Red Bull Mini Drome thrills the crowds in Manchester

The Red Bull Mini Drome, billed as the world’s smallest velodrome, this weekend paid its latest visit to the UK, with Manchester’s Victoria Baths providing the venue as more than 100 riders were put through their paces on the 25 metre track.

The Mini Drome, which has previously paid visits to London and Glasgow, was making its last appearance in the UK this year, and hundreds of spectators watched 32 riders battle it out head to head in the elimination rounds, with stunt ace Chris Akrigg and GB Paralympic Cycling coach Chris Fuber sharing duties as MC.

The final saw Lancashire’s Ricky Crompton fight it out with someone from rather further afield, Toms Alsbergs of Latvia, who won narrowly in a time of 34.769 seconds and said afterwards: “I loved every ride, it was different each time. The other competitors were really tough and the atmosphere and fans were simply amazing”.

The track was built in Germany by Velotrack, the same people who built the tracks used in the Atlanta Olympics and Delhi Commonwealth Games.