Ordrup velodrome

Ordrupbanen

2000 poster to the final event in the velodrome
Ordrup Location within Denmark
Address	Copenhagen Denmark
Location	Ordrup
Coordinates	55°40′N 12°34′E
Capacity	16,000
Surface	Cement
Opened	29 July 1888
Closed	2000
Years active	1888–2000

The Ordrup Velodrome was a cycling track in Ordrup near Copenhagen, Denmark. The track was built on Ejgaarden's land in the Gentofte Municipality in 1888 and was closed in 2000. It hosted the world track cycling championships for a record of nine times: in 1896, 1903, 1909, 1914, 1921, 1931, 1949 and 1956.

History

Ordrupbanen had its heyday in the years leading up to World War II with Danish world stars such as Thorvald Ellegaard and Willy Falck Hansen repeatedly drawing full houses to Ordrupbanen. The good cycling races, often several times a week, the very large prize money, good cycslst conditions and many spectators meant that all the big international names absolutely wanted to race at Ordrupbanen. Back then, the spectators hung on the roofs around the track, where up to 16,000 spectators could be seen. After the war, it was riders such as Kay Werner and Palle Lykke who attracted big crowds.

The first track premiered on 29 July 1888. It was a 333 1/3 m long sand track without raised corners.

In 1893, the second track became a 333 1/3 m cement track with slightly raised corners.

After a major renovation in 1903, the third track became a 370 m cement track with 40 degree turns. The track was 9 metres wide.

In 1930–31, Henning Hansen built a 110-metre-long grandstand facing Brannersvej. In 1935, a new referee's tower and cabin building were added. The cabin house replaced the round equestrian centre from 1895, which had been in use for forty years.

Ordrup velodrome and Ordrup School in 1956

A fourth track with new cement was ready on 10 May 1987. The new track was 1.80 metres shorter (368.20 m). Due to the renovation, the Ordrup track was not used in 1986.

The final race on 3 September 2000 marked the end of the Danish Bicycle Club's 120-year history at Ordrupbanen. The track was then the world's oldest existing cycle track. The sale of the old track brought the Danish Bicycle Club DKK 18 million. This money was used to build the cycling arena in Ballerup. Today, the area where the Ordrup track was located has been developed with housing and a new era has begun with the construction of Ballerup Super Arena.

See also

• List of cycling tracks and velodromes