Sean Kelly has not had any official talks with anyone about building a velodrome in Ireland.
By Brian Canty
Sean Kelly has said for cycling to improve in Ireland and more top riders to be produced a velodrome is “essential”.
The Carrick-on-Suir legend was in Calpe this week at the An Post Chain Reaction team training camp and with bad weather affecting their preparation, the importance of a closed-roof facility was never more apparent.
Kelly, incredibly, said he has not been contacted by anyone to try and help lobby Government about the importance of one.
“I think it’s something that definitely is a necessity and something that we need,” he said.
“To get more of the youth into cycling, that’s the way you start; get them on the velodrome. Young kids of 13, 14, 15 need to be on the velodrome.
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“If you get them on a bike they’re safer and the parents would be more comfortable leaving them to a velodrome as opposed to the road.
“But not many clubs around cater for young riders starting out. There’s certainly a case for one but on the flipside, is it feasible to build it and run it and make it pay for itself? I don’t know.
“I haven’t had any contact from anyone, I haven’t been approached by Cycling Ireland, I haven’t been approached by whoever will be putting up the money.
“It is essential,” he continued. “It would be a great plus for cycling in Ireland.
"But you have to look at your costs, to construct the thing, to maintain and run it, all of that has to be looked at. I don’t know how serious it’s been done, I presume it has been.”
The success of velodromes is apparent in the UK but Kelly was slow to make comparisons.
“Ireland is 4.5 million people but the UK is a totally different situation. You have 10 times more," he said.
"To build it is fine, but if you can’t keep the doors open you can’t pay the light bill, you can’t pay the heating bill.
“I think that’s a job for Cycling Ireland. They have to do their research first of all and if it is feasible they have to lobby the Government and prove to them it is a viable project and go down that road.”
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