whiney

Velodrome La Cipale-Jacques-Anquetil (Built in 1896), on the east side of Paris, France. In the 60s-70s, it was the finish line for the Tour de France, until they moved it to the fugly Champs Elysees Av.
As far as I know, mostly used by amateurs, retired people, and for a few competitions.
Pictures taken by my friend Thomas.
Seems to be scary if you have to ride this alone when there is no sun.

dutret

those straights are really really flat. match sprints must be crazy.

DoshKel

Oh wow. I would love to see some events on that. Looks fast as hell.

Shiznaz

I rode on that a couple of summers ago when my parents were living in Paris. They open it up to amateurs on thursday evenings. My parents lived on the total opposite side of the city and you're not allowed to take bikes on the metro so it was always a bit aggravating getting there through rush hour paris traffic. Its not all that smooth but its nice to ride outside as I was there on two beautiful august evenings. I pretty much just did solo laps, occasionally sticking on someones wheel, or vice versa. All those look, time and colnago track bikes everyone was riding made me drool.

Compared to the Forest City Velodrome that they recently built in london ontario, this thing is freaking boring though (I would imagine most tracks will seem that way to me now...). I never managed to go watch a race so I can't really say what the speed potential is.

666pack

wow. open to the public?

i can't wait until they open up the velodrome near my house in valley forge.

Shiznaz

oh yeah, the name is just short for 'municipale'

Quarters Mostly

Wow, and I thought the flushing Ghettodrome was poorly
maintained. I think I see grass growing in some of the cracks.

Shiznaz

Oh yeah and even ignoring the logistical problems of ending the tour de france in a velodrome, if you seriously think the Champs Elysees is uglier than the cipale, you're on crack. Place de la Concorde on one end and l'Étoile/Arc de Triomphe on the other side, with a tree lined avenue with room for thousands and thousands of spectators in between. Its one of france's most recognizable landmarks and by far its most famous street.

DoshKel

Yea whats up with that?

What is their reason?

Shiznaz

reason for what?

le car

It's open to anyone with a cycling license. A bit of a bummer to obtain as you need some kind of health certificate (I wonder how some of the veterans racing there got this certificate... last time I went there the average age was 65)

We might use it at the end of the Paris alleycat on the 14th of april. link here

DoshKel

Changing the finishing line of the Tour De France from the Velodrome to Champs Elysees.

doofo

wtf is up with the seating in that place
?

Shiznaz

It wasn't always at the velodrome. The course of the tour de france changes substantially every year. No reason not to change the finish. I'm not quite sure how they managed to end the tour at a velodrome as theres not much room for spectators and it would be awfully cramped with all the racers there (especially now that its almost always a sprint at the end).

As to why they moved it the champs elysee, I think its pretty damn obvious really.

whiney

I am from Paris and french.
Yes, you are right, Champs Elysees are probably good for pictures, TV, tourists, and there is enough space for a crowd. The 364 other days of the year, Champs Elysees is the worst place in Paris IMO.
I stop the snobbish attitude

LóFarkas

Tourist-y != fugly
Your favourite streetcorner to play football on != the best place to hold the world cup final.