News: The Launch of StreetVelodrome

Making the street your velodrome – Tewkesbury (Gloucestershire) 21 April 2013

Inno Events Ltd are proud to announce the launch a new cycling event for the UK and the first of its kind to reflect the growing public appetite for the drama and excitement of close action track cycling competition.

The Olympic Velodrome was one of the first sell out venues of London 2012. Cycle sport continues to enjoy record growth and popularity in the UK. Yet track racing remains one of the sport’s less accessible forms, with many potential riders and spectators having never set foot in their nearest venue to witness the action first hand. So why not bring the velodrome to them?

Working with Tewkesbury Borough Council and other local agencies, the first StreetVelodromeTM event will be in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire on 21st April 2013. It will be free to spectate and will pitch amateur riders against known guest pro riders in a series of thrilling pursuit races and elimination rounds.

Bringing head to head track action right into the heart of the UK’s town’s and cities StreetVelodromeTM will be re-creating the close wheel to wheel action of track racing using a temporary 250 metre course set within closed public roads and complete with two especially designed feature banked curves. Visually it will appear as though the road itself has been raised up to form the iconic banked corners of an Olympic velodrome.

Along with the energy and encouragement of the track side presentation host and a team of cheer leaders the fans lining the course will enjoy the unique opportunity of being able to view the entire course at an outdoor cycle event. Guaranteeing they will not to miss any of the action. But with the use of a specially developed StreetVelodromeTM Fan’s App available for both Apple and Android devices, the crowd lining the course can engage in the racing like never before.

Choosing to support one of two opposing teams of riders, fans trackside are set to receive handfuls of goodies thanks to the enthusiastic cheer leaders if a rider from their team wins his race. Using the StreetVelodromeTM Fan’s App spectators can vote for their favourite of the 24 competing riders; try to predict the overall winner for a chance to win a prize draw; follow links to live event social media and even send messages to be read out by the race host. But critically at the end of each round of this action packed knock out tournament on wheels the fan’s vote will bring one eliminated rider right back into the competition as the Fan’s Wildcard.

The event offers a great range of sporting and commercial benefits, including:
• Free event offering a range of attractions for families, cycling fans and local communities.
• A local schools programme leading up to the event
• Go-Ride sessions for kids during the build up to the racing.
• Trackside event expo / market arena offering cycle and non-cycle related attractions.
• Providing a boost town centre Sunday trading retail / leisure and tourism.
• Local interest as local amateur riders compete against national pro-riders
• Local, regional and national media interest
• Increasing access to the close exciting nature of track cycling
• Promoting cycling as a sport and leisure activity

The initial event on 21st April 2013 is being developed in close partnership with Tewkesbury Borough Council and other local agencies. The custom designed banked corners have been developed with a leading cycle ramp specialist to ensure they are fast yet safe. Held on a Sunday, the day will start with the highly skilled Inno Events live events team building the track complete with banked corners, barriers, timing equipment, PA system and expo arena. From 0800hrs amateur riders will be able to register and practice on the circuit.

The action kicks off at 10.00hrs with a 500 metre individual time trial to select the best amateur riders to face the guest pro riders in the elimination rounds later in the afternoon and ultimately the final. Sandwiched between these will be the school sports development events run in partnership with the local authority. The finals will be run at 16.00hrs with the event closing by approximately 17.00hrs.

Inno Events Ltd intend to take StreetVelodromeTM across the country with the support of commercial partnerships and sponsors.

www.innoevents.co.uk