The Valley Preferred Cycling Center

TANDEMONIUM! lived up to the hype. Spectacular weather, live music, roller girls, a spirited Philly Eagles mascot and the best bike racing since le Tour.

The VPCC was proud to host it’s 2nd National Championship this summer, as Tandemonium! also doubles at the USA Cycling’s National Tandem Sprint Championship. Two tandem events, the sprint championship and a 15 lap scratch, were on tap for the evening, along with a full line up of pro men’s and women’s racing.

The night started with a qualifying round of sprints. Last years champions, local legends Giddeon Massie and Andy Lakatosh sailed through the first trial with a time of 17:76. The next closest time came from the hulking duo of Kamil Kuczynski and Matt Diefenbach at 18:43. Massie and Lakatosh could not be caught, besting Kuczynski and Diefenbach in the match sprint final and riding away with their 2nd consecutive National Title in the event. Diefenbach and Kuczynski (POL) finished 2nd in the event, followed by Tom Ashley (NZ) and Doug Repacholi (AUS). The final podium for the USA Cycling National Championship looked slightly different than the sprint results, as non-US citizens are ineligible for a National podium. In the US Championship, it was Massie/Lakatosh, Begemann/Kuklis, and Elliston/Ignosh.

TANDEMONIUM! was the final event of the night. A 15 lap scratch race that gave the endurance athletes the opportunity to escape the sprinters. That’s just what winners Bill Elliston and Ray Ignosh did! With a handful of laps left, the Kiwi/Aussie duo of Ashley and Repacholi tore away from the field and opened up a significant gap. Elliston and Ignosh bridged from the field with an incredible burst of speed and power. They made it up to Repacholi and Ashley just in time to pass them on the final lap and take home the Tandemonium Championship! Massie and Lakatosh ripped around the pack at the line to take the field sprint for 3rd.

The pro men’s and women’s races showcased the range of talent in T-Town, as no single rider dominated the omniums. Doug Repacholi won the first race of the night, the men’s elimination. Kim Geist rode away with the women’s points race. Matt Baranoski and Dana Walton out-sprinted the bunch to take the short scratch races and young gun Nick Roeder surprised the field by sneaking away to win the men’s 10 lap scratch. Colleen Gulick took the elimination and Liz Reap Carlson did what she does best- she won the 500m Chariot by a mile.

The fans were treated to a thrilling night of racing and some colorful intermission entertainment. SWOOP, the Philadelphia Eagles mascot (currently over at Lehigh for Eagles training camp) stopped by to check out the Friday night lights. There was no mistaking that we were dealing with a professional as he spent the night rallying the crowds, taking fan photos, racing roller girls and driving his ATV at top speed around the Velodrome. All in all, it was a fun-filled family event!

FULL RESULTS

Next up: THE CORPORATE CHALLENGE: August 12!

IN THE PLAZA:

Libery Sports Magazine will be giving away 2 free entries to the Gran Fondo Colnago Philadelphia. Stop by their booth in the plaza for more details on how you can win!

The Lehigh Valley Rollergirls will be bringing their attitude, athleticism and competitive enthusiasm to the VPCC! Watch as they entertain the crowds with their roller derby skills on the track during intermission. Stop by their booth to find out more about their event schedule and team.

GATES OPEN at 5:30

RACING BEGINS at 7:30

General Admission $5

Finish Line Seating $8

Kids Under 12 are Always Free!

Cyclists from across the country expressed their sheer excitement that the legendary T-Town was selected as the destination for the 2011 USA Cycling Masters National Track Championships. The facilities, staff, location and track made it an ideal host for the largest track event that USA Cycling has ever seen (over 430 competitors). There was just one drawback. When you come to T-Town, you have to race T-Towners, a notoriously fast, experienced, decorated breed of cyclist.

T-Town has been gearing up for the Championships all year and the hometown heroes did not disappoint. T-Towners made off with 18 Gold medals, 25 Silver medals and 28 Bronze medals. In the Stars n’ Stripes tally, Dana Walton, out of E. Norritown, PA, led the way with 4 gold medals (points, sprint, team pursuit and flying TT), Christine Fennessy, from Emmaus, PA, nabbed 3 golds (scratch, flying TT and sprint) and Chip Berezny, Coopersburg, PA, took 2 golds (sprint and flying TT). The Velodrome staff has two more jerseys to hang up in the office as Marty Nothstein took gold in the scratch and Kate Veronneau won the individual pursuit. Stars n’ Bars also went to Margaret Moore (points), Scott Butler (team pursuit), Joe Wentzell (points), Mike Miller (pursuit), Patty Powers (scratch) Erin Hartwell and Ryan Oelkers (Madison).

It was a thrilling week. On the first day, Seventy-seven-year-old former Olympian Thomas O’Rourke (West Bloomfield, MI) set an unofficial world record in the 500 meter time trial for his age group. That night, a storm rolled through, leaving a stunning double rainbow in it’s wake. Racing resumed shortly after and beyond a couple days running long, the event ran as scheduled. Fans were treated to the return of the Blade, as our Executive Director, Olympic gold medalist Marty Nothstein raced the Madison and scratch races on Friday and Saturday night. After going down in the Madison, Nothstein came back with vengeance and won the scratch in grand fashion.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center would like to extend their gratitude to USA Cycling, all of our hard-working officials, volunteers, photographers, USADA, velo staff, families and friends for contributing to a fantastic week of racing.

For full results and coverage by USA Cycling CLICK HERE

Check out Photos by cyclingcaptured.com

Up next, TANDEMONIUM! The USA Cycling Tandem Track Sprint Championship!

Friday Night at the Velodrome showcased the Masters National Madison Championships and Sprint Championships along with a stellar night professional international racing.

The 30+ Madison saw the last minute addition of Olympic gold medalist Marty Nothstein, who stepped into the race to team up with Dave Bonser who lost his partner the night before due to an unfortunate crash.

Team Wiley Group, Erin Hartwell and Ryan Oelkers, broke away from the field after a pile-up early on in the race. Nothstein and Bonser both went down in the crash and worked hard with the rest of the pack to catch Wiley Group. Hartwell and Oelkers maintained their lead throughout the rest of the race and held onto first place. David Paleaz and Stephen Klipper of the Guiness Cycling team grabbed the 2nd spot and Nothstein and Bonser came in third.

In the 45+ Madison Championship, Curtis Tolson and Chris Carlson of the Kentucky Flyers – RBM outpaced the favorites – T-Town’s Bruce “The Torch” Donaghy and Paul “The Animal” Pearson. John Durso and Robert Ryan of NJ’s Colavita snuck in for 2nd place with Donaghy and Pearson taking the 3rd spot on the podium.

In the pro racing, Poland dominated the night, with Dawid Glowacki winning the omnium with his overall power and endurance and Kamil Kuczynski securing 2nd place with a win in the 10 lap scratch and consistent results all night. Iggy Silva had the most stay power in the Super Sprint Elimination, breaking away with several laps to go and winning by a huge margin. 2X Olympian Giddeon Massie had a convincing win in the Flying Mile in front of his hometown crowd. The ride of the night came from young gun Zack Noonan who snuck away for a preme in the 5K scratch and never looked back. It was 19 yr old Noonan’s first win on a Friday night and it had the fans pounding the boards in the final lap as he held off a charging peloton.

The women’s field also saw a first, as Team Type 1’s Mandy Marquardt took the first race of the night, a fast 2K. Marquardt had a slight lead on the last lap and could not be overtaken in the home stretch. Mary Costelloe showed why she’s leading the Rider of the Year standings with a win in the 10 lap Scratch and Elimination.  Colleen Gulick sealed up 2nd place in the omnium by taking 2nd spot in each of the night’s 3 women’s pro events.

Masters Nationals at T-Town wraps up on Sunday, July 31st. Racing continues on Saturday night with Scratch races, Sprints and Points races. Gates open at 5:00pm and Admission is $5

For full Masters Nationals Results, click here

Next up, Friday, Aug 5th, is TANDEMONIUM!- USA Cycling’s Tandem National Championships.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center’s Executive Director, Olympic gold medalist Marty Nothstein will lend a hand to Dave Bonser (Wind Gap, PA) in the 30+ Masters Madison National Championship tonight.

Bonser lost his teammate and Madison partner, Tom Armstrong (Doylestown, PA), when he crashed out in the points race last night. Armstrong had just made a killer move to lead out Bonser with 1 to go in the race. The VPCC would like to wish Tom Armstrong a quick recovery.

Nothstein will step in for Armstrong as he and Bonser take on the 30+ Masters field at USA Cycling’s Masters National Track Championships in T-Town tonight.

Schedule

Gates open 5:30

Racing starts at 7:30

It has been a sensational week so far, as T-Town hosts the 2011 USA Cycling Masters Track National Championships presented by TEVA Respiratory (July 26th-31st). The best, most experienced US track cyclists have come from every corner of America to test their skills on our concrete crater.

FULL RESULTS FROM USA CYCLING

IN THE PLAZA ON FRIDAY:

The Miller-Keystone Blood Center will be parked and accepting blood donors from 5:30-8pm. Please consider stopping by and giving the gift of life. Donors need to be at least 17 yrs old, 110lbs and have a photo ID.

TEVA Respiratory, will be hosting an Asthma screening on the VeloDeck.

ReGen will be hosting a tasting. Make sure to stop by and try the Valley Preferred Cycling Center’s official recovery beverage!

The 25th Annual Keirin Cup presented by Meade Orthopedics at Coordinated Health was feverish. As temperatures hovered around 95 degrees at 8pm, the world class field seemed unfazed. After several rounds of hard-fought Keirin battles, the strongest survived, leaving a final round of World, Olympic, National and yes, even Junior, champions.

Three previous Keirin Cup winners, the Italian Stallion, Roberto Chiappa, local legend Andy Lakatosh and Polish Olympian Kamil Kuczynski, advanced to the final with little trouble. They were joined by current National Keirin Champion, Matt Baranoski, super sprinter Njisane Phillip from Trinidad and Tobago, Canadian force Joseph Veloce, World Cup champion Simon Van Velthooven (NZ), and the indomitable Shane Kline. The upset of the night came when 2X Olympian Giddeon Massie just missed the cut in the semi-finals.

The star-studded field lined up for the final Keirin contest with no obvious frontrunner. Too much talent, too much power, too much experience to call it early. As the motor pulled off, the race lit up, with the charging train of cyclist reaching upwards of 35 mph with one lap to go. The orange flash of Pure Energy Cycling/ProAirHFA came across the line first. In a show-stopping display of speed and tactics, young gun Matt Baranoski showcased why he is both the Elite and Junior National Keirin champion, on his way to the Junior World Championships in Moscow in August. His teammate, Njisane Phillip was right behind him in 2nd place. Veloce and Van Velthooven claimed 3rd and 4th. Matt “The Red Baron” Baranoski made history as the first Junior to ever write his name on the Keirin Cup.

The women’s Keirin came down to the line between hometown favorite Dana Feiss and Italian sprint sensation Elisa Frisoni. Feiss, the current National champion, made an early move, tearing away from the pack with one lap to go. She almost held off the charging Frisoni, however the Italian put on the turbo in the last turn and just nipped Feiss at the line. Mary Costelloe, leading the rider of the year standings, came in 3rd with multi-time National Champion sprinter Liz Carlson securing 4th in the final.

The night’s endurance events were a mixed bag of results. Njisane Phillip, a sprint phenom, held off the pack to take a stunning win in the elimination. Jennifer Valente, the Junior jet from San Diego, took the women’s 10 lap scratch and a second place in the points race. Sophie Williamson, the New Zealand novice, showcased tremendous staypower with a win in the points race and elimination, which gave her the overall omnium win. In the men’s 50 lap madison, Iggy Silva and Shane Kline rode away with a decisive victory.

The Keirin Cup lived up to the hype. Fast and furious with drama, shock and awe. It was a perfect send-off for our Italian Olympic contenders on their last night in T-Town. As we wave “Arrivederci” to our friends Roberto Chiappa and Elisa Frisoni, we greet the new breed of T-Town talent, starting with the exciting Junior that etched his name on the 2011 Keirin Cup.

In 1986, Gil Hatton won the first Keirin Cup at T-Town. 25 years later, it’s still a show-stopping, crowd favorite. Who will be crowned the 2011 Male and Female Keirin Cup Champions?

As if track racing wasn’t fast enough, the Keirin uses a motorcycle to ramp the racers up to 35mph in the first 4 laps. The motor then leaves the track, springing the racers into a 2 lap contest in which they will hit speeds in excess of 45 mph at the finish. This T-Town favorite attracts some of the best Keirin racers in the world and this Friday is no exception.

Will the Kiwis make it 2 years in a row? NZ’s Eddie Dawkins took last year’s Keirin Cup and Simon Van Velthooven is a favorite for Friday’s festivities. Simon captured a Gold Medal in the Keirin at the World Cup in Beijing in January. They will have to beat T-Town’s golden boys: Current National Keirin Champion, Matt Baranoski and 2009 National Keirin Champion, Giddeon Massie. Italian Olympian Roberto Chiappa, Polish Olympian Kamil Kuczynski and T-Town’s own Andy Lakatosh have already etched their names on the Keirin Cup. Looks like we are in for a fierce battle.

The Women’s Keirin Cup brings Dana Feiss, the 2010 National Keirin Champion and T-Town local, back home from the west coast. She will have sprinters Jennifer Valente, recently selected to the Junior Worlds team, and Elisa Frisoni, the Italian sprinter who won US Sprint Grand Prix, in town to contend with. We saw Canada’s Florence Laplante-Lamarche and Scotland’s Charline Joiner get up to speed this Tuesday night. 2010 National Pursuit Champion, Kim Geist out of Emmaus, PA, could pull some tricks out of her sleeve and super-sprinter Liz Reap Carlson has been on the National podium in the event and will surely be one to watch. Local stars will shine, including Colleen Gulick and Mary Costelloe, who will be looking to maintain her top bill in the Rider of the Year standings.

The Teva Respiratory’s PeeWee Pedalers will be on parade during the intermission of the pro racing. Watch these little tykes show off their new skills as they take a victory lap around the Velodrome!
Don’t Miss the Action!

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE PLAZA ON FRIDAY NIGHT

This Week’s T-TOWN CHALLENGE: Win an OLYMPUS Camera! Guess race winners and win prizes! This week’s contest: Correctly pick the top 3 in order in the Men’s and Women’s 25th Annual Keirin Cup! Stop by the VPCC Souvenir Tent in the Plaza to put in your picks.

Our official wine sponsor CLOVER HILL will be hosting a winetasting in the plaza!

99.9 The HAWK will be Broadcasting live from 5pm-7pm in the Plaza!

Stop by the Valley Preferred Souvenir booth to grab your 2011 TTown Shirts, Sweatshirts, Pint Glasses and Posters.

WIN A BIKE with BICYCLING MAGAZINE! Stop by the Bicycling Magazine tent right next to our souvenir booth. $1 raffle tickets to win a brand new Jamis Road Bike courtesy of Bicycling Magazine! Drawing on August 26th.

Gates open 5:30

Racing begins at 7:30

The World Series of Bicycling at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center drew Olympic sprinters from around the world for it’s US Sprint Grand Prix on Friday Night. The stellar line-up brought out a crowd of 2,500 to watch the gladiators compete for the coveted sprint title.

The featured event was a series of match sprint heats leading up to a hotly contested final that crowned the US Sprint Grand Prix Champion for 2011. Contenders included 4X Italian Olympian Roberto Chiappa, 2X Olympian Giddeon Massie from Bethlehem, PA, 2008 Olympian Nijsane Phillip from Trinidad & Tobago and Polish Olympic sprinter, Kamil Kuczynski. After cruising through the early rounds of sprints, Nijsane Phillips narrowly beat out Roberto Chiappa for the win. Canadian sprinter Joseph Veloce, held off a charging Andy Lakatosh for third. The raw speed and wile tactics electrified the crowd, particularly in the second round heats when Lakatosh drove favorite Giddeon Massie off the track and out of contention in a controversial move.

The pro women field was dominated by a pair of out-of-town junior riders. Jennifer Valente, in town from San Diego and Sophie Williamson from New Zealand, could not be beat in the night’s events. Valente came straight to T-Town from a hugely successful junior national track campaign in Texas last week, where she was awarded 5 national titles. Her speed and power wowed the crowd as she came around the more experienced super sprinters Tela Crane (Seattle) and Elisa Frisoni (Italy) to take the win in the feature event, the Women’s Keirin. Her win in the 3K scratch sealed up an omnium win for the night. Williamson showcased her endurance prowess with a win in the Elimination and Points Race, awarding her with a 2nd overall in the women’s omnium. Mary Costelloe held onto the third spot in the omnium which puts her back in the lead for the World Series of Bicycling’s series honors, the coveted Rider of the Year award.

The men’s omnium was dominated by 2008 Olympian Bobby Lea, from Topton, PA and riding for Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA. Lea, having returned to T-Town after two successful weeks on the road, could not be caught as he left the field in his wake, riding away with wins in the scratch race, the points race and the 5 mile final. Lea is in top form and a leading contender for a spot on the 2012 US Olympic track team. Njisane Phillip’s sprint win paired with an impressive 2nd place in the 5 mile, locked up a 2nd overall in the omnium. Shane Kline, out of Bally, PA and riding for Bissell, held onto a 3rd place in the omnium with a fantastic show of staying power in the longer endurance events. Local legends Lea and Kline took the opportunity to shine in front of a huge hometown crowd of 2,500 fans. After the race Lea remarked, “That was one of the biggest crowds I’ve seen in my years at T-Town. It was a great night.”

Friday, July 15, 2011

Fuji Bicycles presents the US Sprint Grand Prix.

This week’s festivities celebrate one of track cycling’s most enduring and thrilling events: the match sprint. Part chess match, part strongman competition, the match sprint pits 2-4 gladiators against each other in a short format sprint. It is as much strategy and tactics as it is brute force and raw speed. In addition to the Sprint tournament, Friday night’s lineup will feature a Women’s Keirin and Pro Men 5 Mile.

Simon Van Velthooven (NZ), fresh off his Fastest Man win last week, is just getting warmed up. He will have to jockey for position against Giddeon Massie (USA), Roberto Chiappa (Italy), and Njisane Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago), who are all capable of taking home the Grand Prix title. Kamil Kuczynski (Poland) was still jet-lagged when he raced with stellar results last weekend. It will be exciting to see what he can do on rested legs.

Bobby Lea is back to TTown after a nice podium finish at Iron Hill last weekend. He and Matt Baranoski, both riding for Pure Energy Cycling/ProAir-HFA, plan on sprinting against the titans on Friday. The Red Baron just won 5 out of 5 National titles at Junior Nationals last week. We can’t wait to see how these tacticians will fare against some of the world’s best sprint talent!

The women’s field will be back together after a couple weeks of race conflicts. Elisa Frisoni of Verona, Italy, is still in town. How will the newly crowned Fastest Woman handle the Keirin? Local legends, Kim Geist, Colleen Gullick, Mary Costelloe and Liz Carlson don’t like being shown up on their home turf, so they will bring their A game. We are happy to have Seattle super sprinter Tela Crane in town for another week!

We have a big night planned for the US Sprint Grand Prix. The plaza will be bumping with a Zumba demo, a reGen recovery beverage tasting, coolest cycling T-shirt contest sponsored by Bicycling Magazine (check Facebook on Thursday for details) and Service Electric’s Erica Rose of tv2sports covering it all.

It just got hotter in Texas. Matt Baranoski was on fire, going 5 for 5 in National Titles during a blazing hot Junior Nationals in Frisco, TX, last week.

TTown’s Juniors had a terrific week, demonstrating the caliber of talent, training and competition that TTown is famous for.

Chloe Chepigin, riding for Young Medalists- Team Rothrock, earned a Stars & Stripes jersey in the Team Sprint and Matt Baranoski, riding for Pure Energy Cycling/ProAir-HFA, earned his Stars & Stripes jerseys in the Keirin, Sprint, Match Sprint, Kilo and Scratch.

In the omnium events, Nadia Latzgo, (Young Medalists-Team Rothrock) won the scratch, Kati Lawrence (Specialized - Rising Stars p/b Bicycling Magazine) won the 500 TT and Greg Ratzell (Young Medalist-Team Rothrock) won both the Flying TT and the 500 TT.

Congratulations for an outstanding performance by all of our participating juniors.

Several more TTowners got on Texas podiums, for full results and photos, visit USA CYCLING

Simon Van Velthooven (NZ) and Elisa Frisoni (ITL) crowned King and Queen of Speed!

Van Velthooven, clad in a stealth black helmet, kit and bike, announced his return to TTown in glorious fashion by taking the 2K Scratch and Keirin win to be crowned Fastest Man on Saturday night.

Elisa Frisoni, in town from Verona, Italy, took a convincing win against Tela Crane, from Seattle, and our own National champion, Liz Carlson. Frisoni bested the diminished women’s field in the sprint tournament and the 500m chariot to claim the title of Fastest Woman.

The Saturday crowd was rewarded with a thrilling night of explosive speed. The presence of a full line up International sprint talent guaranteed a great show. Kamil Kuczynski (PLD) had a fantastic run to 2nd place in the Fastest omnium, taking 2nd in the Scratch final and 4th in the Keirin. Roberto Chiappa (ITL) congratulated Van Velthooven when he was narrowly beat out in the Keirin final. Chiappa held onto 3rd in the Fastest ominium. Giddeon Massie (USA) and Njisane Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago) rounded out the top 5. Doug Repacholi (AUS) was the endurance guy for the night, winning the minor omnium by taking 2nd in the win and out and 1st in the 5K Scratch.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center continues it’s speedfest with the US Sprint Grand Prix this Friday, July 15th.

It’s almost Friday night again!

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center continues it’s professional race series with the famed Fastest Man on Wheels presented by KNBT Bank competition this Friday, July 8th. The race program will showcase the international sprint talent that descends upon Trexlertown each summer.

Simon Van Velthooven (NZ), coming off a huge result with a gold medal in the Keirin World Cup this year, is back in town to vie for Fastest Man. He’ll have some fierce competition as sprinters Giddeon Massie (USA), Roberto Chiappa (Italy), Njisane Phillip (Trinidad & Tobago) and Kamil Kuczynski (Poland) will all be lining up to test their speed. It could be anyone’s race. The Pure Energy Cycling/ProAirHFA squad of Bobby Lea, Jackie Simes IV and Andy Lakatosh are hard to beat on their own turf!

In the women’s competition, Italian sprinter Elisa Frizoni is in T-Town to contend with Liz Carlson, Mary Costelloe and Colleen Gulick for Fastest Woman. Young Kayleigh Brogan could be the dark horse and give them a taste of what Scottish National Champions are made of.

The Fastest Man will be crowned based on a point total between 2K scratch final and a Keirin final. The Fastest Woman will be awarded according to Omnium results.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is thrilled to welcome back Bobby Lea and Jackie Simes IV from a successful campaign overseas. The duo scored a huge victory, winning the Madison on day 5 of the Giorni Delle Rose 6 Day Race in Fiorenzoula D’Arda, Italy. The hometown heroes are a testament to the World Class talent that T-Town is so proud of! That’s how we earned our title, The Bicycling Capital of the World.

On a more solemn note, Friday night’s race program will include a moment of silence in memory of T-Town Hall of Famer, Mark Whitehead. Mark passed away this Wednesday, while attending Junior Track Nationals in Frisco, TX. Mark was a sensational cyclist, friend and coach and will never be forgotten in the T-Town community and on the world cycling scene. The VPCC extends it’s heartfelt condolences to his friends and family.

Gates open at 5:30, racing begins at 7:30. General admission is $5, Finish line seats are $8, Kids Under 12 Always Free.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mark Whitehead.

Mark passed away on Wednesday while attending the Junior Track Nationals in Frisco, TX.

Mark was a huge part of the TTown community. His enthusiasm and vigor made him a crowd favorite when he raced here in the 80’s. Later his knowledge and passion for the sport made him a respected coach and mentor.  He was inducted into the TTown Hall of Fame in 2007 with the following tribute:

From Whittier, California, Mark “The Outlaw” Whitehead made some of the most exciting moves ever seen at T-town.  His passion for winning resulted in fiery elbow to elbow sprint finishes against other top competitors.  An all-around racer, he could win sprints, madisons, points race, criteriums and keirins.

He is one of the few to hold U.S. national championships at the junior, senior and masters levels. He was a junior worlds team member in 1978 and 1979.  In 1979 he was national junior 16-18 champion, plus senior national team pursuit champion.  In the 1981 nationals he earned gold in the madison and silvers in the sprint and points race and in 1982 he got silvers in the sprint and team pursuit and bronze in the kilometer.  He also set the 10-mile record at T-town, which he held for six years. In 1983 he was national champion in the kilometer and madison and a worlds team member.  In 1984 he was a U.S. Olympic team member and national champion in the points race and team pursuit, and the next year he repeated as team pursuit champion.  In 1986 he turned pro and won the national pro sprint title, then rode the Japanese keirin circuit in 1988.  Whitehead was on the U.S. National team from 1980-1985, and was on the professional World Championship team for three years.  He has ten national championship titles and has won over 200 criterium victories. Since 1992 he’s been an extremely successful cycling coach, including various National champions, inspiring riders to push themselves to the edge and never give up.

We will miss Mark and we extend our deepest sympathy to his friends and family, especially his three sons, Ian, Pete and Davey.

The Golden Wheel race, by nature, lends itself to an upset. On Friday night, two Pennsylvania racers took full advantage of the format and held off a pack of frantic, charging international cyclists to take home the coveted Golden Wheel palmares.

Dana Walton (E. Norriton, PA) and Mario Mazza (North East, PA) each claimed the respective women’s and men’s Golden Wheel race in front of a large and festive crowd to kick off 4th of July weekend. Mario has been trekking out to TTown for 5 years from Erie, PA. This was his first main event win. Dana had not raced the track in 12 years. She announced her presence by winning the first women’s event of the evening by taking a brave and successful flier with 3 to go in the point-a-lap.

Shane Kline from Bally, PA, riding for Bissell, claimed a dominant victory in the 10K Scratch race. Giddeon Massie, the 2X Olympian from Bethlehem, and Njisane Phillip, an Olympic sprinter from Trinidad and Tobago, put on a tremendous show in the invitational sprint final. Njisane’s tactics paid off as he narrowly beat Giddeon at the line. Australian and former TTown Rider of the Year, Doug Repacholi took the points race and the Omnium win for the night.

Julia Bradley and Mary Costelloe each won a women’s event, but it was Colleen Gulick’s win in the points race and overall consistency that earned the Ominium win.

Next up: The Fastest Man on Wheels, July 8th!

There will be fireworks at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center this Friday night, but it’s not the kind you are thinking of. International superstars are descending upon Trexlertown to take part in the highest caliber of professional track racing in the country, the World Series of Bicycling. There will be explosive speed, loud noises, flashes of color and a steady stream of fire power.

The featured race of the night is the Golden Wheel Race. The race has a qualifying round that determines starting position. Racers are started in a staggered format around the track, giving an advantage to lower placed riders. When the gun goes off, racers simultaneously embark on a six lap contest, and the first rider across the finish line will be crowned the Golden Wheel. It is a furious race that incites the crowd.

Several Olympians will be in attendance for the famed Golden Wheel Race. The Italian super sprinter, Roberto Chiappa, with an impressive five Olympics and multiple World Cup championships under his belt, has made his annual trek to Trexlertown and will call it home for the next month. Chiappa’s charm and power have wowed T-Town fans for years and they continue to welcome the champion back with open arms. Also racing is the Olympic sprinter, Njisane Phillip, racing for Trinidad and Tobago as well as Scottish National Champions Kayleigh Brogan and Chris Pritchard.

Two-time Olympian Giddeon Massie will be on hand to show the world what American sprinters are made of. Hometown heroes Bobby Lea and Jackie Simes are out of town this week racing a six day tournament in Italy. Their absence will be felt, but also may open up new opportunities for local speedsters Shane Kline, Barry Miller and Matt Baranoski to grab some podium. Iggy Silva took home the omnium win last Friday night and will surely be a force to be reckoned with.

The women’s competition will have some new blood, as a host of riders, including Colleen Gulick, Kacey Manderfield and Mandy Marquardt, are ready to kick off their track season after having completed a mid-West criterium series on the road. They will join Rider of the Year leaders, Mary Costelloe, Kim Geist and Liz Carlson in a what promises to be a thrilling night of racing.

Friday nights at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center are alive and kicking. The courtyard plaza is brimming with fans, racers, vendors and concessions. Gates open at 5:30pm and racing starts at 7:30pm. Along with the all organic Breakaway Cafe, the Velodrome is also featuring a new beer and wine garden serving eclectic, grilled global fare.

General admission tickets are $5 and finish line seats are $8. Kids under 12 are always free.

The Red Robin Marty Nothstein BRL All Stars took the stage in front of a huge crowd under the Friday Night lights on June 24th. Their performance showcased everything extraordinary about Velodrome racing- thrilling athleticism, fun, excitement and teamwork.

Gary Blockus, sportswriter for the Morning Call and longtime Velodrome enthusiast, reported on the event:

The kids are divided into four teams representing Red Robin’s core values: Knowledge, Fun, Honor, and Integrity. The children had two 90-minute practices per week over the course of the spring to prepare for their shot under the Friday night lights racing alongside the international professionals. The competition was broken down into ability levels and gender signified by animal names.

For the Cheetahs, Cole Reece won the 5-lap, with Garrett Hunsicker second and Stephen Spiller third. For the season, it was Reece first, James Mellen second and Spiller third. They are pictured on the podium with Gabriel Castano (4th) and William Krempa (5th).

Emile-Kate Robinson-Leith, who led the standings for the Pumas in the regular season, scored a victory in the three-lap scratch race with Grace Kennedy second and Jessie Wetherhold in third. The season-long standings had Robinson-Leith first, Madeline Amsier second and Johanna Cordasco third.

In the Lions 3-lap scratch race, 15-year-old Zach Wetherhold came from behind to nip 11-year-old brother Luke for the win with Dawson Sturgill third. Season-long, it was Caleb Clymer first, Dawson second and JoJo Korpics third.

In the Jaguars 4-lap scratch race, 12-year-old Anthony Mallia of Team Fun won, followed by Thomas Berdahl and Jonathan Krause. Season-long, it was Andre Perry first, Mallia second and Hugo Schreur third.

Dylan Lafferty of Team Knowledge won the Tigers division with Kiley Krasley second and Samantha Hribick third. Season long, it was Allyson Wasielewski first, Devon Nothstein second and Monica Volk third.

In the Leopards group, Kyle Nock won the 5-lap scratch race, followed by Noah Thomas and Andrew Dapper. Jacob Skrip won the season standings, with Nock second and Nicholas Auchenbach third.

photography courtesy of cyclingcaptured.com

In a thrilling display of teamwork, power and finesse, Jackie Simes IV and Bobby Lea, racing for Pure Energy Cycling- ProAirHFA, won the 100 lap Madison and earned the right to etch their name on the Mike Walter Trophy.

The Austrian/Aussie pair of Andreas Mueller and Doug Repacholi wrapped up 2nd place and the dynamic duo of Barry Miller and Iggy Silva took home third. The hard fought race was a perfect memorial to the perseverance and spirit of it’s inspiration, the late Mike Walter, T-Town friend, athlete and mentor.

It was a charged atmosphere as dark clouds loomed over the velodrome throughout the night. It never did rain, though, and the faithful fans were rewarded with a fantastic night of racing. Over 2,000 people attended, creating a lively arena for our superstars.

Iggy Silva, riding for Wonderful Pistachios, nabbed first in the 2K and a second in the 5 Mile, which was enough to take home the Omnium win for the night.

On the women’s side, Liz Carlson of Black Dog Pro Cycling bested the bunch in the Keirin event and grabbed a 2nd in the 5 lap scratch and a 3rd in the points race to seal the Omnium win. Mary Costelloe sneaked by Liz for the win in the 5 lap scratch and Kim Geist showed her endurance prowess with a win in the points race.

The 2011 World Series of Bicycling is building up steam! Come on down for the Golden Wheel race this Friday, July 1st!

photography courtesy of www.cyclingcaptured.com

Bobby Lea Wins T-Town’s Festival of Speed

Forecasts all day called for inclement weather for the big season opener at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center, and though there never ended up being any thunder or lightning, the fans would agree it certainly was electric.

The line up of world class riders was stellar. Franco Marvulli, in for just one night from Switzerland, a five time world champion and Olympic silver medalist was joined by Australian Doug Repacholi, a former T-Town Rider of the Year, and Ryan Sabga, a national champion from Trinidad & Tobago. Though the international riders made their presence known, it was the hometown crew, led by national omnium champion and Olympian Bobby Lea (Topton, PA) and sponsored by Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA, that ran the show.

Lea and Marvuilli went head-to-head all night. Lea got the best of Marvulli in the 20-lap preme race, the first men’s final of the evening. Lea was sitting in fourth place with four laps to go but caught the lead group with three to go, joining Barry Miller and Murvulli. He and Marvulli turned it into a two-man race, swapping pulls at the front. Just before the bell sounded to signal the final lap, Marvulli took the pull into Turn 3 and Lea swung up high on the track, through Turn 4, and turned on the jets. Marvulli, caught off guard by Lea’s sudden acceleration from the banking, did not try to match.

Lea’s teammates had a perfect setup again in the five-lap final. Lea again got some help from his teammates pulling the line through the first three laps. He barely held off a hard-charging Marvulli, with Lea’s teammate, Matt Baranoski, the reigning national champion in the keirin, taking third.

In the night’s feature and final contest, the US 10 Mile Championship, Lea showed just how good his form is. He lapped the main field twice to take home the win. Marvulli and Shane Kline, another local talent riding for Bissell, came in second and third, respectively.

“It’s one of those nights when everything came together perfectly,” Lea said while signing autographs for youngsters following his victory in the feature race, the final event of the Festival of Speed. “I had good teammates. I had good form.”

Marvulli, a seasoned track star who has traveled the world racing, put T-Town among the best. “There are only maybe three tracks in the world with this kind of atmosphere,” he said. “I’ve heard about Trexlertown for the last 16 years. It’s like a track Mecca in America. I always wanted to come. I came here and expected hard racing, I got hard racing, I expected fast racing, and that’s what I got. Big crowds. People really into cycling. They’re not only going for the locals, they’re going for the strongest riders.”

The women’s field was relatively light, due to many of the usual contenders away at the criterium series, Dairyland, in Wisconsin.  Emmaus, PA racer, Mary Costelloe bested the field and took home the omnium win. It was a narrow victory, as two national champions, Kim Geist (pursuit) and Liz Reap Carlson (match sprint and 500m) each collected wins throughout the night.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center’s Executive Director, Olympic gold medalist Marty Nothstein was inspired by the night. “I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kickoff the 2011 season of the World Series of Bicycling,” said Nothstein. “We started the night with the big announcement that our title sponsor was extending their contract for 5 years. We ended with our hometown hero, Bobby Lea, taking a convincing victory against world champions in the final race. The crowds came out in numbers, despite the threat of rain. It was perfect.”

We are earning our title of the Bicycling Capital of the World with a stellar line up for Opening Night this Friday, June 17th. The 2011 World Series of Bicycling season will jump start with the Festival of Speed, featuring the US 10 Mile Championship.

The featured 10 mile race, is a race of attrition and will reward an experienced engine that can maintain a ferocious pace and still have enough in the tank to finish strong. The hometown favorite, reigning national omnium champion and 2008 Olympian Bobby Lea (USA) from Topton, PA, riding for Pure Energy-ProAir, is up to the task, but will have to fend off some fierce international contenders.

The track phenom, Franco Marvulli (SUI), a 4-time world champion, 5-time Swiss national champion, and Olympic silver medalist will be in town to showcase his expertise. Marvulli, with his proven endurance in European 6 day races, will be one to watch in the 10 Mile Championship.

“I can’t say enough about the caliber of racing at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. It’s Olympic action every Friday night,” says executive director and an Olympic gold medalist himself, Marty Nothstein. “Franco is going to set the bar high. I look forward to our local talent proving themselves against some of the world’s best.”

Friday night promises to be a spectacle of speed, with a host of accomplished racers throwing their hat in the ring. Doug Repacholi (AUS), T-Town’s 2008 Rider of the Year is in town to contest the 10 mile. Shane Kline (USA) from Bally, PA, currently riding for Bissell, is a multi-time Junior National Track Champion who has made a seamless transition to the road, recently winning the Kelly Cup in Baltimore.  Iggy Silva (USA), the 2009 Madison national champion and former rider for Trek-Livestrong, will be a force to be reckoned with- and hard to miss in his green Wonderful Pistachios kit. On the women’s side, fan favorite Kim Geist (USA), from Emmaus, PA, the current national pursuit champion, the 2010 Rider of the Year and a bronze medalist at Junior Worlds, will be a marked contender.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is geared up for the big show. The family-friendly courtyard plaza will be booming, with a live broadcast from 99.9 The HAWK (5-7PM) and the music of the band Every Friday. Along with the all organic Breakaway Cafe, VPCC will be debuting it’s new beer and wine garden, the Plaza Grill, serving eclectic, grilled global fare. DJ JUMBO will be spinning tunes throughout the event. Dr. Jack A. Lenhart, title sponsor Vally Preferred’s executive director, will kick off the event by shooting the opening gun.

Gates open at 5:30. Racing begins at 7:30. General admission is $5 and finish line seats are $8. Kids under 12 are always free.

The United States Bicycling Hall of Fame has selected our Executive Director, Marty Nothstein, to be included among the legends of American cycling.

Marty “The Blade” Nothstein is being inducted on his first nomination, beating out a host of decorated contemporaries. His 3 World Championships and Silver and Gold Olympic medals are a testament to his track dominance and historic significance in our sport.

This is a huge honor for Marty and T-Town, as Nothstein not only got his start through our community programs, but called the track his home and continued to train at T-Town for his entire career.

Marty will be inducted into the 2011 Class in a ceremony on November 5 in Davis, CA. The Valley Preferred Cycling Center would like to congratulate Marty and thank him for continuing to put T-Town on the map as The Bicycling Capital of the World.

Who will be T-Town’s Next Legend?

World Class talent is rampant in T-Town. You can’t throw a stone and not hit a World Champion, National Champion or Olympian. We are humbled to be in the presence of such cycling greatness and we look forward to the opportunity to honor our superstars on a yearly basis.

Nominate your choice for the Hall of Fame, Class of 2011.

Send a name and brief bio to info@thevelodrome.com

The World Series of Bicycling kicks off on Friday, June 17!

GATES OPEN 5:30

RACING STARTS 7:30

Catch all your favorites in action as we begin the 2011 Professional racing season at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. On Opening Night, we bring you the Festival of Speed, featuring the US 10 Mile Championship.

Gates open at 5:30pm, with live music from local band, Every Friday, starting at 6pm in the plaza.

Rodale’s BREAKAWAY CAFE will be serving locally sourced, all-organic concessions all night.

Our new beer and wine garden will feature festive beers, Clover Hill wine and an open grill and picnic tables, serving food with different international flare each week.

TRY THE TRACK!

This Can Be The Biggest One Yet!

It’s that time of year again – time for vendors to register for our annual Spring Flea Market.  Last year’s fall flea market was one of our largest and we are expecting very large crowds for this year’s spring event.

Come and join over 150 commercial and private vendors that will be in T-town selling their wares.

Commercial vendors – register now to ensure that you are able to reduce your inventory, clear your overstock, and blow out current models.

Private vendors – it is spring cleaning time!  Clean out your garage, reclaim your basement, and earn some cash in the process.

Vendors – Register Now!
Saturday,  May 7, 2011,  8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Rain or Shine

Because spaces are assigned on a first come, first serve basis, please reserve your space quickly.  To register, you can email information@thevelodrome.com or you can call Megan Werley at 610-395-7000 x224. Please visit the Flea Market page of our website for more information: http://www.thevelodrome.com/flea-market/

We look forward to seeing all of you for what has become the largest cycling flea market on the East Coast.

Learn to Race like a Pro in the Valley Preferred Cycling Center’s Bicycle Racing League!

The Red Robin® Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing League (BRL) registration opens for the 2011 Spring session as the Valley Preferred Cycling Center charges into it’s 36 season. The Bicycle Racing League introduces new riders to the thrill and excitement of bicycle racing. BRL is run in both the spring and fall and is open to boys and girls ages 9-16 with no previous experience in track cycling. Riders who have participated in the Bicycle Racing League or the Air Products Developmental Cycling Program are more than welcome! Riders who are licensed by USA Cycling (the national governing body of cycling in the United States) must sign up for the open category. If you have questions about eligibility, please contact the Valley Preferred Cycling Center.

The 2011 Red Robin® Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing League (BRL) program format consists of four teams that will practice and race for eight to ten weeks before the season culminates with the Team Championships at the nation’s premier outdoor track cycling facility. Events are scheduled in a dual meet, round-robin format that will ultimately rank teams for the post-season playoff and Team Championships to decide the BRL Team Champions.

For more information and season schedule please visit the Bicycle Racing League pages under the community programs tab. To register for the 2011 Spring Red Robin Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing League please click on the bikereg.com link below.

Congratulations Darryl Fritzinger!  You are our 2010 Volunteer of the Year.

If you have finish line seats, you probably know Darryl.  On Friday nights, he can be found at the press box end of the grandstand helping people find their seats and enjoying the races.   Darryl is the top volunteer of 2010 because of his friendly personality and his willingness to go that extra mile to make sure that our fans are happy.

Each year, the Velodrome relies on the effort and dedication of its many volunteers.  Thank you to all of the volunteers that made our 2010 season such a great success.

If you are interested in a fun and exciting volunteer opportunity for the 2011 season, please contact us at info@thevelodrome.com.

Valley Preferred Cycling Center celebrated its 35th anniversary this year with ten Friday nights of professional, international Olympic-caliber racing highlighted by the return of the USA Cycling Juniors Track National Championships to the famed Trexlertown track.

In addition to the World Series of Bicycling professional schedule and four days with the best young riders in the country, there was a slate of 17 nights of the 24-7 Fitness Super Tuesday Pro-Am Series race nights and 16 Masters & Rookies events for a total of 46 race days on the 2010 calendar.

The T-town track also kept is reputation for some of the best Community Programs in the country, including the HealthAmerica PeeWee Pedalers, the Red Robin Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing League and the Air Products Developmental Cycling Program. Meanwhile, the one-day Try the Track clinics saw tremendous growth in participation.

The year was bookended by the popular Spring and Fall Bicycle Flea Markets, both of which continue to draw cycling enthusiasts from up and down the mid-Atlantic region.

In the end, it’s those World Series of Bicycling events on Friday nights that seem to get remembered the most. The professional series is the anchor that keeps young cyclists inspired, recreational riders impressed, and local fans of all ages entertained.

Here’s a look back on the 2010 season at Valley Preferred Cycling Center:

Salamander Madison Cup XXXIV, presented by Life Without Lupus
August 27, 2010

The Madison Cup has a rich history of winners, and riders from ten different countries claimed the prize. But in 2010, it was just a couple of local guys that etched their names on the Bob Rodale Trophy. New Tripoli’s Jackie Simes and Topton’s Bobby Lea won the Madison Cup.

Simes and Lea wrapped up the win with about eight laps to go in the final 30K Madison by taking a lap on the field. The move definitely excited the crowd and raised the decibel level to an evening high. For their part, the flyer was calculated, and in the end paid off.

“We had talked about taking a lap on the field before that last race,” said Simes. “We thought we were doing alright in the sprints. We also thought we were strong, so we figured we sprint the first half of the race and then later on we’d look for a chance to take a lap. That opportunity presented itself after a sprint. When I through Bobby in he was fresh and it seemed like everyone else was tired. So he just took off. We got the lap and just kept extending the lead. It’s awesome to win this race.”

The night of racing also decided a new Women’s Rider of the Year for 2010.  Local favorite Kim Geist of Emmaus laid claim to that title, by outscoring defending champ Laura McCaughey of Australia. Read the Complete Entire Review

Air Products Finals, with the International Omnium Championships presented by Univest
August 20, 2010

In pro racing, T-town fans witnessed some thrilling racing that culminated in a new Men’s Rider of the Year. New Zealand’s Aaron Gate wrapped up the Omnium win, and in so doing captured the prestigious Rider of the Year award. Gate, in his second season at T-town, lit up the velodrome all summer. He bookended his stay in the States by winning the Golden Wheel Race and the International Omnium Championships. In between, he was never far off the front wheel.

On the women’s side, the Omnium was hotly contested between New Zealand’s Joanne Kiesanowski and Australia’s Laura McCaughey. Both riders were quick to admit teamwork played a role in the outcome. McCaughey had a few friends in the field, but Kiesanowski had an entire country on her side. Team New Zealand pushed Kiesenowski to the front race after race. While McCaughey was able to stage a challenge in the finale, Kiesanowski was able to hold on for a slight edge

The Air Products card started off with a bang. The 3 Lap Scratch race in the Boys 9-10 category set the tone for an exciting night of racing. Ethan Russell took an impressive flyer early in the race. It was no surprise to Russell that he would hang on for the win. On the women’s side, a familiar name won the 3 Lap Scratch race in the Adult Women category. Karen Skorochod made a bid for victory with one lap to go, and had just enough track to stave off an oncoming challenge for the win. In other action, Kyle Nock won the Boys 11-12 3 Lap Scratch, Allyson Wasielewski took the Girls 9-12 3 Lap Scratch, and Eric Willy won the Juniors 3 Lap Scratch. Meanwhile, Doug Johnston won the Men 19-39 5 Lap Scratch and Barry Navarre was victorious in the Men 40+ 5 Lap Scratch. Read the Entire Event Review

Rodale Corporate Challenge presented by United Healthcare
August 13, 2010

Air Products and Chemicals finally returned to the top of the podium at this year’s Corporate Challenge. The win marked the first time an Air Products team won the event since 2004. It’s been a long wait, considering Air Products rattled off a string of four straight victories from 2001-2004.

“It’s really good to come back and win it, because we won a lot of Corporate Challenges in the early years,” said Air Products employee Rick Beuttel, who anchored the winning “A” team. “Then over the past couple of years with ringers, celebrity riders and what not, it made it more challenging. Now that we’re cutting it back to the true essence of the Corporate Challenge it feels good to be back on top.”

Valley Preferred Cycling Center capped the night with two record attempts. In the pro men’s 1 Mile, Kiwi Shane Archbald scored the win, but came up short of the record. His time of 1:41.30 was just shy of American Jame Carney’s time of 1:40.80. In the pro women’s 5 Mile attempt, New Zealand’s Joanne Kiesenowski took a flyer on the field, but couldn’t maintain a record-setting pace all by herself. At the end, American Lucy Tyler’s 10:36.14 stood. Read the Entire Event Review

Tandemonium!, presented by Dan’s Camera City
USA Cycling National Tandem Championship
August 6, 2010

T-town favorites Andy Lakatosh and Giddeon Massie teamed up to win the Tandem Track Sprint golds and the coveted Stars-and-Stripes jerseys. The win was refreshing for the Lakatosh, who has been contending in sprint competition all season at Valley Preferred Cycling Center.

“Tandem is one of my favorites,” said Lakatosh. “Riding with my training partner, Giddeon, makes this a special win. It was just awesome. It’s a unique event that only happens once a year. It’s great to have it in T-town.”

The encore event was Tandemonium! This 12-lap scratch race pitting all the tandems on the track is definitely to sight to see. It’s often simply regarded as “twice the speed, twice the power, twice the action and twice the thrill.” It probably comes as no surprise that the new national champions – Lakatosh and Massie – won this one too. Read the Entire Event Review

Fastest Man on Wheels, presented by Michelob Ultra
July 30, 2010

Italy’s Roberto Chiappa showed his winning form, claiming the title of Fastest Man on Wheels. Chiappa, who is no stranger to the top of the podium in T-town, needed every bit of the sprint final to narrowly defeat Roy Van den Berg of the Netherlands to cap off an exciting night of sprint racing that was presented by Michelob Ultra.

“It was absolutely a great race, and a fitting finish for the title,” said Marty Nothstein, executive director of Valley Preferred Cycling Center. “Chiappa definitely shows that he still has the good form that he had during the previous years in T-town. He is a great champion, but my hat also goes off to Roy Van den Berg.”

On the women’s side, the Netherlands’ Willy Kanis won the title of Fastest Woman on Wheels after beating fellow Dutch rider Yvonne Hijgenaar in the final. It was Kanis’ second straight feature win in T-town. Read the Entire Event Review

Meade Orthopedics Keirin Cup XXV, presented by Coordinated Health
July 23, 2010

New Zealand finally did it! Eddie Dawkins became the first Kiwi to put his name on Valley Preferred Cycling Center’s prestigious Keirin Cup. Dawkins won the race in exciting fashion, too. After Canadian Joseph Veloce pulled the train behind the Keirin pacer for three laps, Dawkins put the hammer down and cut through the pack to take control of the final sprint. He was challenged by American Giddeon Massie, who nearly nipped him at the line.

On the women’s side, Dutch rider Willy Kanis continued making new fans during her first season in T-town. Kanis held off countrymate Yvonne Hijgenaar and 2008 winner Monique Sullivan of Canada to claim a spot on the Keirin Cup.

“It’s really cool, because it’s a big race here,” said Kanis. “We don’t have any racing right now in Holland. The racing is great here. I’m enjoying it.”

If winning wasn’t enough for Dawkins and Kanis, they were presented as 2010 Keirin Cup winners by a very special guest of Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Katsushi Kodera, the European representative of the Japan Keirin Association, was in T-town to greet our winners. Read the Entire Event Review

The Golden Wheel Race, presented by Allentown Family Foot Care
July 16, 2010

Racing fans never know what to expect in the handicapper’s Golden Wheel Race. When the gun was fired for the men’s event, the crowd intently watched to see if favorite Bobby Lea, who started shotgun on the field, and the likes of Shane Archbald, Giddeon Massie, Matt Baranoski and Kamil Kuczynski, could come from the back to grab the win. By the time those speedsters got towards the front, New Zealand countrymates Aaron Gate and Sam Steele made a break from the pack. Gate held off Steele to give the Kiwis a 1-2 finish, with Poland’s Kuczynski settling for third. It was Gate’s first victory at Valley Preferred Cycling Center.

On the women’s side, the race quickly turned into a chess match at the front. Several riders jockeyed for the front wheel lap after lap, but at the end it was Emmaus native Kimberly Geist that grabbed another T-town win.

“We had a strong field, and there were plenty of fast riders coming from behind,” said Geist, a crowd-favorite at T-town. “As a sprinter, this is a good event for me. I had some problems in the qualifying races earlier in the night. That may have ended up being to my advantage for the start of this race. I’m just glad I was able to win.” Read the Entire Event Review

USA Cycling Juniors Track National Championships
July 8-11, 2010

Valley Preferred Cycling Center hosted this year’s USA Cycling Juniors Track National Championships, and embedded the junior card into its popular Friday night World Series of Bicycling. Ironically, the four-day event arguably saw its biggest fireworks that Friday night.

Of the top stories from entire event, the biggest may very well have been local favorite Matt Baranoski’s triumph in the Sprints. The Perkasie, Pa., native delighted his hometown crowd by winning his second Stars-and-Stripes jersey. With the victory, Baranoski earned an invite to compete in Junior Worlds in Italy in August.

USA Cycling’s Jamie Staff, who is charged with building a world-class sprint program through athlete recruitment and development, found out quickly that the U.S. has a crop of talented cyclists.
“I’m inspired,” said Staff. “You come in here and you don’t know what you have to work with. A lot of people say there is no talent in the U.S., but there is. It’s not like I have to go out and find people to put on bikes. There are plenty of good riders. They want to race. They’ve got support by parents and coaches. It’s really encouraging.

“We have a long-term project. There’s no reason the U.S. riders can’t compete with riders all over the world. I’m just hoping to build a few national programs to encourage the kids to participate and move forward and progress. I want these kids to believe that one day they can represent a team at a major event.” Jump to the Junior Nationals Page

The oldest man in the field teamed with one of the youngest Friday to win the Second Annual Mike Walter Memorial Madison on a beautiful night for racing that also featured the best of the Red Robin Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing League making their Friday night debut.

American Jame Carney, 42, and Salamander Racing teammate Clay Murfet of Australia came back from a couple miscues in the initial 40-lap preliminary to take command of the 10-lap final, winning with 56 points over second-place finishers Myron Simpson and Paddy Bevin of New Zealand, who finished with 38 points.

Approximately 80 BRL riders age 9 to 17 participated in the All-Star show, which features the individual leaders from among about 120 participants in the Spring 2010 edition.

“This is always one of my favorite events because it really showcases the talent we have here,” Nothstein said. “Watching these kids race in front of a Friday night crowd really brings back memories for me, but even better, it shows me that we have a lot of great young riders coming through our programs.” Read the Entire Event Review

Festival of Speed – US 10 Mile Championships
June 17, 2010

The night – and the U.S. 10-Mile Championship – belonged to New Zealand’s Chad Adair, who demonstrated the deep strength of the Kiwi team when he took a flyer with three laps to go and held off a fast-charging field led by Rockmore to grab victory on his first visit to the T-town. Carney finished second and Rockmore was third.

“I really enjoyed this. The racing here is like nothing I’ve ever done before,” said Adair, adding that the initial plan was to set up countryman and former World Champion Hayden Godfrey for the win. “It was all a little bit of a hurt from racing all day but it started to look good with three laps to go and I went for it.” Read the Entire Event Review

Fans’ Choice Award: Best Race of the 2010 World Series of Bicycling Season

After ten exciting weeks of the World Series of Bicycling, it’s going to take the T-town faithful a couple of weeks to get used to having a Friday night free. It’s no doubt that this year’s pro racing slate at Valley Preferred Cycling Center was one of the most thrilling displays of the sport.

From Eddie Dawkins giving the Kiwis their first Keirin Cup win, to Matt Baranoski punching his ticket to Junior Worlds, to Italy’s Roberto Chiappa claiming the title of Fastest Man on Wheels, it was a season to remember for all velodrome fans.

And… on the women’s side, Kim Geist, Willy Kanis, Joanne Kiesenowski and Laura McCaughey, and others, put on a great show for the fans.

With all the great races in 2010, the question still remains: Which race was the best of 2010?

International Appeal: The World Comes to T-town – Again

Among the international heavyweights on track this year are the New Zealand National Team – including the world record-setting women’s pursuit team, junior World Champions Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell and Kilo World Medalist Eddie Dawkins, former Kiwi world champion Hayden Godfrey, returning Riders of the Year Shane Archbold of New Zealand and Laura McCaughey of Australia, and popular Polish riders Lucas Kowalski and Kamil Kuczinski. Italian Roberto Chiappa is also expected for a limited engagement.

“The international flavor is as strong as ever – but we can’t forget our own local horsepower – Olympian Bobby Lea, Lanelle Rockmore, Shane Kline, Jackie Simes, Colleen Hayduk, Theresa Cliff-Ryan, Kim Geist– are all here along with many other T-town favorites,” Nothstein said. “Also, David Espinosa and Iggy Silva, the national Madison champion who rides for Lance Armstrong’s Trek Livestrong team, are here and racing.”

“It’s definitely an influence on our program being able to come over here to T-town. T-town offers us a place to race like no other place in the world this time of year. I come here and it’s always harder than it was the year before. The crowd is cheering you on all the time. It’s motivating and a great place to ride and train for the summer.” -New Zealand rider Eddie Dawkins, on training and racing at Valley Preferred Cycling Center

2010 Hall of Fame Class: Letteiri and Jackson Join the Hall

Valley Preferred Cycling Center inducted two new members into its Hall of Fame during Salamander Madison Cup XXXIV presented by Life Without Lupus. This year’s class includes a couple of significant “firsts” for the velodrome.

Ian Jackson, or “The General” as many fans know him, is the first Australian cyclist to spend the summer in T-town. He’s joined by Scranton’s Dave Lettieri, who has the distinction of being the first Air Products Developmental Cycling Program graduate to make an Olympic team. Lettieri graduated the program in 1977 and competed in the 1988 Seoul Games.

“Ian Jackson, always a crowd-favorite, was one of the strongest riders we’ve ever had here on the track,” said Nothstein. “Dave Lettieri, the first Olympian to come out of the Air Products program, is just fantastic. He set the bar early on, and many have followed since. It’s going to be a great night to honor these guys and get them into the Hall of Fame.” Read the Full Press Release

Valley Preferred Cycling Center Partners with Rodale on Organic Concessions

Merging the fit and healthy lifestyle promoted by cycling with the tantalizing tastes of nature’s best ingredients, the Valley Preferred Cycling Center partnered with Rodale Catering and Events to offer cycling fans a completely organic concession stand for the 2010 season.

Fans were still able to enjoy their race-night favorites such as hamburgers, cheeseburgers, French fries and hot dogs, but they were prepared from organic ingredients fresh from regional providers. In addition, the new menu included an organic black bean burger, local pulled pork sliders, organic pizza by the slice, fair trade organic tea and coffee, and specialties like veggie wraps.

“We believe that the gold standard of food is organic and local,” said Heidi Rodale, Rodale Inc. Board Member and Vice Chairperson of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. “Rodale is thrilled to provide healthy, delicious food to a community that supports an active lifestyle.” Read the Full Press Release

Olympic Dreams Start at Valley Preferred Cycling Center

One of the keystones to the success of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center over the past 35 years have been the long-running, top-quality training programs that allow community members to learn about track racing from some of the best racers in the sport.

From the HealthAmerica PeeWee Pedalers to the internationally recognized Air Products Developmental Cycling program to the Red Robin Marty Nothstein Bicycle Racing League for young riders, these programs have produced more national champions and world-class riders than any other program in North America.  And… in recent years, the Bear Creek Future Stars series has been giving young riders a boost to the next level.

The numbers are staggering:

• 22,000 participants over the past three decades;
• 140 national champions;
• Seven world championships;
• Seven Olympians;
• And two Olympic medals – a silver and a gold.

“These programs have been the backbone of the Valley Preferred Cycling Center for the past 30 years and they offer an unmatched opportunity for both youth and adult riders to try the track, learn about track racing and push themselves as far as they want to go,” said Nothstein, holder of those silver and gold Olympic medals, three world championships and a healthy share of the national championship jerseys. “As a young rider I was lucky to have these programs available in my own back yard.” Read More About Community Programs

Photos by Anthony Skorochod of Cycling Captured.  Hall of Fame photos from Valley Peferered Cycling Center files.

It doesn’t take the T-town faithful long into autumn to start looking forward to the next World Series of Bicycling season.  But… before we get cranking on the 2011 campaign, we want to take one more good, deep look at the exciting 2010 season.  Fans who attended a World Series of Bicycling event this past summer are encouraged to participate in our year-end survey.  The board and staff at Valley Preferred Cycling Center constantly strive to make the experience better for all.  Here’s your chance to chime in with your input and feedback.  Thanks for the support!

Take the Survey