Cycling in the Dominican Republic

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The city of Santo Domingo closes its malecón next to the Caribbean Sea every Bicycle World Day to allow people on bicycles only on the palm lined street.

The bicycle first appeared in the year 1817 in Germany, while the first bicycle with pedals appeared in 1839. The United States was the scene of the first mountain bike created in 1989. These are important years, because they mark the rise of cycling as a sport since it can’t be done without bicycles. With the rise of the sport came the creation of official bicycle races with the first created in Italy in 1870. In 1903 arosed for the first time the world famous bicycle race Tour de France, perhaps the most important race in all of cycling. This was followed with Giro de Italia in 1909, Vuelta Ciclista a España in 1935 and, the most important bicycle race in South America, Vuelta Ciclista a Colombia in 1951 and others.

The Dominican Republic has its own cycling organization called the Dominican Cycling Federation (FEDOCI). It was created in 1997 and has its office at the Velodrome of the Dominican Republic. It regulates cycling as a sport in the country and coordinates various competitions several times a year in Santo Domingo and elsewhere in the Dominican Republic.

Velodrome of Dominican Republic (Velódromo de la República Dominicana)

The most important structure for FEDOCI is the Velódromo de Santo Domingo in the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center. Despite that it needs an extensive maintenance to put it like new, the velodrome was inaugurated in 1974. This is the only one in the Dominican Republic and in the rest of the Central America and the Caribbean there are velodromes in the following places.

  • Puerto Rico (3)
  • Trinidad (3)
  • Guadeloupe (1)
  • Guatemala (1)
  • El Salvador (1)
  • Costa Rica (1)
Velódromo de la República Dominicana. Built by the Dominican government and inaugurated in 1974, this is the only velodrome in the Dominican Republic and the largest in Central America and the Caribbean. 
The velodrome during a cycling practice.
A look towards the northern and northeastern sides of the velodrome.
Practice in the velodrome also includes other types of bicycles such as these BMX types.
A view from the spectators seating area to the western side of the velodrome.
Professional cyclists practicing in the Velodrome of the Dominican Republic.

National and International Tournaments

The Dominican Republic host cycling tournaments nationwide that includes athletes from other countries such as Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Colombia and others. 

Dominican cyclists showing their medals after winning an official cycling race.
A professional cyclist race taking place on the Francisco del Rosario Sánchez Highway (RD-2). 
Gold, silver and bronze medals winners in an international cycling race in Santo Domingo. From left to right are the representatives of Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Barbados.
A cycling race passing near the Faro a Colón in Santo Domingo Este.
In addition to coin metals, cyclists tournaments also includes trophies as these professional Dominican cyclists proudly show.

Women Cyclist Tournaments

Cycling in the Dominican Republic is not a sport limited to men. Many tournaments are held nationwide exclusively for women cyclist. They too often have participations from several countries.

The start of a women’s cycling race at the Mirador del Sur Park in Santo Domingo between Dominicans and from various countries.
Some professional women cyclists of the Dominican Republic in their Dominicana cyclist team uniforms.

Off-road and Mountain Bikes Tournaments

An off-toad BMX cycling tournament in the Dominican Republic.
Final moments of the Cero de Oro Cyclist Cup, one of several mountain bikes race that host the Dominican Republic several times a year.
Young Dominicans on an official BMX tournament.

The Bicycle Monument 

The town of Constanza doesn’t have the single title of the Caribbean town with the highest elevatin, but near the town is the only bicycle monument of the Dominican Republic. 

The bicycle monument in Constanza, Dominican Republic.