Townsville Velodrome

Townsville Velodrome is a dedicated outdoor track cycling facility located on Stuart Drive at Idalia, Townsville, providing North Queensland riders with a purpose-built venue for track training and racing. It is the home of the Townsville Cycle Club, which supports both road and track cycling and welcomes riders from juniors through to experienced competitors. The banked track gives riders the opportunity to experience traditional velodrome cycling, where purpose-built track bikes use a fixed gear and have no brakes. It provides a controlled environment away from road traffic, making it a valuable facility for learning track skills, developing speed and experiencing the very different tactics and techniques involved in track racing. Over the years the velodrome has hosted regular club training and racing, with events including scratch races, elimination races, points races, match sprints, keirins, handicaps, team sprints and pursuits. Townsville Cycle Club has also supported newcomers to the discipline through introductory track opportunities, with track bikes available for hire helping riders get started without immediately needing specialist equipment. The facility has had its challenges too. The velodrome required significant repairs following damage caused by the 2019 Townsville monsoon, with Townsville Cycle Club temporarily moving training to Reid Park while work was underway. Its continued use is particularly valuable as outdoor banked velodromes become increasingly uncommon around Queensland. RTS TIP: Never ridden a velodrome? Track cycling feels very different from riding on the road, particularly once you add a fixed-gear bike and banking into the mix. Rather than jumping straight onto the track yourself, connect with Townsville Cycle Club and look for an introductory or training session — it's a much better way to learn the track etiquette, build confidence and experience just how much fun riding in circles can actually be!