Initially planned in the Alps, where the construction of a new velodrome had been proposed, the tracks on track will ultimately be relocated to the Paris region.
The 2027 cycling world track events will be competed in the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines National Velodrome, not in the Alps, its organizers announced on Tuesday. The other events will all take place in Haute-Savoie, notably with the online race in Sallanches. But the project to build in the Alps a new enclosure dedicated to the track that long caught fire, the organizers had to opt for this relocation in the Paris region.
Each pre-Olympic year, and 2027 is one of them, “Super world championships” Now bring together all the disciplines of cycling, from the road to the BMX via the track and the mountain biking, including in handisport. Four years after Glasgow 2023, where 13 disciplines were represented, the Worlds of Haute-Savoie-Mont-Blanc will be held for 13 days, from August 24 to September 5, 2027, in a still extended format. In total, 20 cycling disciplines will be proposed, including more confidential sports such as pole-bishop or cycling speedway indoors.
In its candidacy, France had initially offered the construction of a new velodrome in the Alps. But this project came up against local oppositions, and was abandoned after a municipality voted last year against the sale to the field department which was to welcome the new structure. “The tracks on track will take place at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome”announced Tuesday in Sallanches the president of the Departmental Council of Haute-Savoie, Martial Saddier, during the presentation of the Worlds.
“It’s a regret in relation to the initial project”
“It’s a regret in relation to the initial project”conceded the French president of the International Cycling Union (UCI), David Lappartient. “But it is not a regret to use major French sport equipment that welcomed the Olympic Games.” Sometimes mentioned as a folding solution, the hypothesis of the nearby Geneva Vélodrome was not retained. “These are world championships that take place in France, with government support”observed David Lappartient. “It seemed logical that the solution was sought in France.”
Eleven sites distributed throughout Haute-Savoie will host the other disciplines of these Worlds, which present themselves as the largest sporting event in France between the Paris-2024 and those of Alpes-2030. More than 10,000 athletes will compete for 281 world titles. Two million spectators are expected, and a billion expected viewers, according to the boss of the UCI. The queen test, the online race, will take place on a route that will be copy-paste of that of the 1980 Worlds won by Bernard Hinault, ambassador of these Worlds, on a circuit borrowing 20 times the ascent of the legendary Côte de Domancy (2.7 km at more than 8% average).
