Cycling programme, prices and opening date announced for Lee Valley VeloPark

Lee Valley VeloPark, the world’s premier cycling venue and home to the iconic London 2012 Velodrome and Olympic BMX track, will open on 4 March 2014, with sessions from £2 for club riders and £4 for individuals.

As part of the opening programme, the velodrome will welcome back the heroes of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on 14 and 15 March for the grand finale of Britain’s top annual track cycling series – Revolution – the first major event to take place there after the Games.

The announcement was made today (Thursday 15 August) by Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, which will own and run Lee Valley VeloPark on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He unveiled a vibrant programme for the first venue in the world to bring track, BMX, road and mountain biking together in one place.

The outstanding venue, which is on the site of the former Eastway Cycle Circuit, will open in 201 days’ time, and will feature everything from learn to ride programmes for children who have never been on a bike before, coaching, major championships bringing the world’s best riders back to the venue, all ability sessions for people with additional needs, and programmes for schools, clubs and leagues.

Shaun Dawson said: "No cycling venue in the world has brought these four cycling disciplines together. For people who have never ridden a bike, to those who are setting world records, these unparalleled facilities will deliver the Olympic promise of inspiring a generation.

"Our ethos is to run venues that are community focused and commercially driven, and we have hit the right note of balancing affordable pricing for children, young people, clubs and other groups with income from corporate hires and commercial events – the first of which will be the finale to the Revolution track cycling series in March.

"Clubs could pay as little as £2 a head to race on a brand new one mile floodlit road circuit and schools £4 a pupil to use the iconic velodrome and be coached on the same track where Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Laura Trott and Dame Sarah Storey romped home for Team GB and Paralympic GB last summer.

"We will have a packed, buzzing programme, which has been developed following extensive consultations with the sport’s National Governing Body – British Cycling, local clubs and cycling groups, and these will take place all day, every day across four cycling disciplines with a huge variety of sessions for people at all levels of cycling.

"As well as school programmes during the day, club sessions after school and holiday activities, children from across the local area and wider region will have the chance to try out all four disciplines for free at this inspirational venue as part of an annual Lee Valley Schools Festival, which we have already successfully run three times at another of our legacy venues – Lee Valley White Water Centre.

"Plans for the venue – developed with British Cycling – go back a decade and were part of London’s Bid for the Games, and a velodrome would have been built on the site even if London hadn’t won the Bid. London 2012 has meant a bigger, better, more inspirational venue where cyclists will be able to ride on the best tracks, circuits and trails and have access to the best hire bikes and equipment to give them the ultimate experience."

Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation said: "The Velodrome was the scene of some of the most memorable moments and greatest triumphs of London 2012, and one of its most iconic venues.

"All across the Park the venues of the Games are being converted for community through to elite use as we continue our work to transform it into an amazing new visitor attraction and a Park for local people with vibrant neighbourhoods.

"With 12,500 people visiting the north parklands in the first week, the Copper Box Arena opening for major events and as a leisure facility, we are now on track to deliver a facility unlike any other, hosting world class international cycling events and with affordable sessions."

Visitors will need to book many activities in advance, especially at the velodrome. However, people will be able to turn up and have a go on the mountain bike trails, BMX and road circuit. Prices start from £4 for children and £6 for adults.

Bookings will start to be taken later this year. Lee Valley Regional Park Authority are now taking enquiries for group bookings at the Lee Valley VeloPark.

From 4 March 2014, visitors will be able to:

• experience the adrenalin rush of BMX on a remodelled and floodlit version of the London 2012 track. Take on the toughest challenges, and ride from early in the morning to late in the evening. Whether a beginner or an expert, coaching will be available to perfect skills.

• ride the iconic London 2012 velodrome where the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Laura Trott and Dame Sarah Storey won gold medals during the Games. The 6,000 seat velodrome with its 250 metre track will be open for all to have a go. There will be taster sessions which will mean everyone can experience this thrilling discipline, plus a full accreditation programme taking first timers to competition level.

• take on 5 miles (8km) of brand new mountain bike trails, graded by difficulty into black, red and blue routes.

• race around the brand new and floodlit one mile road circuit, which is being built on the site of the former Eastway Cycle Circuit. This is where five-times Tour de France winner and cycling legend Eddy Merckx took on all comers, and Sir Bradley Wiggins raced in his younger days before going onto Olympic and Tour de France glory.

Hire bikes and equipment will be available, or visitors can bring their own bikes. Lee Valley VeloPark will also have a bike workshop and café and be open 7:00-23:00, seven days a week.

Races and major events will be held here including the finale of the Revolution Series next March. The venue is the UK’s bid for the 2016 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, the most important track cycling event ahead of the Rio Games.

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