Canadian cyclists hope to turn up the heat at Olympic Games velodrome

The hotter the better as far as Canada's track cyclists are concerned at the London Olympic Games.

Temperatures inside the $150-million Olympic velodrome are expected to hit 30 degrees during race days. Normally that's a good day at the beach, but it also makes for fast times as the track cyclists battle for medals.

The velodrome has no cooling system so the temperatures are by design. Warm air has a lower density than cool air, which allows the cyclists to move faster around the track. Some are expected to hit speeds of 70 kilometres an hour.

The velodrome was designed with speed in mind. The bends on the 250-metre track are pitched at 49 degrees, steeper than most. This allows riders to blast into the straightaway like F-1 cars. The building's entrances are covered with curtain baffles to eliminate even the slightest wind gust that could disturb a rider's trajectory.

"There are going to be some world records on race day," Joseph Veloce, a Canadian keirin competitor, told The Globe and Mail.

Canadian cyclists have high expectations for London after not winning a medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

At a World Cup event held at the Olympic velodrome last February, the Canadian women's pursuit team won the silver medal and broke a Canadian record.

The women's pursuit team is anchored by Tara Whitten. She is also a medal contender in the omnium, a six-race event held over two days.

Zach Bell, a former wrestler turned cyclist, also has podium potential in the men's omnium.

The 6,000-seat velodrome has a 360-degree glass viewing concourse for spectators. The elliptical race track has been constructed using 56 kilometres of sustainably-sourced Siberian pine.

British cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who has won four golds and one silver, assisted with the design of the track, which London 2012 organizers say is the fastest in the world.

During the Olympics there will be five gold medals handed out to both men and women in five events, the sprint, team sprint, keirin, team pursuit and the omnium.

Among the other athletes to watch is Hoy, Britain's flag-bearer at the opening ceremonies. At 36 years old his is nearing the end of his career.

For the women, Britain's Victoria Pendleton is the reigning sprint world and Olympic champion. The women's sprint will pit Pendleton against rival Anna Meares of Australia, a world champion who won gold at Athens in 2004.

Pendleton plans to retire after the Olympics and they could be Meares' last Games.

Canadians begin racing Friday