The upgrading works for the Tampines Bike Park (TBP) has been completed and certified by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the International Federation for Cycling, as ready to host the Bicycle Moto-Cross (BMX) and Mountain Bike competition for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

Spanning over 23 hectares, the upgraded TBP is the first of its kind in Olympic Games. It is designed such that spectators to the Singapore 2010 races will be able to have a clear view of the BMX competition as well as watch the start and end of Time Trial and Mountain Bike events from the spectators stand.

The bike park is made up of two cycling tracks - mountain bike trail and BMX track. The mountain bike trail that will be competed on during Singapore 2010 spans three kilometres with four rock garden downhill trails. The track is a test of true skills of the riders through their bike handling techniques and endurance. Sixty percent of the trail consists of a single track, which provides greater challenge in overtaking the opponents.

The BMX track spans 355 metres with the purpose of testing swiftness and speed in completing the course. This dirt track consists of no less than 26 jumps and three banked corners.

The BMX track is designed and built by Tom Ritzenthaler from UCI and his team, who also constructed the BMX track for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games when this discipline made its debut. The same team will be building a cycling track for London 2012.

The Singapore Mountain Bike Carnival was organised on 29 and 30 May 2010 to mark the completion of the TBP. It was used to validate the operations plan for Singapore 2010 Mountain Bike and BMX events. These Carnival events have attracted 40 participants from Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Singapore.

www.singapore2010.sg