Editing Manchester Velodrome

{{Short description|Cycle-racing track in Manchester, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox venue
| name                = [[National Cycling Centre]]
| nickname            = Manchester Velodrome
| logo_image          = 
| logo_caption        = 
| image               = [[File:Manchester Velodrome 2011.jpg|300px]]
| caption             = Panorama image of the Manchester Velodrome
| mapframe            = no
| fullname            = 
| former_names        = 
| location            = Stuart Street<br />[[Manchester]]<br />[[England]]<br />M11 4DQ
| coordinates         = {{coord|53.486|-2.192|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:GB|display=ti}}
| broke_ground        = 
| built               = 
| opened              = 14 September 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500671578/GDCS?u=oxfshlib&sid=GDCS&xid=8307b690|title="BCF to run velodrome." Times, 13 July 1994, p. 38|website=Times Digital Archives}}</ref>
| renovated           = 
| expanded            = 
| closed              = 
| demolished          = 
| owner               = [[Manchester City Council|City of Manchester]]
| operator            = [[British Cycling]]
| surface             = 
| scoreboard          = 
| cost                = 
| architect           = FaulknerBrowns Architects
| project_manager     = 
| structural engineer = 
| services engineer   = R.V. Webb (Velodrome track)<ref name="history">{{Cite news |title=Manchester Velodrome - About us |url=http://www.manchestervelodrome.com/static_info/about_us.htm |work=Manchester Velodrome |access-date=2012-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717022255/http://www.manchestervelodrome.com/static_info/about_us.htm |archive-date=17 July 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Velodrome tracks by R.V. Webb |url=http://www.ronwebbcycletracks.com/ |work=R.V. Webb Ltd |access-date=2012-07-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728014457/http://www.ronwebbcycletracks.com/ |archive-date=2012-07-28 }}</ref>
| main_contractors    = 
| capacity            = 3,500
| suites              = 
| record_attendance   = 
| dimensions          = 250 metre track
| acreage             = 
| tenants             = [[Ineos Grenadiers]] (UCI ProTeam)<br />[[Manchester Wheelers' Club]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Manchester Wheelers' Club - Track |url=http://www.manchesterwheelers.co.uk/cycling/track.htm |work=Manchester Wheelers' Club |access-date=2012-07-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801214811/http://www.manchesterwheelers.co.uk/cycling/track.htm |archive-date=1 August 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><br/>'''Major events hosted'''<br />[[2002 Commonwealth Games]]<br />[[UCI Track Cycling World Championships]]<br />([[1996 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|1996]], [[2000 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|2000]], [[2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|2008]])<br />[[British National Track Championships]]<br />[[Revolution (series)|Revolution Cycling series]]
| website             = {{URL|manchestervelodrome.com}}
}}
'''Manchester Velodrome''' is an indoor Olympic-standard cycle-racing track in [[Manchester]], England, which opened in 1994. Part of the [[National Cycling Centre]], the facility has been home to [[British Cycling]] since 1994, coinciding with the nation's rise to track cycling dominance at World and Olympic level. The velodrome was also home to [[UCI ProTour#List of current UCI ProTeams|UCI ProTeam]] [[Ineos Grenadiers]], formerly known as Team Sky between 2010 and 2019, a period when the team won 6 [[Tour de France]], 2 [[Vuelta a España]] and 1 [[Giro d'Italia]] with Great Britain riders.<ref>The Tour de France in 2012 (Bradley Wiggins), 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (Chris Foome) and 2018(Geraint Thomas), the Vuelta a España in 2011 and 2017 (Froome) and the Giro in 2018 (Froome). Colombina Egan Bernal also won the Tour de France while riding for the team in 2019. Subsequent Giro wins for Bernal and British rideer Tao Geoghagan Hart were achieved after the team departed the facility.</ref>

The Manchester Velodrome has been cited as the major catalyst for Britain's successes in track and road cycling and has been described by ''[[Cycling Weekly]]'' as the "beating heart of British Cycling’s ascension to the top of world cycling".<ref>{{Cite news |title=How did Britain get so good at cycling? |quote=As well as bringing in the finest equipment and the best coaches available, British Cycling based everything on one oval track in Manchester, built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games. |last=Andrews |first=Guy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/apr/01/cycling.features |newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 April 2008 |access-date=2012-07-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=British pedal power or Queally over-rated? |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics2000/sports_talk/930224.stm |work=BBC News |date=20 September 2000}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cycling Weekly - Manchester Velodrome |quote=Twenty years later it is the beating heart of British Cycling’s ascension to the top of world cycling and the self-styled ‘busiest track in the world’. Multiple world and Olympic champions, a Tour de France winner and world renowned coaching and talent spotting setup can all be traced back to this venue. |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/cycling-weekly/manchester-velodrome-132900 |work=Cycling Weekly |date=14 August 2014 |access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref>

For 18 years from opening, it was the only indoor Olympic-standard track in the United Kingdom before the completion of the [[Lee Valley VeloPark]] for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]. It is one of the busiest velodromes in the world used by both professional cyclists and members of the public from 8am to 10pm.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/fast-track-to-glory-how-manchester-692611 |title=Fast track to glory: How Manchester Velodrome forged Britain’s Olympic gold rush |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |publisher=M.E.N. Media |first=David |last=Ottewell |date=8 August 2012 |access-date=20 June 2015 |quote=The council-owned Velodrome, built with £6.5m of government money and £3m from the Sports Council and Foundation for Sport and the Arts, was Britain’s only Olympic-standard indoor track when it opened 18 years ago.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Officials argue for Velodrome |quote="Manchester is the busiest velodrome in the world," continued King. "It’s booked solidly from 8am in the morning until 10pm at night, and its effect on the North West of England has been that there are more cycling clubs, more events and, crucially, more participants than in any other region of England. |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/officials-argue-for-163-10m-velodrome-1-709774 |work=Scotsman |date=30 April 2005 |access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Top cyclist’s fears over ‘white elephant’ track |quote="Manchester is built in the deprived Eastlands area. The track is always full to capacity, used by many local schools and the kids’ club has a waiting list." |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/top-cyclist-s-fears-over-white-elephant-track-1-3235961 |work=Scotsman |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=2016-08-16}}</ref>

The venue hosted track cycling for the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]] and forms part of the [[Sportcity]] complex, located adjacent to the [[City of Manchester Stadium]], host stadium for the 2002 Games and home of [[Manchester City F.C]]. It has also hosted the [[UCI Track Cycling World Championships]] in [[1996 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|1996]], [[2000 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|2000]] and [[2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|2008]], hosts regular meets of the [[Revolution (cycling series)|Revolution]] track cycling series and now hosts [[Six-day racing]]. The [[National Indoor BMX Arena]] adjacent opened in 2011 and the Velodrome can be accessed from the [[Manchester Metrolink|Metrolink]] [[Velopark tram stop]] on the [[East Manchester Line]].

==Velodrome==
[[File:Manchester Velodrome 2.jpg|thumb|left|The exterior of the Manchester Velodrome from Stuart Street.]]
[[File:Manchester Velodrome roof.jpg|thumb|left|Internal view of the Velodrome.]]
The Manchester Velodrome was developed as a joint venture between [[Sport England]], [[Manchester City Council]] and [[British Cycling]], who recognised the need for an Olympic-standard facility in the United Kingdom to improve British track cycling. Funding was provided by the government, through the Department of the Environment (£6.5m), the [[Sports Council]] (£2m) and the Foundation for Sport and the Arts (£1m). Manchester City Council is the freehold owner and the centre is managed by the Eastlands Trust (formerly named the Velodrome Trust).<ref name="history"/> The Velodrome was dismissed by some as a potential white elephant prior to opening – concerns that were later unfounded with the facility well used by the public and a key part of Britain's ascension to the top of track cycling.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commonwealth chiefs want Beckham |quote=Too often we think when things are built they will be a white elephant. "But who would have thought the Velodrome in Manchester would have had the effect it has?" |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/1207073.stm |work=BBC News |date=7 March 2001 |access-date=2016-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cycling: On track for success as Manchester Velodrome helps break the mould |quote=Success, therefore, is all the sweeter when a dome breaks the mould and turns out to be a success. This is what has happened at the Manchester Velodrome, one of the centrepiece venues for this summer's Commonwealth Games. |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/2428598/Cycling-On-track-for-success-as-Manchester-Velodrome-helps-break-the-mould.html |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |date=14 January 2002 |access-date=2016-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Manchester's 'White Elephant' thankfully extinct, says proud cyclist Storey |url=http://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/071074508-manchesters-white-elephant-thankfully-extinct-says-proud-cyclist-storey |work=mancmatters.co.uk |date=7 October 2015 |access-date=2016-08-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Clause 44 - Glasgow Grand Prix |quote=The development was labelled as the greatest white elephant in Britain by some of the press, but if Manchester velodrome had been a country at the 2012 Olympic games, it would have come seventh in the medal table. |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/pbc/2013-14/Finance_(No._2)_Bill/07-0_2014-05-08a.7.10 |date=8 May 2014 |access-date=2016-08-16}}</ref>

The velodrome was designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects and has garnered a reputation for speed since its opening.<ref>{{Cite news |title=FaulknerBrownArchitects - Sport |url=http://www.faulknerbrowns.co.uk/#14/1990-99 |work=Faulker Brown Architects |access-date=2012-07-13}}</ref> The centre's roof structure is based around a 122-metre, 200 tonne arch allowing for an unrestricted viewing area for spectators. Covered by an aluminium roof, the total structure weighs around 600 tonnes. The track is 250&nbsp;metres long and its bankings reach 42&nbsp;degrees in the middle.<ref name="history"/> The track is as steep at the top as it is on the black (racing) line. On 21 May 2007 the velodrome closed for resurfacing in Siberian pine at a cost of £400,000. It reopened on 16 July 2007, and is considered a smoother ride.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Velodrome on fast track |last=Taylor |first=Paul |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1008/1008226_velodrome_on_fast_track.html |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=2 June 2007 |access-date=2012-07-13}}</ref>

By 30 March 2008, more than 15 world records had been set, including [[Chris Boardman]]'s 1996 and 2000 [[hour record]]s and the 4000&nbsp;metre [[team pursuit]] record set by the Great Britain men's team at the 2008 World Championships.

The [[Hour record#UCI hour record (1972–2014)|UCI hour record]] set by Boardman in the Best Human Effort category in 1996,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cycling: Boardman ends career in style |last=Liggett |first=Phil |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/4774603/Cycling-Boardman-ends-career-in-style.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=28 October 2000 |access-date=2012-07-13}}</ref> was rescinded by UCI in 2000 and subsequent attempts at breaking [[Eddy Merckx]]'s 1972 record stopped as UCI believed advanced bicycle technology gave cyclists too much help.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Boardman and the banned Superman |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/992941.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=26 October 2000 |access-date=2012-07-15}}</ref> Boardman set out to break the record on a bike comparable to Eddy Merckx's 1972 machine. He surpassed the record at the velodrome in 2000, achieving a distance of 49.444[[kilometre|km]] as against the 1972 record of 49.431&nbsp;km, and then retired.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Boardman breaks Merckx record |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/994689.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=27 October 2000 |access-date=2012-07-13}}</ref>

The velodrome has become a popular venue for cyclists with taster and practice sessions frequently booked up several weeks in advance.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The road to take to be the next Bradley Wiggins or Lizzie Armitstead |last=Walker |first=Peter |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2012/aug/02/olympics-cycling-guide?newsfeed=true |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2 August 2012 |access-date=2012-08-03}}</ref> In 2011, the [[National Indoor BMX Arena]] was opened next to the velodrome.<ref>{{Cite news |title=£24m BMX Centre Opened |url=http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/bmx/article/bmx20110805-bmx-%C2%A324m-National-BMX-Centre-throws-open-its-doors-0 |work=British Cycling |date=6 August 2011 |access-date=2012-08-12}}</ref> Plans proposed in 2012 included a [[Mountain bike racing|mountain bike trail]] on [[Clayton Vale]], which would be the first facility of its kind in the United Kingdom and would aim to replicate Britain's performance on the track in mountain biking.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Clayton Vale Mountain Bike Trail Consultation |url=http://www.manchester.gov.uk/press/article/203/clayton_vale_mountain_bike_trail_consultation |work=manchester.gov.uk |date=16 July 2012 |access-date=2012-08-03}}</ref>

{{clear}}

==Events==

===Revolution===
{{Main|Revolution (cycling series)}}
[[File:ManchesterVelodrome Revolution22 FutureStars.jpg|thumb|right|[[Revolution (cycling series)|Revolution]] 22 at the Manchester Velodrome]]
The Revolution Series opened in 2003 to build on events such as the world championships and World Cup meetings and provide more regular events. There were four Revolution events over the winter of 2003–04. They built good crowds. The seventh, in 2005, sold all the seats with further fans standing. The first official sell-out was Revolution 14. The series of sprint and endurance events runs on Saturday nights. Internationals compete with British stars and up-and-coming talent. Some riders have retired at Revolution events, rewarded with a retirement presentation. A Future Stars competition has races for young riders aged 15 or 16 to test their sprint and endurance. Olympic riders [[Jason Kenny]] and [[Steven Burke]] came up through this series. In 2012 it was announced that Revolution events would take place at the recently opened London Velodrome and Glasgow Velodrome from 2013.

===Other events===
On 2 July 2009 [[Kraftwerk]] performed at the velodrome as part of the 2009 [[Manchester International Festival]]. As they performed ''[[Tour de France (song)|Tour de France]]'', four members of the British Olympic cycling team entered and rode laps of the track.

===Notable events===
[[File:Wiggins Cavendish 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bradley Wiggins]] and [[Mark Cavendish]] on their way to becoming the [[2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|2008]] world [[Madison (cycling)|Madison]] champions]]
A list of notable events which Manchester Velodrome has hosted:
* [[1994 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[1995 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[1996 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[1996 UCI Track Cycling World Championships]]
* [[1997 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[1998 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[1999 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[2000 UCI Track Cycling World Championships]]
* [[2001 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[2002 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[2002 Commonwealth Games]]
* [[2003 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series) Season 1|2003–04 Revolution – Season 1]]
* [[2004 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[2004 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics]] (Round 3)
* [[2004–05 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics]] (Round 3)
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2004–05 Revolution – Season 2]]
* [[2005–06 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics]] (Round 2)
* [[2005 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2005–06 Revolution – Season 3]]
* [[2006 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2006–07 Revolution – Season 4]]
* [[2006–07 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics]] (Round 4)
* [[2007 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series) – Season 5|2007–08 Revolution – Season 5]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2008–09 Revolution – Season 6]]
* [[2008–09 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics]] (Round 1)
* [[2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2009–10 Revolution – Season 7]]
* [[2009–10 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics]] (Round 1)
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2010–11 Revolution – Season 8]]
* [[2010–11 UCI Track Cycling World Cup Classics]] (Round 4)
* [[2011 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2011–12 Revolution – Season 9]]
* [[2012 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series)|2012–13 Revolution – Season 10]] (Rounds 1, 2, and 3)
* [[2013 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[Revolution (cycling series) – Season 11|2013–14 Revolution – Season 11]] (Rounds 1, 3, and 4)
* [[2013–14 UCI Track Cycling World Cup]] (Round 1)
* [[2014 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[2015 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[British National Track Championships|2019 British National Track Championships]]
* [[2023 UCI Track Cycling Masters World Championships]]
* [[2024 British Cycling National Track Championships]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Sports}}
*[[List of Commonwealth Games venues]]
*[[List of cycling tracks and velodromes]]
*[[National Indoor BMX Arena]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Manchester Velodrome}}
*[http://www.nationalcyclingcentre.com/ Official website]

{{S-start}}
{{succession box |
  title=[[2002 Commonwealth Games]]<br /> Venue|
  before=[[Cheras Veledrome]] <br /> [[Kuala Lumpur]] |
  after=[[Melbourne Park Multi-Purpose Venue|Hisense Arena]] <br /> [[Melbourne]]|
  years=[[2002 Commonwealth Games|2002]]
}}
{{succession box |
  title=[[UCI Track Cycling World Championships]]<br /> Venue|
  before=[[Velódromo Luis Carlos Galán]] <br /> [[Bogotá]] |
  after=[[Perth SpeedDome]] <br /> [[Perth, Western Australia|Perth]]|
  years=[[1996 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|1996]]
}}
{{succession box |
  title=UCI Track Cycling World Championships<br /> Venue|
  before=[[Velodrom (Berlin)|Velodrom]] <br /> [[Berlin]] |
  after=[[Sportpaleis]] <br /> [[Antwerp]]|
  years=[[2000 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|2000]]
}}
{{succession box |
  title=UCI Track Cycling World Championships<br /> Venue|
  before=[[Palma Arena]] <br /> [[Palma de Mallorca]] |
  after=[[BGŻ Arena]] <br /> [[Pruszków]]|
  years=[[2008 UCI Track Cycling World Championships|2008]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{Manchester B&S}}

[[Category:Cycle racing in England]]
[[Category:Velodromes in England]]
[[Category:2002 Commonwealth Games venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Manchester]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1994]]
[[Category:Cycling in Greater Manchester|Velo]]