HALESOWEN cycling chief Dave Viner has underlined the need for a velodrome in the West Midlands ahead of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Late last year it was confirmed that track cycling events would take place in London’s Lea Valley Velopark, with no viable existing alternative in the West Midlands.

The nearest outdoor cycle track, at Manor Abbey in Halesowen, is over 70 years old, and the option of building a new competition velodrome was also previously rejected by organisers.

However, despite that setback, the chairman of Halesowen Cycling Club is determined to help the games leave a legacy by securing a multi-million pound facility for the region.

His hopes have recently been boosted by the news that talks have taken place between Birmingham City Council and British Cycling and that an initial feasibility study is now to be undertaken into facilities, including the possibility of building an indoor velodrome.

Viner's latest call backing a development comes after seeing a Halesowen Cycling Club duo venture to Wales to compete last Saturday.

Kinga Ingram and Ellie Swingsdale made the trip to the latest round of the track cycling winter series at Newport Velodrome as they look to sharpen their speed and skills ahead of the summer season.

The presence of a local indoor velodrome means that South Wales is a hotbed of strong track riders.

In this competitive environment Kinga rode in the Youth A under-16 category coming second in the scratch race, first in the points race and an elimination race colourfully called 'devil takes the hindmost' in which Kinga got down to a sprint off against a girl from Scotland to win.

Overall, it places Kinga in first position following her second place at last month's meeting. In the under-14s, Swingsdale took a fine third overall.

Viner said: “If our young track riders like Kinga and Ellie, living in the West Midlands, are denied access to modern indoor velodrome then their dreams of becoming champions of the future are going to remain a real challenge.

"Kinga and Ellie benefit from tremendous family support and they each have a brilliant future. We have to hope the governing body, British Cycling, get behind the West Midlands Velodrome so all of our youngsters can chase their dreams. I trust the feasibility study will prove our case.”