NI Conservatives’ co-chair and keen cyclist, Trevor Ringland, has thrown his weight behind calls to equip Northern Ireland with a cycling ‘velodrome’.
“The Giro d’Italia has given cycling an enormous boost in Northern Ireland and the time is right to look afresh at building this type of facility”, Trevor commented. “The Commonwealth Games are coming up in the autumn, and cyclists from Northern Ireland start with something of a disadvantage, due to the lack of top class facilities. A velodrome was previously on the agenda, but it was scrapped back in 2011. That was a great pity when you think about someone like Wendy Houvenaghel, who has been a great ambassador, at the very top level of track cycling.”
“The Giro provides an opportunity for long-term investment and planning, both to develop cycling as a sport and to attract tourists. The wonderful route along the North Coast, for instance, which the riders followed on Saturday, could become a mecca for cycling holidays. We’ve already got some great routes around Belfast, such as the Comber Greenway and the Lagan towpath, and there’s no reason why our capital couldn’t become one of the most cycle friendly cities in the UK. Let’s set our sights high and take a ‘can do’ attitude, with councils and executive departments working together to maximise the potential of the Giro.”