Big Expansion to Track Programme

Everyone thought that the low-point of Olympic track cycling must have been reached with the announcement that the Beijing Olympics would have two less track medals than Athens - another cutback to what was a modest velodrome programme.

All pics from the Public Domain category on Flickr - Thanks

But that was before the news that the introduction of more new events elsewhere would cause more velodrome misery. Adding skate boarding, roller blading (inline skates) and possibly, roller derby will, said an official, boost the appeal of the Olympics to a much wider audience. The sales of more broadcasting rights to cable TV channels had not influenced the decisions, the official said.

Either way the fact that the existing World Inline Speed Skating Championships provide over 20 events on the track alone meant that the IOC / UCI required the track cycling programme to be cut-back to just one event for 2012. The new “Team-Points-Keiren-Pursuit” combined event would encourage new countries to participate, said the unnamed official. When asked about the risks of having a very large field with many inexperienced riders the official said that this would not be a problem. There would be two day training programme at the UCI track and a loan of a new track bike, without cost, to any new entrants. And besides, the likely mass pile-ups would greatly boost viewing figures. Certainly the winner would be totally unpredictable and this would avoid the problems with events like the Kilo where favourites had won medals without crashing once.

However all this was before the riders and promoters held their landmark meeting that established a new world cycling order - and lead to the greatly expanded track programme that was agreed this week.

The split of track and road from BMX and MTB was a boost to both groups. And the clear separation from skateboarding and inline skates removing any grounds for trade-offs between the sports at the Olympics.

For track cyclists the reintroduction of the Kilo and 500m was just the start, with the return of the tandem and stayers supplementing a much extended programme of men’s and women’s events. But the main impact was that one rider could compete in multiple events so, at long last, providing the opportunity for a cyclist with enough talent to gain 4, 5 or even 6 medals at one Games.

...... well, come on, I can’t finish this all on my own!

What programme of events would boost track cycling at the World level by and beyond 2012?

By 2014 Britain will have 3 full-feature indoor tracks. How can they be made commercially viable?