Manchester velodrome to be resurfaced

The track at Manchester's velodrome is to be replaced, nearly seven years ahead of schedule, due to heavy use from both elite athletes and amateur track cycling enthusiasts.

The facility, which has hosted a variety of top international track meets, is the home of British track cycling, which requires the surface to be replaced before preparations for the Beijing Olympics begin in earnest.

The £270,000 project is being funded by a Lottery grant from Sport England and cycling chiefs hope that it will form the first part of a new wave of development at the facility.

Twelve partner organisations met at the venue this week to discuss plans for the development of accommodation facilities for athletes, and the construction of a new indoor BMX centre. BMX events will be on the Olympic programme for the first time in 2012.

The new track will be made with Siberian larch wood which is to be imported from Siberia. The surface will be professionally engineered to Olympic standards, enabling elite cyclists to train and compete ahead of 2008 and 2012.