Plans for new world-class cycling facilities in London for cyclists of all ages and abilities have moved a step closer as new images released by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) show the site of the London 2012 VeloPark taking shape.
Work to prepare the VeloPark site for the start of construction began in August last year. New images released this week show the footprint of the Velodrome clearly visible with a bowl created for the cycle track approximately 4m deep and 60m wide by 100m long. Some 48,000 cubic metres of material was excavated to create the bowl, enough to fill 19 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Construction work on the Velodrome will start early next year with concrete piles, up to 20 metres deep, installed in the ground to create the foundations of the Velodrome building.
The VeloPark, to be based in the north of the Olympic Park, will include a 6,000 seat Velodrome to host the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic indoor track cycling events as well as a BMX circuit for Olympic events. After the Games, a road cycle circuit and mountain bike course will be added to create a legacy VeloPark that will combine cycling facilities across all disciplines in one cycling hub. The latest VeloPark designs were unveiled in September by triple Beijing gold medal-winning Olympic hero Chris Hoy and include:
A 6,000 seat Velodrome - to host the Olympic and Paralympic indoor track cycling events in 2012, and be used by elite athletes and the local community after the Games. The legacy Velodrome will include a café and other facilities and the venue design includes a 360 degree concourse level offering fantastic views over the Olympic Park, and out to the London skyline
BMX circuit to host Olympic events in 2012 and then be reconfigured for use by cyclists of all levels of ability after the Games
Road cycle circuit built after the Games, offering cyclists a one-mile circuit
Mountain bike course created after the Games, offering around a 6km course with a range of mountain bike trails for riders of various abilities.
Tony has been editing cycling magazines and websites since 1997 starting out as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - which he continues to edit today. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes.