1.   Riders straddled their mountain bikes waiting for the race to begin.

2.   The flag went down, and the race began.

3.   The race begins again in the chilly, wet, industrialised north.

4.   The starter waved a green flag to indicate that the race would begin.

5.   After a great many loud explosions, the race began.

6.   The first of the two ships to reach Java after the race had begun was the Thermopylae, but on the Indian Ocean, the Cutty Sark took lead.

7.   Although the race has barely begun, a number of possible candidates are already dropping by the wayside.

8.   And it all happened before the race began.

9.   And the race began in earnest this last weekend.

10.   And when the race begins, forget about your hat.