TEL AVIV, Israel (BRAIN) — The city of Tel Aviv has unveiled Israel's newest velodrome, said to be the most advanced indoor bike racing arena in the Middle East. The velodrome's unveiling was Tuesday, a few days before the start of the Giro d'Italia in Israel on Saturday.
The Giro d'Italia will pass by the track on Saturday's stage.
The Israel Cycling Union has submitted its candidacy to host the UCI Junior Track Cycling World Championship in 2021.
At the unveiling, Tel Aviv's mayor, Ron Huldai, said, "Three years ago, Sylvan Adams told me that it makes no sense that a global city such as Tel Aviv-Yafo doesn't have a professional cycling facility. The municipality took on the challenge, and in a few months we will inaugurate the velodrome, the first Olympic racing arena in the Middle East."
Sylvan Adams is the Honorary President of the Giro's "Big Start" in Israel, and led the effort to get the velodrome built. The track will be named in his honor.
Adams said, "The new velodrome aims to encourage local youth to experience the cycling world as well as promote physical activity and sports. This is the most advanced cycling facility in the Middle East and we aspire to host international competitions here with the participation of our neighboring countries. This velodrome will allow us to use sports as a medium to foster closeness and good neighborliness between our bordering countries. Today, cycling teams from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates landed in Israel in order to take part in the Giro. They will ride in Israel, experience the velodrome and understand that they are always welcome here and we can compete and train together!"
The 250-meter wood-surface track has 45 degrees banking. A three-story complex is being built adjacent to the velodrome, and will include a cafeteria, a bicycle store, changing rooms and a doctor's office. The two structures will be connected via a tunnel.
The velodrome is located next to the National Sports Center in Tel Aviv and its construction was made possible through a municipal investment of 70 million Israeli Shekels ($19.3 million).
