The track, 250 metres of pale blond Baltic pine strips, banked at 12.5 degrees on the straights and 42 degrees on the curves, is encased in a dramatic oyster-shaped shell, with a fine lattice-work aluminium roof. Now, operating under the title of the National Cycling Centre and run by the British Cycling Federation on behalf of the Sports Council, it will host the World Track Championships in 1996.Built on the site of the old Stuart Street power station, the new stadium is quite a thing of beauty. Denmark, who replaced Italy at three days' notice, eventually won the competition, with Britain and France in joint-second place. Conceived as part of Manchester's bid for the 2000 Olympic Games, the velodrome went ahead despite the failure of that venture. While the great names of contemporary cycling - Bortolami, Chiappucci, Fondriest, Millar, Mottet, Hampsten and Ugrumov - were gathering in the royal park of Monza for the start of the 88th Giro di Lombardia, the last classic road race of the European season, drizzly Manchester played host to Ghijselinck, Stirratt, Rozendaal, Whitcombe and De Peuter: a scratch collection of 50- odd riders from eight nations competing in a varied programme of sprints, pursuits, keirins, points races and devil- take-the-hindmosts. In that context, yesterday's inaugural meeting at the pounds 9m Manchester velodrome offered a rare opportunity to invest the sport with a little glamour A little, but not too much.

To the British, by contrast, cycle racing is a sport that belongs to frosty dawns on the Doncaster by-pass. IN FRANCE and Italy you see bank managers and architects out on their racing bikes on sunny Sunday mornings, sheathed in Dayglo Lycra and burning up the asphalt, their heads full of boyhood dreams of Anquetil and Coppi. 'But saving the match will be our first priority.'Pakistan lead the three- Test series 1-0.(Fourth day; Pakistan won toss)AUSTRALIA - First Innings 521 for 9 dec (M J Slater 110, S R Waugh 98, M G Bevan 70, M A Taylor 69, M E Waugh 68, I A Healy 58).PAKISTAN - First Innings 260 (Aamir Sohail 80; C J McDermott 4-74, D W Fleming 4-75).PAKISTAN - Second Innings(Overnight: 28 for 0)Saeed Anwar c Healy b M Waugh75Aamir Sohail not out72Zahid Fazal c Healy b M Waugh1* Salim Malik not out155Extras (b13 lb5 nb2 w1)21Total (for 2, 90 overs)324To bat: Aamir Malik, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohsin Kamal.Fall: 1-79 2-227.Bowling (to date): McDermott 20-3-45-0; Fleming 15-2-49-0; Angel 16-0-77-0; M Waugh 11-1-48-2; Warne 17-5-42-0; Bevan 4-0-27-0; S Waugh 7-2-18-0.. 'If we are able to play like that tomorrow, we might be in a position to give Australia a score to chase for,' an optimistic Salim said. But Salim continued to bat superbly, mixing attack with sensible defence.

'I'm glad I succeeded.'Saeed gave him superb support, eschewing his normal aggressive game until he was tempted into a full-blooded drive to a widish delivery from Mark Waugh and edged a catch to Healy. 'The circumstances under which I came in required me to be patient and score as well,' he said. Altogether he batted for 259 minutes and faced 204 balls and afterwards described it as the best century of his career.Salim went to the crease with Pakistan still deep in trouble at 79 for one and Aamir Sohail off the field having four stitches inserted in a cut lip. Dropped by the opposing captain, Mark Taylor, in the slips when he had scored 20, Salim went on to hit 76 of his first 100 runs in boundaries. Mark Waugh claimed the only two wickets to fall, having Zahid Fazal caught by the wicketkeeper Ian Healy after scoring only one, and then dismissing Saeed in similar fashion with the first ball after tea.But the day belonged to Salim. He then added another 97 runs in an unbroken stand with Aamir Sohail to ensure Australia would have to bat again. Saeed made 75 and Aamir Sohail, whose innings was interrupted when he was forced to retire hurt after being hit in the mouth by a ball from Mark Waugh, finished the day unbeaten on 72. Salim shared a 148-run partnership with the in-form opener Saeed Anwar to steer Pakistan out of trouble.