YANCHEP is set to host road bike racing at Splendid Park’s new cycling track on Sunday, December 4.
The 1.4km circuit has been a decade-long project for the Northern Beaches Cycling Club (NBCC) who are passionate about providing safe training facilities for local youth.
The circuit will host short-course racing over the summer months and regular training sessions for young and old each Monday and Thursday evenings from November 28.
The track is a 6m wide asphalt surface with a finish straight of 8m width, making it the only dedicated, off-road circuit to meet UCI standards in Western Australia.
NBCC president Chris Howard said a lot of thought had gone into the design of the circuit and the club thought the layout would earn it the plaudit of being the best circuit in Australia.
“We are proud to be hosting the state titles in March 2023 and I think we have a strong bid to host the national titles in the future,’’ he said.
He said on December 4 the special guests would be Jessica Allen and Jai Hindley.
Jessica Allen rides for team Bike Exchange-Jayco and is a previous criterium national champion.
Jai Hindley rides for Bora-Hansgrohe and is the winner of the 2022 Giro d’Italia, one of only two Australians to win a grand tour.
They will host the free event ‘Come’n Try with Jess & Jai’ for anyone to try some laps of the circuit before the racing begins.
Apart from training and racing events, once the cycling track is completed the track will be open to the public 24hr a day.
To make the circuit as safe as possible the track runs in an anti-clockwise direction only, with riders required to keep left to allow faster riders to overtake.
Dog-walkers are catered for with a separate red-asphalt circuit and will continue to have access to the sports ovals.
Only emergency vehicles and official event vehicles are allowed access to the circuit.
Criterium racing is short-course road bike racing traditionally held over summer months. Typically conducted over a 1km to 2km circuit, riders race for about 15 minutes to 1hr depending on age groupings or, for adults, A through to E gradings.
At Splendid Park, there will be capacity for two grades to be racing at once, with up to 40 participants per grade, ensuring an exciting spectacle for spectators.
Criterium racing can be a highly tactical sport, with racers having to determine the best racing line and sizing up the opposition to determine the right moment to break away from the pack, or the precise moment to sprint to the finish line.
If the peloton is still together when the bell is rung, watch for an exciting bunch sprint finish.
- The cycling track is yet to open to the public.
