Welcome to the Grassroots Trust Velodrome
The Grassroots Trust Velodrome is appropriately located in Cambridge the heart of Waipa, ‘Home of Champions’ territory. This world-class facility is centered around the purpose built 250m wooden cycling velodrome, and is host to a range of other high performance sport and community facilities.
There’s lots to do and see at the Velodrome, and there’s something for everyone; from beginners to New Zealand’s medal winning track cyclists, even non cyclists. Come and try our Have-a-Go sessions and get yourself riding on the track, bring the kids to the Gallagher bike skills park and have a coffee at The Bikery Café, visit Riverside Adventures watch the New Zealand team training on the track, work out in the Velodrome Gym or simply come out and have a look at our impressive facility.
We are located just out of Cambridge on Hanlin Road, next to St Peters School. The Te Awa River Ride is a purpose built track that runs from the center of Cambridge right out to us here at the Grassroots Trust Velodrome and is a beautiful walk or bike ride along the Waikato river, ideal for a family outing or fitness walk. The track takes around 40 minutes either way walking, or 15 minutes biking.
History of the Velodrome
On the 11th of June 2010, Prime Minister John Key, and Minister for Sport and Recreation Murray McCully announced a major reshaping and expansion of high-performance sports in New Zealand. One of the key programmes included in the announcement was the development of a cycling centre of excellence, to build on the success of Bike NZ’s high-performance programme.
In July 2010, Sport & Recreation NZ (SPARC) announced that it would run a tender process for the development of the National Cycling Centre of Excellence that would expand high-performance cycling outcomes; increase awareness of and participation in cycling disciplines within the community, and nurture increased levels of high-performance cycling talent. SPARC specified that as well as a world-class velodrome, the centre would also need to have ready access to world-class training and competition facilities for road, mountain bike, and BMX, alongside accessible community facilities.
The Home of Cycling (HoC) Charitable Trust was established with the principle objective to promote cycling at all levels within NZ, as well as to build and operate the National Centre of Excellence in the Waikato/BOP for all forms and all levels of cycling, recreational to high performance. From 11 tenders, SPARC selected the Waikato/BOP bid from the HoC as the preferred tenderer, and on the 14th of September 2011, following a $6m investment from Waikato Regional Council; SPARC confirmed the Waikato/Bay of Plenty HoC as the successful tenderer.
Construction of the Grassroots Trust Velodrome (originally named the Avantidrome) began in June 2012 and was completed in February 2014, taking a total of 21 months to complete.
