NATIONAL VELODROME – the French national track cycling arena
Designed as part of France’s bid for the 2012 Olympic Games, the project to build an international velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines has been enhanced in the course of discussions to become, today, the National Cycling Centre.
Inaugurated on 30 January 2014 at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines leisure centre, this multifunctional centre includes the National Velodrome, a covered BMX stadium, accommodates the French Olympic teams (Track and BMX Racing), and the headquarters of the French Cycling Federation (more than 50 employees, 2,300 m² of offices). The site also includes dedicated accommodation for the French national teams.
Leading architect in the field, Ralph SCHÜRMANN, designed the tracks at the National Velodrome, at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and in the city of Aigle, headquarters of the UCI. The National Velodrome track was specially developed to become one of the fastest in the world, enabling cyclists to reach 85 kph safely (constant radius of 23 m, maximum angle of 43.8°, minimum angle of: 13°).
The facility has a modular and customisable area of 3,000 m² in the centre of the Olympic track.
The National Velodrome is well suited to host major national and international events, with a seating capacity of 5,000. The venue hosted the World Track Championships in 2015 and will do so for the second time in 2022. It will also be the venue for all Olympic track cycling and para-cycling events in 2024.
The arena can host more than 40 sporting, festive and cultural events each year. The 220 m² Olympic lounge offers a panoramic view overlooking the track for guests and partners during competitions, but also to organise non-cycling events at other times of the year.
The National Velodrome sporting complex offers facilities worthy of top-level international sporting events. It provides athletes with a weight training room with dedicated measuring instruments and a hydro-recovery room.
