June 9/00 11:08 am - Bromont Purchases 1996 Olympic Velodrome, Ontario News

Posted by Editoress on 06/9/00
 

Bromont achète le vélodrome des Jeux olympiques d'Atlanta

Bromont, 9 juin 2000 - Le Centre national de développement cycliste de Bromont a procédé cette semaine à l'aquisition du vélodrome des Jeux olympiques du centenaire 1996 de Disney Wide World of Sports. Cette acquisition fait suite à l'annonce par le gouvernement du Québec, le 12 mai dernier, d'un appui financier de 1,9 million de dollars pour l'aménagement d'un vélodrome de niveau international et d'installations connexes à Bromont.

Entreposée à Orlando, en Floride, depuis 1996, la piste de 250 mètres sera transportée à Bromont au cours du mois de juin. Quinze remorques seront utilisées pour transporter les 70 tonnes d'acier et les 40 tonnes de bois sur plus de 3 000 km.

Conscient de sa valeur comme équipement de haute performance mais aussi du symbole qu'il représente en cyclisme et aussi dans l'histoire des Jeux olympiques, le Conseil d'administration du Centre national de développement cycliste de Bromont a décidé de conserver son nom de «vélodrome des Jeux olympiques du centenaire 1996.


Bromont Buys The 1996 Centennial Olympic Games Velodrome

The Bromont National Training Center acquired this week the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games Velodrome from Disney Wide World of Sports following the announcement by the Québec Minister of Sports on May 12 of a 1.9 million dollars support for an international level velodrome and facilities in Bromont.

The 250 meter track, stored [in good condition] since 1996, will be moved from Orlando to Bromont during June using 15 truck loads for the 70 tons of steel and 35 tons of wood in a 3,000 km journey.

"We made an excellent choice with this buy", says Eric Van Den Eynde, head coach of the Bromont National Training Center. "The choice of the proper technology is critical for a velodrome located in a northern climate. We did not want to go for a concrete track because of its heavy maintenance load and relative quality duration. The traditional strip wood surface is good for indoor track but there are serious maintenance and duration problems outdoors. The 1996 Centennial Olympic Games Velodrome is the best compromise between performance and flexibility for maintenance and duration in the long run", concludes Van Den Eynde.

For Pierre Hutsebaut, Director of the High Performance Programs of the Canadian Cycling Association and member of the Bromont National Training Center's Board of Directors, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games Velodrome offers a guarantee of performance. "We remember this track helped Brian Walton to win the silver medal in the points race and Curt Harnett to win the bronze medal in the sprint event at the 1996 Olympic Games. This track can be fast and help our riders to go faster," says Hutsebaut.

Recognizing that this track is not only a high performance tool but also a symbol of excellence in cycling and a part of the Olympic Games history, the Bromont National Training Center BOD chose to keep its name as the "Centennial Olympic Games Velodrome". This will somewhat help to forget the demolition of the 1976 Montréal Olympic Games Velodrome in December 1989 replaced by a natural science museum losing an annual average of 6 million dollars since then!

It is hoped the new facility will help Canada to speed up the preparation of newcomers in track cycling on the international scene. The Bromont National Training Center is discussing with several national team representatives to use the Bromont facilities since it will provide affordable access to the track, lodging and indoor training/testing facilities plus cross-country and downhill mountain bike international level facilities. "The Bromont National Training Center is becoming the first fully integrated High Performance Cycling Center in Canada", concludes Pierre Lizotte, President of the BNTC."

Information: Pierre Thibault - Fédération Québécoise des Sports Cyclistes - (514) 252-3000 #3522


Gadd/D'Ornellas Time Trial (Toronto, ON)
Thursday, June 8
Distance: 15 km
Timer: Tina Mayberry

James Wadden 21:04
Darko Ficko 21:32
Merrill Collins 24:01
John Petrosoniak 24:13
Steffan Elzinga 24:45
Virgil Cheung 24:46
Mike Basch 25:02
Brenden Hurley 25:18
Joe Marotta (flatted)

courtesy Peter A. Hurley