyone for looking after the horses to the higher standards."

Image source, PA Media

Katie Falkingham
BBC Sport in Paris

Compared to the women yesterday, the men's will ride an extra lap (eight in total) of this 4.4km circuit, totalling 35.2km.

Tom Pidcock has called the course a "bit bland" - and too much gravel for his liking - but he won’t care about that if he secures the top step on the podium.

As I said before, Great Britain’s Pidcock is the defending champion.

His gold medal three years ago marked the first Olympic medal for Great Britain in the sport, while he also became the youngest rider to land the title (aged 21).

Pidcock turns 25 tomorrow. He’ll be hoping to bag the perfect early birthday present by crossing this finish line as a two-time Olympic champion.

Image source, BBC Sport

Here's the gold medal-winning moment.

Team GB has now reached the podium at six of the past seven Games, and have won back-to-back team golds for the second time, the first being in 1972.

Rishi Persad
Reporter on BBC TV

It is a little bit emotional, the last 24 hours have been tough for the Great Britain team thanks to those 15 penalty points picked up.

It was a very good performance from all three riders. Laura Collett was incredible.

Yesterday in the Cross Country. What happened with Ros, then the appeal, six hours of toing and froing and then France were a lot closer in the team competition.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are warming up before their men's singles tennis second-round match.

You can watch it by clicking 'Watch & listen' at the top of this page, then choosing the tennis stream.

Sonja McLaughlan
Equestrian commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live

Britain have won a gold medal!

Laura Collett has anchored Great Britain to their gold medal in Versailles.

It is Britain's first gold at the Paris Games.

It has come from these brilliant eventers. They successfully defend the title they won in Tokyo and that is only the second time a British team has ever done that. You have to go all the way back to 1972 for the last time we saw that.

Collett punches the air and it is a glorious gold for Britain and their eventers.

A quite flawless round of show jumping from Laura Collett and London 52.

Great effort from Team GB especially after Ros Canter picked up 15 penalty points yesterday.

All three British riders (Ros Canter, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen) have also qualified for the individual finals, which start at 14:00 BST.