{"id":251056,"date":"2025-10-30T14:20:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/251056\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T14:20:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:20:07","slug":"singapore-cycling-federation-plans-to-build-outdoor-velodrome-after-completion-of-bmx-track","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/251056\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore Cycling Federation plans to build outdoor velodrome after completion of BMX track"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 Singapore\u2019s cycling fraternity is set for a double boost in the next two years, with two new facilities in the offering.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The long-awaited <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/sport\/new-bmx-track-in-brickland-to-pave-the-way-forward-for-singapore-cyclists?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">BMX and pump tracks<\/p>\n<p><\/a> at Choa Chu Kang, which had a soft launch in August 2025, are expected to open officially in March 2026 as part of The\u00a0Bricks:\u00a0Sport-In-Precinct\u00a0&amp;\u00a0Cycle\u00a0Park. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">With one project nearing completion, the Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF) has set its sights on the next one \u2013 the country\u2019s first velodrome. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Straits Times understands that it will be an outdoor facility that is also built in north-west Singapore. Targeted for completion in early 2027, it is estimated to cost nearly $3 million, with the SCF hoping to raise funds for it through events such as its Nov 14 gala dinner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">These two projects are aligned with the SCF\u2019s \u201cGo for Gold\u201d campaign for the 2029 SEA Games, which will be held in Singapore.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe outdoor velodrome will cater to the whole cycling community. There will be grassroots programmes catering not only for children and youths but also for adults,\u201d SCF president Hing Siong Chen told The Straits Times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cNow we have a few riders, but it\u2019s hard to increase the pool when you don\u2019t have a track in Singapore and they actually go to Johor and sometimes Nilai in Seremban to train,\u201d added Hing, who has been SCF chief since 2017 and was re-elected unopposed for a new four-year term during its annual general meeting in September.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cYou must have a successful outdoor velodrome, win some medals to prove that you can migrate to a higher-standard indoor velodrome.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cI think parents are more willing to let kids ride somewhere where it\u2019s off the road and they\u2019re safe. To achieve that, I think building an outdoor velodrome is important.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">It was reported in 2019 that an indoor velodrome was among the plans for the new Kallang Alive Precinct, which would be rolled out over the next decade. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The outdoor velodrome, built on a shorter term land lease, would serve as alternative in the interim, but there are significant differences between the two.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">An indoor velodrome has a wooden track, while the outdoor one is usually concrete or asphalt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The indoor facility also has controlled humidity with no wind resistance and a temperature-controlled environment, where cycling speeds can go up to 20 per cent faster.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SCF youth development pathway coach Calvin Sim believes that the outdoor velodrome would be a \u201cgame-changer\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cHaving a home velodrome allows consistent, structured training without the travel time and cost of going overseas,\u201d said the former national cyclist. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt means more quality time on track, better monitoring of athletes\u2019 progress, and a stronger performance base for the national squad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cIt creates a clear pathway from grassroots to elite level. Youth riders can gain early exposure to track cycling, while development squads can train more frequently and safely. It also helps coaches conduct regular testing and talent identification locally.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">National track cyclist Valencia Tan, who will be competing at the Dec 9-20 SEA Games in Thailand, shared his sentiments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The 19-year-old said: \u201cHaving an outdoor velodrome in Singapore would make a huge difference, it would make training far more convenient and less time-consuming.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cTraining on the road alone isn\u2019t sufficient. Consistent time on the track is crucial, it not only builds confidence at high speeds but also sharpens the skills needed to move smoothly and efficiently along the banking of the track.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cThe SCF could also use the track to host both local and international competitions, giving Singaporean cyclists more valuable racing experience and exposure which would be crucial for our development and growth in the sport.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The SCF\u2019s bicycle motocross (BMX) cyclists will soon reap the benefits of training locally at The\u00a0Bricks:\u00a0Sport-In-Precinct\u00a0&amp;\u00a0Cycle\u00a0Park at the intersection of Choa Chu Kang Avenue 7 and Keat Hong Link.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The cycle park, which is open to the public, comprises two tracks. The first is an international-standard BMX race track stretching over 344 metres, where riders compete over an asphalt course with jumps, banked turns and obstacles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The other is a pump track, which is the size of two basketball courts and comprises a looping circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed to be ridden without pedalling. Instead, riders generate momentum by pumping their body up and down through the track\u2019s contours. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Meanwhile, the Sport-In-Precinct facility features amenities such as a fitness corner and a sheltered basketball\u00a0court for public use.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Since the Tampines Bike Park closed in 2014 for housing redevelopment, cyclists in Singapore have had no access to a designated local training facility.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">National BMX coach Farhaan Bakar said: \u201cIt has been a really long time for us (since Tampines closed), and we have been travelling out of Singapore for training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWith this new facility, we can have our scheduled training on our local ground\u2026 And the public will have access to it, with school and community outreach programmes.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SINGAPORE \u2013 Singapore\u2019s cycling fraternity is set for a double boost in the next two years, with two&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":251057,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[569],"tags":[64,63,784,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-251056","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-cycling","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=251056"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251056\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/251057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=251056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}