City gets its track cycling moment

Chennai recently found itself among Asia’s fastest laps as the city hosted the Track Asia Cup 2026 at the SDAT Cycling Velodrome on the TNPESU campus in Melakottaiyur. The championship brought together elite cyclists from 11 countries, competing for crucial UCI ranking points and Olympic qualification spots on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Games.The machines behind the speed: The bicycles used at the event were carbon-made, ultralightweight, reaching speeds of 60–70 kmph. “Each component is precision-engineered — the wheels alone cost ₹4–5 lakh, and the frames, shifters and fittings are advanced. The Tamil Nadu government provided 16 cycles — each costing nearly ₹16 lakh — for athletes to train and compete on par with international standards,” shares Sudhakar.A velodrome built for the world stage: Chennai’s 330-metre outdoor cycling velodrome, India’s first with floodlights, is UCI Level 2–certified and among the few in Asia capable of hosting world championship level events.