Vélodrome Buffalo
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The Vélodrome Buffalo and Stade Buffalo were cycling tracks in Paris. The first existed from 1893 until World War I, the second from 1922 until 1957.
The name derives from the showman Buffalo Bill Cody, whose circus played on the grounds of the first velodrome.
[edit] The first velodrome
The Vélodrome Buffalo was not far from the Porte Maillot in Paris, at Neuilly-sur-Seine. It opened in 1893. The writer Tristan Bernard was director of the track in 1895. He is supposed to have introduced the practice of ringing a bell to announce the last lap of a race.
Several world records were set in this velodrome. Henri Desgrange set the first ratifiedhour record on 11 May 1893 covering 35.325km. In May 1893 a rider called Cassignard set the world kilometre standing start record at 1 minute and 28 seconds.
The Bol d'Or 24-hour race began at the track in 1894 and was frequently run there.
The track was renovated in 1902 to accommodate 8,000 spectators. The concrete track, was reduced from 333 to 300 metres. The original velodrome was demolished during World War I and the land used for an aeroplane factory.
[edit] The second velodrome
Le Stade Buffalo was near the Porte des Ternes in Paris, at Montrouge.
It opened on 24 September 1922 and was demolished in 1957. It could accommodate 30,000 spectators for football matches and 40,000 for boxing matches. It housed a concrete cycling track. It continued to occasionally host the Bol d'Or cycle race.
This stadium hosted three international football matches: on 13 January 1924 France beat Belgium 2-0 in front of 27,000 spectators; on 21 February 1921 they beat Ireland 4-0 and on 7 December 1930 they drew 2-2 with Belgium.
