Less than two weeks after reopening following more than ₡105 million (about $219,000) in repairs, the velodrome at Parque de La Paz in southern San José is already showing damage along parts of its newly repaired track. Cyclists using the facility reported cracks, holes and loose pieces of material on several sections of the surface.
The venue reopened on Sept. 9 after being closed since February for maintenance. The Costa Rican Institute of Sport and Recreation (Icoder) said the problem involves three construction joints that were repaired over the track’s existing concrete. According to the institute, the material applied at those points is not adhering properly to the concrete beneath it.
Icoder said it is working with the company that carried out the repairs and that the work remains under warranty, covering both labor and materials. The institute has not said how long the corrective work will take or whether the velodrome will need to close again while it is done.
Video recorded by cyclists and circulated by local media on Monday showed cracked areas and loose material on the track, conditions riders said could pose a safety risk at racing speeds. Icoder personnel were seen inspecting the facility Monday morning. The damage comes shortly after Icoder reported a total investment of approximately ₡105.1 million to return the velodrome to what it described as optimal operating condition.
Work during the seven-month closure included cleaning and patching the track surface, repainting and marking the cycling lanes, and repairing the railing around the facility. The institute had closed the venue in February, citing lifted sections of surface material, cracks and other damage that affected the track’s operation and safety. The joints now failing were among the areas targeted in that work.
When it announced the reopening, Icoder said the repair product had been chosen because it was compatible with the track’s technical characteristics and able to withstand the demands of competitive cycling. Kimberly Díaz Brenes of Icoder’s Facilities Management Department said earlier this year that the method was intended to ensure proper adhesion, elasticity and durability of the product on the surface.
Icoder said a similar adhesion problem has appeared at the National Skating Rink, another facility where maintenance was recently completed. The institute said both cases are receiving priority attention. The velodrome, inaugurated in 1994, is the country’s main venue for track cycling and has seating for 917 spectators.
It has faced repeated complaints about deterioration over the years, and the Costa Rican Cycling Federation has sought for several years to take over its administration. Icoder has said it is evaluating an agreement with the federation, but the facility remains under the institute’s control.
Under the current schedule, the track is open for road cycling training from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and for track cycling from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free access until further notice. The velodrome is also scheduled to host the start of the sixth stage of this year’s Vuelta a Costa Rica, our premier cycling race. Icoder has not said whether that plan will be affected or whether the track will close while the damaged joints are repaired.
