Sydney Thousand aiming at track rebirth

The re-birth of the historic Sydney Thousand bicycle race - first held at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1903 - will have a significant impact on the future viability of track cycling as a public attraction in Australia's largest city. Last held at Camperdown Velodrome in 1985, the Sydney Thousand has found a new home at the $42 million Dunc Gray Velodrome and is the centre piece of an afternoon of racing which has rarely been matched in the past century and a quarter of two wheeled competition in the NSW capital city.

Set down for a November 27 afternoon, the Sydney Thousand carnival features the best line-up of local and overseas track racing talent seen anywhere in the world, barring Olympics and World Championship events. It will provide organisers with a test to determine whether track cycling at one of the world's great venues, and featuring action packed racing on a wood surfaced track with wall of death turns, can pull in crowds as the original Sydney Thousand did when 54,000 people turned up to watch.

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