Welcome to the Velodrome

By Tan Yingzi
Updated: 2007-03-02 10:58China's first indoor cycling track is designed to blow minds, blow records and blow dust out of the arena in line with the country's wish to host a "green" Olympics in 2008.

Venues: Laoshan Velodrome；
Location: Laoshan,Shijingshan District,Beijing;
Land surface(sq.m.) 32,920
Seats:6,000
Fuction during the Games: Cycling(track)
Groundbreaking date: Oct 30,2004.

"This is going to be one of the best velodromes in the world," said Bian Xilai, director of the Beijing Olympics venue construction for cycling and fencing, in an interview with China Daily.

The Laoshan Velodrome (LSV) is being purpose-built for the Beijing Olympics in the city's western district of Shijingshan. The main building is finished. Work on the 250-meter-circumference cycle track will get under way in spring.

"The track is the core of the whole building, and all other facilities serve it," said chief supervisor Chen Pingquan, adding that the wooden design is engineered to help athletes clock record sprint times.

"(Designer) Ralph Schurmann told me that the LSV track will help enhance the performance of cyclists at the Beijing Games," he said. "We expect new world and Olympic records to be made here."

Schurmann increased the length of the straight sections on the steeply banked oval tracks to afford cyclists longer sprints, a move that could provide even less of a level playing field.

"The design keeps up with international standards and may give an edge to European cyclists, who are good at sprinting," said Chen.

The design also stays in line with BOCOG's theme of environmental conservation.

The round roof above a wooden arena features 36 electronic windows and is composed of seven layers of materials to provide optimum ventilation, sound and heat proofing, he said.

When it comes to the Olympics, China believes that if something is worth doing, then it's worth doing well.


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Although dubbed the "kingdom of bicycles," professional cycling is glaringly absent in the country.

Pro-racing and the prospect of an indoor track only became tangible realities after Beijing was awarded the Olympics in 2001.

In March 2003, six design firms (three from China, one from Australia, a French architect, and Schurmann Architects of Germany) were invited to take part in an international competition to design the Olympic Velodrome.

Guangdong Design Institute and Schurmann Architects produced the two winners, with the developer opting for the Chinese firm's design, and the Germans' design skills for the cycle track.

After the six days of Olympic cycling events wrap up next year, LSV will serve as a training center for the country's provincial and national cycling teams.

"China's track cyclists used to have to migrate south in the winter as we didn't have an indoor arena," said director Bian. "When the velodrome is completed, they won't need to relocate any longer. They will be able to enjoy the best facilities in the world."

Shijingshan locals are also benefiting. They will get to use the wooden ground as badminton courts.

Schurmann has designed over 120 tracks worldwide and celebrated its 80th year in the velodrome business last year.