National Velodrome Update
As we start to see the structure and form of the new National Velodrome and Badminton Centre taking shape on the Sport Ireland Campus, we would like to give our members an update on how we are progressing and answer the question that a number of people have asked – how can we ensure that in a country that has never had an indoor velodrome, ensure are going to have a world class venue?
We have main contractors, multiple architectural practices, various consulting engineers, and project managers but we would like to introduce you to the two people that will be looking after the Track itself, and ensuring it will be a World Class Homologated Velodrome approved by the Union Cycliste International UCI, in Switzerland.
Cycling Ireland’s Sports and Operations Director, Paul Watson and founder of Velotrack GmbH, Walter von Lutcken together at the European Elite Track Championships 2026 in the worlds “fastest” track – Konya, Turkey. This was another successful Velotrack design, Homologated by Paul Watson for the UCI.
Paul Watson
Paul works as our Sports and Operations Director while also being a UCI International Commissaire for Road, Track , Para and Technical Events. Have come form a consulting engineer background he has worked with the UCI to Homologate multiple Velodromes all over the world – ensuring they are fit for purpose, safe and fully meet the design requirements of the UCI. He does this as a Technical Delegate for the UCI visiting and approving the designs and final installations as well as speed testing and safety checking the final construction of the track, both above and below the track surface. Paul is also a member of the UCI Velodrome Working Group bringing his expertise together with the UCI and the largest Track Designers and Builders in the World to define the future safety and norms for Velodromes going forward.
“As you can imagine there are only a handful of Track Builders in the world, and I am really pleased that after all these years working with Velotrack all over the world, that we have the experience of Walter and his company Velotrack completing the track installation in Dublin for our new National Velodrome”, Paul added “ when you see an expert pick up a piece of timber from the pallets on site – and feel the wood before he decides whether it is good enough or not, you know you have an expert in your corner”.
“The way Walter is designing the Track Geometry now, with his feel for transitions and banking – Dublin is going to be a really exciting project”.
Walter von Lutcken
Walter is seen by many over the world as the number 1 go to Engineer for your indoor or outdoor track design and improvements. Velotrack is his family business that was founded in Germany and is now 3rd Generation and describe themselves as “ the most experienced and successful Velodrome builder in the world”, but don’t take their word for it – look at some of the recent Velodromes Walter and Paul have worked on, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Tashkent, Uzbekistan; Zolder, Belguim; Grenchen, Switzerland; Sola Arena,Norway :– and of course the fastest in the World – Konya, Turkey. (World Records – Mens Flying 200m – 8.857seconds; Womens Flying 200m – 9.759seconds). The list goes on but this just gives you a flavour of their work.
We also mentioned outdoor tracks from Velotrack, they are also experts in outdoor Wooden Tracks – covering old concrete or creating new with Accoya Wood, that they then guarantee outdoors minimum perfect use of 25years.
So we as Cycling Ireland are delighted that Velotrack won the tender to build the track itself, and you can see from the above we have full confidence in the team that will deliver this for us. We will keep everyone updated on progress during this very exciting time as we build the first Indoor 250m Velodrome in Ireland.
Velotrack are also the designers and builders of the 25m Minidrome – watch our website as we bring you further information on these in the coming months.