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Sheffield school gets purpose built cycling track

Hoped that training and racing facility will foster new Olympians

British Cycling hope to foster 'new Olympians' at a new kilometre-long traffic-free cycle track at a school in Sheffield, where children can learn bike skills and take their first steps in competitive cycling.

Forge Valley Community School's track, which will be accessible to the wider community, was opened by John Mills, Coaching, Education and Development Director at British Cycling and the chairman of UK Sport and the Youth Sport Trust Baroness Sue Campbell.

John said: “Having a purpose built facility on school grounds is a magnificent achievement and invaluable asset for not only the pupils, but also the surrounding local communities who are sure to benefit from the circuit, which is the only current facility of its kind in Sheffield.

“Plans are already in place which will see the facility used regularly by clubs from Sheffield and from as far away as Leeds, which proves just how important the circuit can become for cycling’s development throughout Yorkshire.

“The timing couldn’t be more appropriate either, as this is clearly a unique summer of sport and we are working hard to help clubs, coaches and young volunteers prepare for the expected increase in interest in cycling and having facilities available such is this is paramount to our ambitions.

“We are continuing to work with Sport England to utilise the performances of our athletes in order to help inspire the next generation, and nowhere is that more apparent than at facilities such as this.”

The new school, which cost £28 million to build, opened its doors to pupils late last year. Building Schools for the Future funding paid for the school.

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Campag_10 | 11 years ago
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Excellent development. Let's hope more schools benefit from this type of provision.

Funny how it's routine to tarmac a rectangular playground but no thought is given to building a cycle track.

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ragtag | 11 years ago
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I hope it really is accessible to the whole community, not shut up in the summer when school closes or people have to pay to use it. People that aren't in clubs need to be able to get time on this sort of thing without the barriers of cost or membership.

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antonio | 11 years ago
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That's just brilliant.

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SideBurn | 11 years ago
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Great news! But why is it that a school in Sheffield has a cycle track when there is not one single cycle track in the whole of the south west! There are plans for one in Torbay and thats it! Not even one in Bristol!

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