Plans for indoor velodrome in Edmonton picking up speed

A delegation from the City of Edmonton and the local track-cycling community isheading to Milton, Ont., this week to see what it can learn about that community'sindoor velodrome.

The $56-millionMattamy National Cycling Centre, with its 250-metre wooden track, opened in January 2015.

It's the kind of centre many in Edmonton are lobbying for.

• Proposed velodrome needs $91M commitment from city

The delegation will be assessing the venue whiletakingin the Canadian Track Championship.

Devaney Collier isone of ninemembers of Edmonton's JuvenusCyclingClubcompeting at the championship.

Collier, 18, already picked up a silver medal at the Junior World Track Cycling Championships earlier this year in Switzerland.

"I think that's largely because of the Argyll Velodrome and the program that we have here at the club," Collier said.

Collier started cycling at age two, before takingpart in the Lori-Ann Muenzer Program,named forthe Edmonton track cyclistwho won gold at the2004 Olympics.

The velodromeoffers more opportunityfor people who want to cycleat the national or international level,Collier said.

"Success just keeps breeding success and I think that's something that will continue into the future and I hope to inspire some younger people who will be the next generation of that,"Collier said.

But Jeff Bakal with the Argyll Velodrome Association believes for that success to continue, Edmonton must have a new indoor track.

The existing outdoorvelodrome was constructed for the Commonwealth Games back in 1978.

Bakalbelieves the track has reached the end of its life and now the association isworking with the city and the Edmonton Triathlon Academy to put up a new facility in Coronation Park.

It would include the indoor velodrome, weight rooms, an open gym space and a connection to the Peter Hemingway Pool.

The centre would open in 2020.

Fundraisers are well on their way to meeting thegoal of $20 million to move the project forward,Bakal said.

"The last five years the sport has moved indoors and they have to change with the time," he said.

Watch more from the Argyll Velodrome on Our Edmonton Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday and Monday at 11 a.m. on CBC TV.