Wales National Velodrome facts for kids
| Wales National Velodrome | |
Entrance
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| Location | Velodrome Way, Newport NP19 4RB |
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| Capacity | 500 |
| Opened | 2003 |
The Geraint Thomas National Velodrome, also known as the Wales National Velodrome, is a special indoor sports building in Newport, Wales. It's a big part of the Newport International Sports Village. This velodrome is mainly used for track cycling, which is a type of bike racing on a specially designed oval track. It was opened in 2003 and has become a very important place for cyclists in Wales and the UK.
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What is a Velodrome?
A velodrome is a special track built for bicycle racing. The track inside the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome is 250 metres long. It is made from Siberian pine wood. The track has steep, banked turns that allow cyclists to go very fast. This design helps riders keep their speed as they go around the corners.
Facilities Inside
The velodrome has more than just the cycling track. It includes a room for meetings or dance classes. There is also a gym with free weights and a fitness area. These facilities help athletes train and stay in shape. There is also a special room for drug testing to ensure fair play in sports.
A Home for Cycling
The Geraint Thomas National Velodrome is a central place for cycling in Wales. It is the main office for Welsh Cycling, which is the group that supports cycling across Wales. A youth cycling club called Newport Velo is also based here. This club helps young riders learn and improve their cycling skills.
An outdoor track for cycle speedway is also located at the velodrome. This is another exciting type of bike racing. The Newport Cycle Speedway Club uses this track for their races and training.
Olympic Training Ground
This velodrome has been used by the British track cycling team many times. They used it as a training camp before the 2008 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics, and 2016 Summer Olympics. This shows how important and well-equipped the velodrome is for top-level athletes. It helps them get ready for the biggest sports events in the world.
Renamed for a Champion
In August 2018, the velodrome was renamed to honour a famous cyclist. It was named after Geraint Thomas. He is a Welsh cyclist who became the first Welsh person to win the Tour de France. The Tour de France is one of the biggest and most famous bike races in the world. Renaming the velodrome after him celebrates his amazing achievement and inspires young cyclists.
See also
