No 14692, Thursday 15 Jan 2026, Crossant

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 1A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Father cycling in race - it's not hard (6) F?O?P? (Addendum FLOPPY {(-p)OP(+p)P} in {FLY} - See comments)

4   University boys arrested by centre, causing uproar (6) HUBBUB {H{U}{BB}UB}

8   Coffee maker is behind counter, try Americano to start with (7) BARISTA {IS}<=>{BAR} with {Try}{Am...o}

9   Generally American partner controls resources centrally (7) USUALLY {US}{ALLY} over {r..oUr..s}

11 Picked up writing material at the same place (10) STATIONARY (~stationery)

12 Slowly move part of foot (4) INCH [DD]

13 "It's dangerous", he sums up (5) ADDER [DD]

14 Play favourite track entertaining everybody right in the beginning (5,3) PETER PAN {PET}{PAN} over {Ev...y}{Ri..t}

16 Entertaining cricket from both sides, one over to go (8) FUNCTION {FUN}{Cr...eT}{1{ON}

18 Doctor, tea or coffee? (5) MOCHA {MO}{CHA}

20 Fellow with topless model seeking excitement (4) FAST {F}{cAST}

21 Captivated by overtures from unknown, pretty looking blondes perhaps (10) SPELLBOUND{Un...n+Pr...y+Lo...g}+BLONDES}*}

23 Is fit after suspicion of damaged hamstring (7) DISABLE {IS}{ABLE}<=>{Da...d}

24 Romantic morning at Gold Valley finally (7) AMATORY {AM}{AT}{OR}{v...eY}

25 Miss Hermoine will eventually back Harry (6) NEEDLE {NEED} with {h...nE}{wilL}<=

26 Associate member of embassy lacking etiquette from the beginning (6) ATTACH ATTACHe

DOWN

1   Spread quickly, spread by influencers essentially (5) FEAST {F{i...uEn...s}AST}

2   Trial version put up covers one technical topic initially missed (7) OMITTED {DEMO<=} over {1}{Te...l}{To..c}

3   Vessel to serve bit of rice with Indian stew (9) POTPOURRI {POT}{POUR}{Rice}{I}

5   Retract comment supporting French article (5) UNSAY {SAY}<=>{UN}

6   Bizarre plastic container for coals (7) BRAZIER*

7   Accountant from the East enters party with a very American hat (9) BALACLAVA {BAL{CA<=}L}{A}{V}{A}

10 Saw what he used ?! (9) CARPENTER [CD/GK]

13 A time to switch sides to get praise (9) ADULATION {A}{DU(-r+l)LATION}

15 It's up to management executives basically to check period for completion of task (4,5) TIME LIMIT {{IT<=}{Ma...t}{Ex...s}{LIMIT}

17 Bedtime? Time for cheese perhaps (7) COTTAGE {COT}{T}{AGE}

19 Leaving extremely scenic Costa Rica - fantastic country (7) CROATIA {COsTA+RIcA}*

21 Shrub in Dallas with top pruned badly (5) SALAL dALLAS*

22 Neither partner conceding at that point (5) NORTH {NOR}{THat}

Reference List

University = U, Boy = B, Fellow = F, Gold = OR, Indian = I, French article = UN,  Very = V, Time = T, AGE