The Valley Preferred Cycling Center

Air Products and Chemicals finally returned to the top of the podium at the Rodale Corporate Challenge presented by United Healthcare at Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Tonight’s 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 in T-town’s Corporate Challenge event.

“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.”

The Air Products team definitely had to work for this victory. Their opponent from Valley Preferred was also making an impressive bid for the win. Beuttel, who has competed in several Corporate Challenge events, ended up in a close dual with Valley Preferred “A” anchor Randy Smargiassi for the win. It’s always exciting when the Italian Pursuit race format comes down to the final two riders, but Beuttel knows exactly where credit is due.

“It’s a great win, but this was a total team effort; nobody did this individually,” added Beuttel. “As a team we gelled and came together, and that’s what really mattesrs. We’re so excited to win this. It’s going to be pretty pumped in the office on Monday.”

This year was the 11th season Valley Preferred Cycling Center hosted a Corporate Challenge event, and with each passing year the competition has gotten bigger. It’s a unique event that puts the thrill of velodrome racing into the corporate world. And the opportunity to see colleagues, friends and family race has made the event a hot ticket.

“It’s pure excitement,” said Joe Candio of Valley Preferred. “Everybody has been so excited to come out and see their colleagues race. Friends and family are excited to come to the event. And for our team, the intensity level has been up there. We’re excited about it. We’re having fun, but at the same time everybody wants to get out there and win and ride their best and do what they can for their best. That’s the goal of this whole event, really to come together as a team and as a company.”

The Corporate Challenge has achieved such success that it’s no longer confined to Lehigh Valley companies. Making a 70-mile trip for the second year in a row is Philadelphia-based Lannett Company, Inc. According to Lannett’s Greg Liscio, the drive “is part of the ordeal we go through to get here, but people are willing to make it.” Liscio, a cycling enthusiast, is the one who rounded up his colleagues for the event.

“We like the challenge of racing, and this really is a fabulous facility,” said Liscio. “The people from Lannett have enjoyed themselves now two years, so we have no trouble getting people enthused about this and actually driving up here to practice. I think the whole Corporate Challenge, and the ambiance here, is great. There’s so much enthusiasm among the teams.”

Rounding out the top five in this year’s Rodale Corporate Challenge presented by United Healthcare were Bicycling magazine for 3rd place, the VSAS “A” team placed 4th and Air Products’ “B” team finished 5th.

In the individual scratch races, Red Robin’s Nina Santiago won the women’s 3 Lap Scratch, while Valley Preferred’s Wayne Dubov took the men’s 5 Lapper.

Polish Victory Lap: T-town fans said farewell to one of their favorites tonight. Poland’s Kamil Kuczynski wrapped up his last night at Valley Preferred Cycling Center this summer in grand fashion, winning the Keirin Revenge. Going out with a win caps another great summer in the U.S. for Kuczynski.

“This win was something special for me,” said Kuczynski after the Keirin Revenge final. “I’ve been here four weeks, and this summer has been very good for me. I was expecting good things, and I’m very happy. The guys were very strong today. I’m just very happy that I won tonight.”

From here Kuczysnki sets his sight on the Polish Nationals, which are slated for September, then the European Track Cycling Championships. In the meantime, Kuczynski looks forward to getting some training in with his national team.

Racing Round-up: 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.

In other racing, Aussie Laura McCaughey scored the win in the women’s 6 Km Points Race, and Kiesenowski won the 2K Scratch. Kiwi Shem Rodger took the men’s Super Sprint Elimination, while fellow Kiwi Aaron Gate won the 15 Lap Scratch Race.

Next Event: The World Series of Bicycling returns to action next Friday, August 20, with the Air Products Finals. Gates open at 5:30. With tickets starting at just $5.00 and kids 12 and under getting in free, a trip to Valley Preferred Cycling Center is a great night out for the entire family. Racing starts at 7:30.

Photo by Anthony Skorochod of Cycling Captured