Bellville Velodrome to host international cycling tournament in 2024
Cape Town’s cycling community is hoping to see crowds return to the long-dormant Bellville Velodrome for an international cycling tournament scheduled to take place there in March next year.
In 2009, the City signed a 30-year lease for the velodrome with property developers Devmet, which planned to build the Galleria shopping mall on the property.
A R3 billion tender was awarded to Devmet in 2009 to overhaul undeveloped land at the velodrome as part of a mixed-use development, with retail, office and residential space along with a hotel and conference facilities (“Velodrome plans at a standstill,” Northern News, 2017).
But issues over parking, sewerage and access from the N1 stopped construction plans.
Devmet had agreed to pay R175 million for a 30-year-lease on an 11-hectare freehold portion of the velodrome site with options to renew it twice for 15-year stretches. But the company then fell out with the City over whether it would pay an extra R25 million to build a feeder route from the N1 to the Galleria (“Velodrome developer remains optimistic,” Northern News, 2019)
During the City and Devmet’s court battles, the complex was neglected, and the then ward councillor, Andrea Crous, complained about a lack of management at the velodrome. She said the facility was being vandalised and was not being used properly (“Velodrome plans at a standstill,” Northern News, 2017).
At the facility this week, Northern News found sections of the running track and spectator seats had deteriorated.
When Northern News asked the City what remained of the plans to build the Galleria shopping centre, mayoral committee member for economic growth James Vos said: “The unfortunate turn of events with the previous developer has delayed the City’s intention to leverage the development potential of the subject properties. This is a temporary setback and we will most likely in the near future explore the release of the surrounding vacant property to the market.”
Devmet did not respond by deadline to several requests for comment.
Mayoral committee member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross said the City would likely start repairs on the velodrome in the 2023/2024 financial year.
“It is anticipated that the facility will be restored to what its original purpose was: a multi-use facility that will include sport. I can confirm that the City will repair both the athletic track as well as the velodrome. The necessary assessments of the existing facilities need to be concluded before details can be determined.”
A major sport attraction welcoming back spectators to the velodrome is the Cape Town International Track Cycling Event, which is set to take place inside the stadium in March next year, according to Track Cycling SA and Western Province Track Cycling chairman Jaco Schols.
“We can confirm that the tournament will take place. There are already several teams that have confirmed. The overwhelming response from the cycling community was positive, and we’ve secured sponsors to bring several teams already to run the event. This is the first time since 2008 we had an international tournament there,” Mr Schols said.
The cycling community was looking forward to welcoming the public back to the velodrome, he said.
“Before the City announced their plans to upgrade, we were trying to keep the sport of cycling alive by hosting league events at the velodrome, but obviously we couldn’t market it and bring spectators in.
“The stadium provides a safe environment to train in. Inside there are lights, there’s a roof when it rains and there’s no traffic. But now that we got the velodrome again we have to safeguard it for future generations as well as host international and local events.”
At a public meeting held at the stadium on Thursday evening July 6, Mr Schols provided updates on the tournament’s developments and said they were working with the City to re-establish track cycling in Cape Town.
It is expected that the velodrome will be fully refurbished in time to host international cycling events, said Mr Schols.
The City's recreation and parks department confirmed the stadium was provisionally booked for the cycling tournament but said there was no commitment from the City to support the event at this stage.
For more information, contact Jaco Schols at 082 600 7237.
