Bicycle tire manufacturer Vittoria has begun construction of Vittoria Park, an all-discipline cycling experience, innovation center and knowledge hub for the development of bicycle tires.
Located near Milan, Italy, the testing facility and proving ground – which the company describes as a world first – is being built close to the company’s headquarters to support bicycle tire innovation and is scheduled for completion in September 2022.
The park will host the company’s new Bicycle Tyre Innovation Center, a 2,000m2 facility featuring high-tech testing equipment incorporating internal and external testing. A Cycling Knowledge Hub will function as co-working space for innovation with startups, university programs and other cycling-related projects to further bicycle tire development at the site.
Spread out over 5ha, Vittoria Park will also benefit from 4km of road, gravel and mountain bike testing tracks including a replica of Strade Bianche gravel and a Paris-Roubaix cobblestone section. There will also be a specific road bike loop with different surfaces and banked turns. All tracks will cater for riders of every ability.
Vittoria Park will be built by Velosolutions, a company well-known for its professional construction of pump tracks, bike parks and mountain bike trails.
“We can’t wait to open our doors to everyone passioned and curious about cycling to discover their ride ahead at the Vittoria Park and I am incredibly excited to bring to life an innovative way of working and approach to tire development in our new Italian Bicycle Tyre Innovation Center,” said Vanessa ten Hoff, chief innovation officer, Vittoria Group.
“We are very proud and enthusiastic to invest through the Vittoria Park in the future and innovation in the cycling industry here in Italy,” commented Paolo Gambarini, founder and CEO, Wise Equity, a majority shareholder of Vittoria Group.
