Remember that time? The roar of the crowd the smell of freshly cut grass the speed of those cyclists. That was the Radrennbahn Schoneberg. This very spot. This sculpture this modest tower is all that remains.
The Radrennbahn Schoneberg was once a vibrant hub. A place of speed and skill. It hosted the best cyclists in the region. Even Andre Gruchet a future French champion raced here. The opening day in 1959 was a spectacle. Sprint races and team events filled the day. It wasn’t just about the races. The entire complex was impressive. Friedrich Schrell designed it. The velodrome the stands the judges tower even a casino. All part of the Schoneberg sports complex.
Built in 1959 it was Berlin’s second outdoor cycling track. The first was in Neukolln. It underwent a major renovation in 1980. Amazingly the track was resurfaced with Afzelia wood. This African hardwood made the Schoneberg track the fastest in Germany. Cyclists achieved average speeds of 83 km/h.
But time and neglect took their toll. By 1999 the stands and the wooden track were deemed unsafe. The city couldn’t afford the millions needed for repairs. With the Velodrome opening in 1997 a second track wasn’t deemed necessary. So despite its protected status the Radrennbahn Schoneberg was demolished in 2005. A furniture store now stands where the cyclists once raced.
Only this tower this memorial remains. A poignant reminder of a lost piece of Berlin’s sporting heritage. The Radrennbahn Schoneberg. A symbol of speed a testament to time a reminder of what was. What could have been. A legacy captured in this single structure.