LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

THE JAMAICA Cycling Federation (JCF) has embarked on an ambitious project to rejuvenate cycling in Jamaica by repairing the velodrome at the National Stadium.

The 500m cycling track has been damaged by man and the elements over the years, leaving behind a treacherous surface.

Cycling was once a popular sporting option in Jamaica in the 1960s and '70s and that era produced Olympic bronze medallist David Weller, Peter Aldridge and Arthur Tenn. In those years, cycling was very popular at the National Stadium and had a strong following.

President of the JCF, Vaughn Phang, said racing will resume at the National Stadium next month, but added restoration of the sport is being slowed by the absence of a quality cycling track.

Great group

"The velodrome is important to the junior programme," said Phang. "We have a great group of young cyclists who can achieve a lot, but we need a designated cycling track."

Cycling last took place at the National Stadium in 2001. The majority of the damage, according to Phang, also took place that year as Jamaica prepared the stadium to host the 2002 World Junior Athletics Championships.

Phang also said pipe drains were cut through the velodrome leaving gaps that would be dangerous to a cyclist at high speed.

Responsibility

Three months ago, the JCF began work on the track, filling in ditches and cleaning the surface. The repair of the velodrome is the responsibility of Independence Park Limited (IPL), the state-run entity responsible for all the recreational areas including the netball and basketball courts and the swimming pools.

"We approached Independence Park but they said they were in no position to help the association," Phang said. "So what we've been doing is trying to get a smooth, even surface as much as possible. We've also reclaimed areas of the track that have harboured debris, such as sand and gravel."

Phang said the estimated cost of fixing the track was between $1.1-1.6 million. However, due to a lack of funds, members of the federation have been doing most of the work themselves and material has been contributed by sponsors.

Major Desmond Brown, general manager of IPL, said the company was unable to help the JCF because no provisions were made in the budget.

Brown added that IPL agreed to let the JCF do the repairs to the track and in return its members would use the facility for free.

"However, they can only train in the day so that they won't have to use the lights," he said.

Checks on the track by The Gleaner revealed a number of cracks in the surface. Some of the patching already done by the JCF also showed signs of breaking apart.

Despite the problems, Phang said racing would return to the National Stadium early next month, and said he hopes this will be the beginning of the sport's rejuvenation.

"Jamaica was ranked third at the CAC Games and for us to be ranked ahead of countries such as Venezuela and Mexico which pump millions into the sport - that says a lot," Phang pointed out. "So it is important to develop the sport here so that other cyclists can get the opportunity as David Weller did."

# We need to go out and identify talent - Weller

OLYMPIAN DAVID Weller longs for the day when cycling can regain some of the national attention it received in the 1960s and '70s.

In an interview with The Gleaner three weeks ago, Weller said one of the reasons for him returning to Jamaica in May after 21 years in the United States was to help revive cycling. He benefited from the sport and wants to help provide similar opportunities for other youths.

This was Weller's response when asked how he would go about reviving the sport - if he had the resources.

"We need the infrastructure (cycling tracks) at the community level, we also need to go out and identify talent as is done in other sports, and we also need coaches and mentors," Weller said.

However, the 1980 Olympic bronze medallist realises the financial limitations of the Jamaica Cycling Federation (JCF), but said everything must start with a plan.

Another former national cyclist, Arthur Tenn, said track cycling, as opposed to road cycling, gives cyclists an advantage.

"When you ride on the track it helps you develop your speed and power and Australia have proven that," he stated.

"A lot of their professional riders learned to ride on the velodrome and they generally do well in the big road races in Europe.

"We are lucky to have a velodrome because we are one of the few Caribbean countries with one, but we just need to get it back in use," Tenn said.

Major Desmond Brown, general manager of Independence Park Limited, which runs the National Stadium, said there have been preliminary talks with the JCF to build a new velodrome. However, Brown said he could not give any more information as it had not yet gone to the board. He did, however, say they were looking at a 250m velodrome of international standard.