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Valley Preferred Cycling Center

VPCC
Lehigh Valley Velodrome
The Velodrome
Valley Preferred Cycling Center Logo.jpg
The valley preferred cycling center front entrance.jpg
The Velodrome, March 2014
Full name The Valley Preferred Cycling Center
Location 1151 Mosser Rd, Breinigsville, PA 18031
Coordinates 40°32′52″N 75°36′38″W / 40.547689°N 75.610482°W / 40.547689; -75.610482Coordinates: 40°32′52″N 75°36′38″W / 40.547689°N 75.610482°W / 40.547689; -75.610482
Operator Velodrome Fund., Inc (501(c)(3))
Capacity 2,500
Field size 333 m or 1,093 ft track
Surface Concrete with an asphalt apron
Construction
Broke ground 1974 (1974)
Opened August 1975 (1975-August)
Expanded 1995 (1995)
Tenants
Website
www.thevelodrome.com

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center (VPCC), also known as the Lehigh Valley Velodrome or simply T-Town, is a professional cycling center and a velodrome located in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania. It serves as the Lehigh Valley's main track cycling stadium. The velodrome is operated by a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization Velodrome Fund., Inc that promotes competitive cycling, youth fitness, and adult wellness activities for the Lehigh Valley. Over the years, the velodrome hosted various cycling championships. VPCC is the home of the World Series of Bicycling. The Velodrome annually hosts the USA Cycling Elite Nationals qualifying event. The center also features a Cycling Hall of Fame. Over the past 40 years, the center introduced tens of thousands of people to cycling, producing over 140 national champions, seven world champions, and three Olympic medalist.Marty Nothstein, a three-time world champion in track events and an Olympic gold and silver medalist, is currently executive director of Valley Preferred Cycling Center.

The velodrome started as an initiative by Robert Rodale, a publisher and an Olympian, in the early 1970s. Rodale became interested in cycling while competing in the Pan-American Games in Winnipeg, Canada in 1967. In 1974 construction broke ground on the plot of land that was owned by Bob Rodale and his wife, Ardath. The first race was held on October 12, 1975. The Velodrome was originally called the Lehigh County Velodrome or simply T-town (due to its close proximity to Trexlertown). The center underwent a number of renovations which added rest rooms, seats for the fans, a podium, showers, and changing rooms.

In 1995, the center underwent a major $2.5M renovations in preparation for the 1996 Summer Olympics cycling trials. In 2008, extensive repairs and resurfacing were done to the Velodrome.

In 2007, Valley Preferred Health Network bought the naming rights to the center, and the velodrome's name became Valley Preferred Cycling Center.


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