Chennai has a working velodrome again, and it has now hosted both a senior national championship and an international race. In January 2026 the Track Asia Cup, a UCI Class 1 event, was held there from 29 to 31 January, the first time the event had been staged outside Delhi, DT Next reported when it was announced. Indonesia’s riders took four golds on the final day, including the men’s team pursuit and omnium, according to Indonesia’s public broadcaster RRI.
That is a long way from where the track stood a few years ago. This guide covers competitive cycling in and around Chennai: the velodrome, the state association, the big road event on ECR, and how a rider moves from weekend group rides into racing. Commuter cycling and bike-share are a separate subject and are not covered here.
The velodrome on the TNPESU campus
The outdoor track sits on the campus of the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University on the city’s outskirts. The university itself was set up by a state Act in 2004 and began functioning in December 2005, according to the TNPESU website.
The velodrome’s history is uneven. It was proposed in 2013 and meant to open in 2015, but floods pushed the opening to 2017, and experts later found it did not meet the technical specifications needed for national events, DT Next reported in January 2024. The original concrete surface had become uneven. The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) and the Tamil Nadu Cycling Association then reworked it:
- the concrete was ground down and given a sand base coat, primer and a polyurethane top coat for grip
- the safety zone on the track was widened to 13 per cent from 10 per cent
- the facility was submitted for Class 1 homologation by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI)
Track cycling for the Khelo India Games had originally been planned for Delhi. Chennai coach Amarnath Jayaraman, a UCI Level 3 coach and national commissaire, pushed for the event to come to the city, the same report said.
What the track has hosted since
| Event | When | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| 76th Senior National Track Cycling Championship | November 2024 | 700+ riders from 28 states and 4 UTs; Tamil Nadu fourth |
| Track Asia Cup (UCI Class 1) | 29-31 January 2026 | First edition held outside Delhi; 50 Indian riders |
At the 2024 nationals, the first national-level event on the revamped track, Tamil Nadu finished fourth with seven medals, four of them gold, and Rajasthan topped the standings, DT Next reported. The state’s golds came from young women: a sub-junior team sprint trio of Hasini, Jai Jyostna and Thabitha, with Thabitha also winning the 500m time trial, and junior riders Dhanyadha, Karthiyayini, Nirai Mathi and Pooja Sweatha in the team pursuit and team sprint.
For the Asia Cup, the Tamil Nadu Cycling Association was the organiser and the state government issued a no-objection certificate. TNCA president M. Sudhakar and SDAT member secretary J. Meghanatha Reddy spoke at the announcement, which said 16 to 18 Asian countries were expected and that the event counted towards qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. RRI reported that 50 Indian cyclists took part.
Road racing: the HCL Cyclothon on ECR
The biggest road event in the city is the HCL Cyclothon Chennai. Its third Chennai edition in September 2025 started and finished at Mayajaal on East Coast Road and drew more than 2,000 riders, according to a wire report carried by The Week. It was organised with the Tamil Nadu government, with CFI as technical partner overseeing rules and compliance.
- Professional elite race: 50 km
- Amateur road race: 50 km, men and women
- Amateur road race: 24 km, men and women
The total prize pool was Rs 33.6 lakh, which the organisers described as the highest for any cycling race in India. For an amateur, the 24 km category is the obvious first race, because it is run under federation rules with CFI overseeing compliance, which is very different from training alone on ECR.
How to get into competitive cycling
- Pick a discipline. Track racing needs a fixed-gear track bike and access to the velodrome; road racing needs a road bike and a helmet. Most riders start on the road.
- Join a club affiliated to the state association. TNCA works under CFI, and district and state selection events are run through affiliated units. A club coach will know when trials are held.
- Race open amateur events first. Federation-sanctioned amateur categories like those at the Cyclothon let you learn pack riding and race rules.
- Students should go through school and sports hostel routes. SDAT runs sports hostels and announces admissions each year; check SDAT’s own notices for cycling seats.
Ride with a properly fitted helmet, and if you have a heart or joint condition, check with a doctor before starting structured race training.
Quick answers
Does Chennai have a velodrome?
Yes. The outdoor velodrome on the TNPESU campus was resurfaced and upgraded, and hosted the national track championship in 2024 and the Track Asia Cup in January 2026.
Who runs cycling as a sport in Tamil Nadu?
The Tamil Nadu Cycling Association, affiliated to the Cycling Federation of India, with SDAT supporting facilities.
What is the biggest road race in Chennai?
The HCL Cyclothon on ECR, whose 2025 edition had 50 km and 24 km categories and more than 2,000 riders.
How did Tamil Nadu do at the 2024 track nationals?
Fourth overall, with four gold, two silver and one bronze.
Information checked against official sources on 23 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Revving up for revival: velodrome upgraded ahead of Khelo India Games (DT Next)
- National Track Cycling: Rajasthan tops final standings, Tamil Nadu finishes fourth (DT Next)
- Chennai to host Track Asia Cup; top cyclists to draw eyeballs (DT Next)
- Indonesia sweeps gold at Track Asia Cup I 2026 cycling finale (RRI, Radio Republik Indonesia)
- More than 2,000 cyclists at the 3rd edition of HCL Cyclothon Chennai (The Week, wire)
- About the University (Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University)
