By Nick Butler

The Toronto 2015 cycling velodrome, shown in this artistic impression, will host competitive action for the first time this week ©Toronto 2015Toronto's Cisco Milton Pan American and Parapan American Games Velodrome will finally showcase competitive cycling for the first time tomorrow, with the Canadian Track Championships to be followed by the Milton International Challenge.


The CAD$47.4 venue (£26.3 million/$40.4 million/€33.6 million), in which action will take place at Toronto 2015 later this year, is the only such indoor facility in Canada and, it is hoped, will hope improve the standard of the sport in the country. 

Its opening was delayed from last October due to delays in the final stages of construction, with Cycling Canada claiming that constructing the Velodrome is "incredibly detailed work and the conditions required to install the track need to be absolutely perfect".

With both events also doubling as Toronto 2015 test events, it will be a major opportunity to assess the running of the venues, barely six months before the Pan American Games are due to open on July 10.

The National Championships will offer an early test for top riders like Olympic bronze medallist Jasmin Glaesser ©AFP/Getty ImagesThe National Championships will offer an early test for top riders like Olympic bronze medallist Jasmin Glaesser ©AFP/Getty Images



This event, due to begin tomorrow and last until Tuesday (January 6), will be a major test for Canadian cyclists as they seek to build upon their 2014 results.

Canada won two medals at last year's World Track Championships in Cali, Colombia, with Jasmin Glaesser taking a points race bronze, and also teaming up with Laura Brown, Allison Beveridge and Stephanie Roorda to take team pursuit silver. 

Rémi Pelletier-Roy won Canada's only medal on the track, a scratch race bronze, at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. 

All of these riders should be present, attempting to restore their place in the team, as Canada prepares to take on regional powers in Toronto, like Colombia, Venezuela and the United States, with Paralympic hopeful Kristen Sears another contender.



They will then have an opportunity to take on top international riders the following week at the Milton International Challenge, from January 9 to 11. 

More information on the two events can be found via the Cycling Canada website here, although full schedules are yet to be circulated.

A series of test events for Toronto 2015 are due to be held over the next three months, including fencing, boccia, basketball and various aquatic disciplines. 

More than 30 such events have already taken place, with several held in Games-times competition venues, with more than 45 projected to be held by May.

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September 2014: Toronto 2015 test events postponed due to delays with final stages of Velodrome construction
February 2012: Toronto 2015 velodrome set for Milton after plans confirmed to build permanent venue
December 2011: Toronto 2015 consider Milton as site for velodrome