Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome: El Velódromo

The Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome is mainly used for cycling events. More than just a Metro station, it’s among the most prominent landmarks in the Ciudad Deportiva Magdalena Mixiuhca.

• Agustín Melgar was one of the famous Niños Héroes killed during the U.S. invasion in 1847.

The Velodrome opened in time for the 1968 Olympic Games. It’s been in use ever since. Even with a capacity for just 6,800 spectators, it’s a popular venue for mini-football games and some of regulation scale.

Perhaps the site is best known for its use by cyclists hoping to break The Hour record. In fact, the record has been broken at least 39 times at this very site.

• The Hour Record is a distance competition – how far can a cyclist go in an hour? Mexico City’s rarefied air offers less wind resistance and thus cyclists can expect to exceed distances ridden at sea level. One of the cycling world’s most prestigious records, the most famous Hour Record broken here was on October 25, 1972 by Eddy Merckx. A Belgian cyclist, he’s been described as the most successful cyclist of all time.
• Starting at 8:46 am, in one hour, Merckx rode 49.431 km (31 miles), breaking the world record, albeit at significant physical pain.

Today, the Agustin Melgar Olympic Velodrome is still used to try to break the Hour record. But the track also has frequent open cycling events, as well as organized races. The Velódromo Facebook page is often the quickest and fastest way to find out what’s happening at the track.