The 6,000-capacity complex, costing £80 million, is scheduled to be the first of the major venues in the Olympic Park to be completed early next year after its sweeping double curved roof was recently lifted into place.

Once the cable-net roof is completed, work will begin on installing the timber track where Clancy and his team-mates will want to continue the country's dominance in track cycling.

"Becoming world champion was an amazing experience and a reminder of the excitement of racing at a major championship so it was great to see the Olympic Park Velodrome where I hope to compete on home soil in 2012," said Clancy, who won gold in the omnium in Copenhagen last week.

"The Velodrome is already shaping up to be a fantastic venue and I can't wait to come back here to help Team GB continue our gold rush in 2012."

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chief executive David Higgins added: "Lifting the huge roof of the Velodrome into place crowns this spectacular venue that will deliver first-class cycling facilities for the Games and a new generation of cyclists.

Construction work started on the Velodrome in March 2009 and the lifting of the cable-net roof took two months to complete.

The roof features some 16 kilometres of cabling and covers an area of 5,000m2.

The Velodrome is being constructed by ISG who were also responsible for replacing the track at the Manchester Velodrome where the British team secured nine gold medals at the World Championships in 2008.

The design team for the VeloPark is made up of Hopkins Architects, Expedition Engineering, BDSP and Grant Associates, who were appointed in 2007 following a design competition judged by leading names from the world of architecture and design as well as four-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy.

The Velodrome is one of the most sustainable venues in the Olympic Park and the lightweight roof weighs roughly half that of any other covered Velodrome, helping create a highly-efficient building.

The cable-net roof is joined to the steel structure of the Velodrome which rises in height by 12 metres from the shallowest point to the highest part of the structure, helping form the distinct double-curved shape which has been designed to reflect the geometry of the cycling track.

With the Velodrome roof in place, work will begin shortly to cover the roof and install the outer timber cladding of the venue.

The Velodrome structure is due to be watertight by the summer, allowing work to install the timber cycling track to begin in the autumn.

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: "Seeing the Velodrome take shape is a great example of how hosting the Games will deliver a lasting legacy of new sports facilities for elite and community use.

"The Velodrome will be a stunning stage for cycling events during the Games and I look forward to seeing the British team take to the track in 2012 to continue their success."



Higgins said: "The completion of this huge engineering challenge on the Velodrome follows the good progress we are making across the Olympic Park and as the project continues in our toughest year we are on track to meet our latest milestones."

The East London skyline has changed dramatically in the past 18 months with eye-catching structures sprouting from what was once an overgrown industrial wasteland of neglected canals and derelict buildings.

Already the roof and lighting towers are in place on the Olympic Stadium while the aquatics centre, shaped like stingray, is complete with its roof.

The Athletes Village is also in an advanced stage.

In July 2009 the ODA published 10 milestones that it planned to achieve by July 27 this year - exactly two years before the opening ceremony.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “Londoners can be proud that the Velodrome roof is now in place and I look forward to seeing the triumphs of the British team at the recent Track Cycling World Championships emulated there in 2012.

"The ODA continues to deliver the project both on time and on budget, and this shows the capital’s capacity to respond well to the challenges of the current economic climate.

"We won’t rest on our laurels though, and so we will continue to work hard with all the delivery partners to ensure that we achieve the best value possible across the whole London 2012 programme.”

After the Games, a road cycle circuit and mountain bike course will be added to the Velodrome and BMX circuit to create a legacy VeloPark that will combine cycling facilities across all disciplines in one cycling hub.

Shaun Dawson, the chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority which will own, fund and manage the Velodrome in legacy, said: "The Velodrome is rapidly becoming one of the stars of Olympic Park and while this stunning venue takes shape we’re planning out a legacy programme which will excite the region and the country.

"We’re using our award-winning Lee Valley Athletics Centre as the blueprint and will replicate its perfect mix of elite, school, community and regional use at the VeloPark.

"After the Games we’ll be welcoming school children to local clubs to elite cyclists at the Velodrome - the centrepiece of the VeloPark."


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