All lined up and nowhere to ride? That\u2019s the story for Irish track cyclists, in the absence of an indoor velodrome here in Ireland. While a handful of outdoor tracks are dotted around the country \u2013 Orangefield, Sundrive, Kanturk \u2013 we\u2019re still without an indoor facility; quite the oversight in a nation that, from the commute to competition, has such an affinity with cycling. <\/p>\n
The National Development Plan launched by the Government in October committed to building an indoor velodrome on the national sports campus in west Dublin \u2013 though that\u2019s a story we\u2019ve heard before. For now, the wait goes on. Hopefully, the ambition of having a facility by Paris 2024 comes to fruition; here\u2019s a handful of the reasons why it\u2019s needed to put Irish cycling on the right track\u2026<\/p>\n
BEING THE ELITE<\/strong> UP AND COMING<\/strong> ALL IN THIS TOGETHER<\/strong> KEEP WATCHING<\/strong>
\nWe\u2019re months removed from sending our largest ever track cycling team to the Olympic Games \u2013 a quartet of athletes who\u2019ve proven their quality on the world stage \u2013 with Paralympics hardware brought back from Tokyo, too. A bunch of young athletes dream of following their lead. But shipping our best competitors off to Mallorca for camps, as we commonly do now, isn\u2019t merely an inconvenience but an impediment to success. Increased training time, within striking distance of home, could prove a game-changer for athletes in green; after all, our record on the roads shows we can pedal with the very best\u2026<\/p>\n
\nThe old adage of \u2018You can\u2019t be what you can\u2019t see\u2019 is frequently wheeled out to address representation in sport; it also applies to the sport itself. What hope do we have of bringing through the next generation of track cyclists when they\u2019ve never seen the sport up close, or had a chance to try for themselves without digging out their passport first? If nothing else, it will give many youngsters an opportunity to sample a thrilling new challenge \u2013 and beyond that, cast a wide net to ensnare the champions of tomorrow.<\/p>\n
\nFrom boxing\u2019s High Performance Unit to the National Centres of our swimming set-up, the value of a central base for our athletes is well understood. Indeed, it\u2019s a system that\u2019s paid dividends for cycling in countries all over the world; it stands to reason that the same will be true when Ireland has its own \u2018hub\u2019 for the sport. Whether training as a team, pooling resources, or sharing insights, the benefits of a focal point for the sport are innumerable.<\/p>\n
\nWe\u2019ve seen the crowds when we welcomed the Giro and the Tour, and just about every weekend the masses flock to watch everything from GAA and rugby to greyhound racing and road bowling. The appetite for attending sporting spectacles is massive \u2013 so just imagine what race meets at Abbotstown could look like. Elite events featuring top stars from our European neighbours would bring fans flocking in their droves, as well as TV and press coverage to put cycling centre stage. Build it, and they will come\u2026<\/p>\n