Rio velodrome gets thumbs-up from Aussie track riders

Team GB’s track cyclists may still be at their pre-Olympic training camp in Newport, but their Australian rivals are already in Rio – and have given a thumbs-up to the city’s new velodrome, the venue which has given the rise to most concern about whether it would be ready for the Games.

Earlier this year, a planned test event was first postponed then cancelled altogether due to delays in construction, leading UCI president Brian Cookson to express concern about whether it would be ready on time.

Local cyclists were able to take to the boards for the first time last month, although features such as food and drink concession stands for spectators attending the Olympic events, which run from 11-16 August still needed to be completed.

Australian sprinter Patrick Constable has given a positive verdict of the track itself, however, according to a report on Olympics.com.au.

The 21-year-old said: “I think the general consensus is it is a pretty good track, it transitions well, really smooth to ride and they’ve done a good job building it.”

Referring to one potential concern arising from the lateness of completion of the venue, he said: “The thinking going into this one was the dust may have been an issue as it’s just been constructed, but we’ve come off that session and had no issues.

“That will get better still as we progress to the Olympics.”

Of the track itself, he commented: “Every track is different to ride but this is definitely a nice one.”

“This track tends to have tighter bends and we’ve been training in LA for the past couple of weeks to get a taste for a track with similar geometry so we’re transitioning pretty well onto this track.

Yesterday was the first day of training at the venue for those riding at Rio 2016, with individual sprint champion Anna Meares among those trying out the new track.

Also there was one of the riders expected to challenge Australia flagbearer Meares for her crown in that event and vie with her for gold in the other sprint events, the keirin and the team sprint, Germany’s Kristina Vogel.

While Team GB’s men’s pursuit squad were reported to be inside world record pace at Newport earlier this week, Vogel, who won tam sprint gold at London with Miriam Welte, believes that the since the Siberian pine used for the Rio track – and, indeed, all modern top-level velodromes – was only laid down recently, it may affect pace.

"I think it's a good track for me,” explained the world keirin champion to Rio2016.com. “I like it. I don't think it will be too fast in the Olympics. The wood is too new still."