2012 Olympic Cycling Track Gets Into Gear
Sir Chris Hoy has said the velodrome for the London 2012 Olympics is the best in the world.
2012 Olympic Cycling Track Gets Into Gear
Sir Chris Hoy believes the new velodrome for the London 2012 Olympics is the best in the world.It is the first of the 'big five' venues at the Olympic Park in Stratford to be completed and has opened on time and within budget.
Sir Chris, who was involved in the design, said, "It's fantastic, really really impressive. From the outside to the inside, everything they have done is top drawer.
"I have never been in a better velodrome anywhere in the world."
He added: "It's not just about the Olympic Games, it's about the legacy and having this amazing facility for future cyclists. That to me is as important."
Of Britain's chances in 2012, he said: "There's always more to come, we are always striving to improve ourselves. Every day we are training as hard as we can."
The 6,000-seater velodrome cost around £93m and will host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics indoor cycling and BMX events.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who was also at the opening, said: "This is an amazing moment. This is the completion of the most wonderful velodrome in the whole world."
He described the track as the "crucible where future British champions are going to be forged".
Mr Johnson said: "It's an incredible achievement. It's been done on time, under budget.
"This one [venue] in particular is going to last for generations to come. It will be a place of pilgrimage for cyclists across the country."
He added: "Structures like this create jobs, they drive growth and employment - not just for now but a long time to come."
The velodrome is the work of Hopkins Architects, Expedition Engineering, BDSP and Grant Associates, who were appointed in 2007 after a design competition.
Builders ISG, who replaced the track at the Manchester Velodrome, began laying the foundations in March 2009.
The stadium has 360 degree public concourse for viewing races. After the Games, a road cycle circuit and mountain bike course will be added for public use.
Sir Chris said: "The 360 degree seating means that no matter where you are in the stadium you can see the full track and there's seats the whole way around.
"So, instead of having noise in the back-straight and the home-straight as you go around you get this wall of noise the whole way and it creates this gladiatorial arena."
Track cycling was Great Britain's most successful discipline at the Beijing Games, with Team GB taking a total of 19 gold medals.
Work is still underway on the other four main venues at the Olympic Park - the Olympic Stadium, the Aquatics Centre, the Olympic Village and the Media Centre.
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) says all should be finished on schedule.
