Intercity challenge raises support for Hamilton track

Hamilton and London cyclists will square off against one another in the City Challenge at Forest City Velodrome in London on March 26. The event is to show support for the construction of an international-standard velodrome in Hamilton. Racing starts at 7 p.m. Hamilton supporters should wear black and gold and London supporters should dress in green and white.

Hamilton will host the track cycling events for the 2015 Pan Am Games on a planned temporary indoor velodrome, but the Hamilton national cycling centre is working to secure a funding commitment for the estimated $30-million cost of a permanent facility. It’s hoped the federal, provincial and municipal governments will commit to building a world-class 250-m indoor track, which would be the first such facility in Canada since the 286-m Montreal Olympic velodrome was demolished in 1989. The nearest world-class track is in Los Angeles.