Vélodrome Jacques-Anquetil is a velodrome in Paris, formerly known as Vélodrome de la Cipale or La Cipale. Located in the Bois de Vincennes since 1896, it was inaugurated in 1896 as the Vélodrome municipal de Vincennes. The site was an Olympic venue for the 1900 and 1924 Olympic Games. It was originally located in the commune of Charenton-le-Pont and became Parisian in 1929, after the Bois de Vincennes was attached to the city. From 1968 to 1974, while the Parc des Princes was being reconstructed, it hosted the final arrival of the Tour de France. It also hosted the Casque d'or and the French American football championship in 1982. The velodrome was renamed in 1987. Its track is described as the only one in the world made of continuous reinforced concrete without joints. The stands and bleachers, built in an Eiffel-style design, were renovated with sponsorship funding from Française des jeux and the Fondation du patrimoine.

◎ Nearby Objects

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  Bois de Vincennes 1600 m away
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  Church of the Holy Spirit 1700 m away

Location and Names

The Veldrome de Vincennes is a velodrome in Paris. It has been situated in the Bois de Vincennes since 1896. The venue is now known as the velodrome Jacques-Anquetil, and it was formerly called the velodrome de la Cipale, or simply la Cipale. These different names reflect its long history in the same part of the city.

History and Distinctive Features

The Velo drome de Vincennes was inaugurated in 1896 under the name Velo drome municipal de Vincennes. It is located in the commune of Charenton-le-Pont and became Parisian in 1929, after Bois de Vincennes was attached to Paris. The venue was an Olympic site for the 1900 and 1924 Olympic Games, and it also served major cycling events later in its history. From 1968 to 1974, while the Parc des Princes was being reconstructed, it hosted the final arrival of the Tour de France. In 1982, it hosted the Casque d'or and the French American football championship. The velodrome was renamed Velo drome Jacques-Anquetil in 1987. Closed for works in the summer of 2012, it later reopened after a Saturday reopening followed by an inauguration on Monday. Its track is described as the only one in the world made of continuous reinforced concrete without joints. The Eiffel style stands and bleachers also underwent renovation, financed by 1.2 million euros in sponsorship from Francaise des jeux and the Fondation du patrimoine.

Name, Structure, and Film Appearances

Cipale is described as a rare example of apherese in French, a process in which the beginning of a word is lost. The velodrome retained its stands built using the modele Eiffel design, giving the site a distinctive architectural character. It also has a restaurant called La Cipale at the entrance level. Beyond its physical features, the velodrome has appeared in cinema: scenes from Monsieur Klein were shot there in 1976, Le Velo de Ghislain Lambert in 2001, and Elle s'appelait Sarah in 2010.

A Multi-Purpose Sports Venue in Bois de Vincennes

The Veldrome de Vincennes is a sports facility completed in 1894 and located in Paris, in the Bois de Vincennes area of Ile-de-France. It is a multi-purpose stadium with several sporting associations, including track cycling and cycling in Paris. The venue is also identified as a velodrome, a cricket stadium, an American football stadium, and a rugby union stadium, reflecting its varied use as a sports site in France.

Its history includes appearances as a venue for both the 1900 Olympic Games and the 1924 Summer Olympic Games, which places it within the broader Olympic history of Paris. The stadium is also noted as being named after a sports personality in Ile-de-France. In contemporary sporting context, it hosts a Tour de France finish line, adding to its visibility in French cycling culture.

As a sports facility in Paris that has served multiple disciplines over time, the Veldrome de Vincennes occupies a notable place in the urban and sporting landscape of the city.