If you build it, they will race: The new velodrome under construction in Erie.
Inside Track, At long last, an Olympic standard velodrome comes to Boulder County.
This fall marks the soft opening for the Boulder Valley Velodrome, the first Olympic standard track cycling race facility in Boulder County. The brainchild of University Bicycles founder Doug Emerson and business partner Frank Banta, the velodrome has been eight years in the making, and the missing link in an otherwise robust bike racing community in Boulder County.
“Look out your window in any direction and you’ll see a cyclist,” Emerson says. “Track racing is the one discipline we still need.”
Construction for the Boulder Valley Velodrome began this spring on a 4.2-acre site in Erie at the intersection of County Line Road and Bonnell Avenue. For those familiar with Boulder Indoor Cycling, the 142-meter track inside a converted warehouse in Boulder that closed in April, the BVV is in an entirely different league.
The outdoor track will meet the international standard length of 250 meters, with 12-degree inclines on the straightaways and 42-degree banking on the corners. Those are the same dimensions for the track at the London Olympics this summer. That should draw serious racers.
While Emerson envisions the velodrome becoming the de facto training facility for Olympic hopefuls, and hosting an elite race series, he’s easing in this fall with club racing. His founding members club includes 50 riders, plus ten regular clubs of 30 members each. These will be the only people riding in 2012 as his beta test group. As of press time, there were still three clubs that were up for grabs.
Starting in spring of 2013, Emerson will expand his offerings to the general public including classes taught by members of his coaches’ coalition, including youth development programs, beginners’ classes and certification programs. There will also be licensed racing, in addition to club racing.
“We’re considering spring/summer 2013 to be our grand opening,” Emerson says. “And yeah, we’re anticipating throwing a little shindig to celebrate.”
Learn more and follow the velodrome’s progress at bouldervalleyvelodrome.com.
—J.M.
