New lease of life for Milan's historic Vigorelli velodrome

A new lease of life is on the cards for Milan's historic Vigorelli velodrome after campaigners managed to save it from demolition.

The campaign group posted a message on Facebook, showing the re-laid track, saying that there would be a special opening of the facility yesterday, June 2nd, with two opportunities to use the new track.

500 people can now be accommodated in the stands.

The famous Vigorelli velodrome was the site where Fausto Coppi broke the Hour Record, and its rejuvenation of the 397m wooden track has cost more than £4 million.

As Allied forces bombed the city in 1942, Coppi set his record, narrowly missing a date the following year when bombs and flamed destroyed the velodrome. Later, after an extensive re-build, Coppi’s record was then broken by Jacques Anquetil and Roger Rivière.

It remained an active centre for Italian cycling until the 1990s when it lay forgotten due to a new focus on road cycling.

In 2013 it was redesignated for use in rugby matches, but an intervention by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities saw it repurposed once again for cycling.

Eventually the stands will hold 8,000 people and the semi-open roof will be rebuilt.