It's back. Beautiful, elegant, renovated, with a history that speaks of both past and modernity. The Dalmine velodrome has returned, with its history, its legend, its austere charm like cement swept by the wind, which yesterday accompanied its rebirth and inauguration. "Even though we are two-thirds through the work," as the mayor, Francesco Bramani, clarified, and as reported this morning in the Corriere di Bergamo by Donatella Tiraboschi, who writes: "There will be time for the complete inauguration, but that hardly matters, because in the reactivation of the facility, after a two-year closure, there is all the determination of a municipal administration that, through substantial investments (over five million euros upon completion), has demonstrated how much it cares."

The Velodrome is one of Dalmine's truest symbols. Built by the Società Anonima Stabilimenti di Dalmine in 1926, "it was reactivated in 1946 in honor of world champion middle-distance rider Elia Frosio (from Sant'Omobono, a track cyclist and two-time world champion in 1946 and 1949). After a period of decline, the track underwent a new restructuring in 1976, bringing us to today," explains Tiraboschi.

A hundred years after young Alfredo Binda's victory on the cement of the circuit, the Dalmine Velodrome rises again like a phoenix. "This remains the official name, although some time ago someone had proposed naming it after the great Felice Gimondi, an idea that could be revived because the facility is already highly performant and will be even more so when completed. With a spending commitment and PNRR funds totaling over two million euros, work has already been completed on the renovation of the internal synthetic grass football field, the renewal of the lighting system, and the complete refurbishment of the grandstands."

So far, the facility's hardware is progressing, while the software—the beating heart of the Velodrome—will consist of genuine competitive activity. In particular, youth activity, thanks to Lince, a sports association presided over by Stefano Maldifassi, a biomechanical engineer and multiple skeleton champion.

"Lince will manage the facility, currently entrusted to U.S. Mariano, with the goal of relaunching the track school. 'The objective,' explains Maldifassi, 'is to ensure that the Dalmine Velodrome becomes part of the network of centers involved in the project to promote and develop youth cycling.' 'Safety in cycling practice is more than ever a central issue,' explained Cordiano Dagnoni, president of the Italian Cycling Federation. 'As for the Dalmine Velodrome, it is an absolute excellence, and in terms of participation, this facility has always delivered the best results.'"