Three sporting bodies have joined forces in a bid to put the future of cycling on the ACT government's radar amid fears they are being shut out and forgotten about in Canberra's long-term facility plans.
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Cycling ACT has teamed up with Pedal Power and Triathlon ACT to seek a meeting with ACT sports minister Yvette Berry to discuss the Mt Stromlo master plan and the potential of building a velodrome.
The trio have a membership base of 10,000 and hope Berry will agree to meet after plans for a velodrome were scrapped at Stromlo and there are proposals to build on part of the the 1.2 kilometre criterium circuit.
There are concerns any move to take away 300 metres off the criterium circuit to build eight playing fields and the lack of a quality velodrome will have a major impact on the Canberra cycling community.
Cycling ACT hosted first stages of the the National Capital Tour at Majura on Saturday and will host the final rounds at the AIS on Sunday.
"We've put in a joint submission to talk about cycling infrastructure across the ACT, because we're running out of infrastructure," said Cycling ACT Lisa Keeling.
"Hopefully we can get cycling infrastructure back on the radar. The revised Stromlo master plan indicates part of the criterium circuit will be dug up to make way for more playing fields.
"That's a bit inflammatory towards cyclists given we only have one criterium circuit. The circuit is already popular, which shows we need more of them, not restricting.
"It's such a great facility, it gets people off the roads and away from traffic."
More than 200 competitive cyclists were in the city for the National Capital Tour, where Ayden Toovey won the men's A-grade time trial and leads the overall results after two stages.
Canberra's Lucy Bechtel is leading the women's A-grade classification after the first two stages, with Rebecca Wiasak sitting just 38 seconds behind her.
But there have been ongoing frustration about the capital's cycling facility falling behind other areas after once being regarded as some of the world's best.
Canberra mountain-bike riders have called on the government to fund new and more challenging trails at Mt Stromlo after being neglected for the past five years, launching a petition to prompt the government.
Road cyclists are also keen for the government to seriously look into the facilities and the future after the velodrome plans were taken off the master plan without any consultation. There was also no consultation about changing the criterium circuit.
The only velodrome in Canberra is at Narrabundah. It was upgraded four years ago, but is not a leading venue.
Cycling ACT says an indoor velodrome would become a venue of national interest for Cycling Australia because it would be the highest-altitude training facility in the country.
"There is a future for it at the national level because of the altitude, it would be very attractive for all of the other states and territories to have access to," Keeling said.
"The ACT itself as an isolated case probably doesn't have enough volume for an indoor velodrome, but if we're looking to market ourselves nationally, then it's definitely an option.
"We've been trying to get signage for Narrabundah to say where it is, and we can't even get that. It's almost an embarrassing facility ... we try to attract others to use it, but others can't even find it."
NATIONAL CAPITAL TOUR
Men's A-grade general classification: Ayden Toovey (2:46:42), Jesse Featonby (2:47:20), Cameron Roberts (2:47:25).
Women's A-grade general classification: Lucy Bechtel (2:26:48), Rebeccca Wiasak (2:27:26), Holly Khan (2:27:44).
Stage three: Kermesse at the AIS on Sunday,
