By Nick Butler

The Mattamy National Cycling Centre has now opened its doors to top Canadian athletes ©CSIOA new satellite facility for high performance athletes has opened at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in the Milton Velodrome, a venue developed for this summer's Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games.


The Centre in Milton, which houses the only high standard indoor velodrome in Canada and only the second in North America, is being controlled by the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) and is considered a major legacy of the Games.

More than 1,000 square feet of strength and conditioning space will be included in the satellite training facility, along with a 200 square foot Sport Therapy Suite, and a Sport Lab - shared with Cycling Canada - featuring state-of-the-art equipment for testing and training top athletes.

Sport science, sport medicine, leadership, coaching support, equipment and technology onsite will also be provided in what, it is hoped, will "enhance the high performance daily training environment for these elite level athletes and coaches".

"The opening of our satellite facility at the Milton Velodrome is another milestone for Canadian Sport Institute Ontario and in building the sport system in Ontario and Canada," said CSIO chief executive Debbie Low.

"Being able to provide enhanced sport science and sport medicine services in a dedicated high performance space at the Velodrome is a fantastic opportunity for these athletes and coaches to optimise their daily training and ultimately their performance on the international stage.

"We are so appreciative of the Provincial Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Sport Canada, and Own the Podium for their tremendous support in making this possible."

A strength and conditioning facility at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre ©CSIOA strength and conditioning facility at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre ©CSIO




After several delays during the final stages of construction, the Velodrome, which will be known as Cisco Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome during the Games, opened its doors last month with a widely praised test event which doubled as the Canadian Track Championships.

It will now form the centre for the host nation's preparations for the Games, with the Pan American event due to take place from July 10 to 26 before the Parapan version is scheduled from August 7 to 15.

As a Toronto 2015 legacy facility, the Centre also features recreational programmes aimed at the local community. 

As well as the velodrome, three "all-purpose" courts will also be utilised, as well as a running track, fitness centre and studio, a multi-purpose meeting space, community bicycle storage, bike and repair shop and a cafe.

"Having the CSIO at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre Velodrome allows us to provide the coaches and athletes with sport science and medicine services such as lab testing and strength and conditioning that will now be full-time rather than only available during training camps," added Cycling Canada Sport Science and Medicine Manager Andrea Wooles.

"Our athletes can now access medical services without worrying about out-of-country medical costs and they can set up a living situation that allows them to recover well between training sessions.

"Those are the basic things that have been missing while the team trained abroad.

"Our team can finally unpack their suitcases and train on a level playing field with our international competitors."