The Valley Preferred Cycling Center

Kiwis Set The Tone for Exciting Season

Trexlertown, Pa – The racing started fast and never let up as the Valley Preferred Cycling Center opened its 35th Anniversary season Friday with a budding duel between a talented New Zealand team and an international field of more than 50 riders.

American Jame Carney of Salamander Racing lit the fuse by setting a blistering pace in the first 5-Lap Scratch Race heat before Lanell Rockmore of the Bahati Foundation team came charging out of the field to win the opener in the 2010 World Series of Bicycling presented by Michelob Ultra.

But the night – and the U.S. 10-Mile Championship – belonged to New Zealand’s Chad Adair of the Papanui Cycling Club/Bike New Zealand, 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.”

Valley Preferred Cycling Center Executive Director Marty Nothstein said the dynamic racing signals a great 2010 season.

“What a fantastic finish to the U.S. 10-Mile Championship! To kick things off with the speed and firepower that was out there tonight really sets the tone for the rest of the season,” said Nothstein, the 2000 Olympic match sprint gold medalist and a three-time World champion. “New Zealand threw down the gantlet tonight. Now it’s up to the Americans – particularly our Olympians – to answer the call.”

Rockmore and other Americans made it clear that they are up to the challenge. Jackie Simes IV won the 5-Lap Scratch Race final with a bold move out of the pack with a lap to go and Rockmore edged out Godfrey in the SuperSprint Elimination race.

On the women’s side, American Colleen Hayduk of Verducci Breakaway took the omnium from returning Rider of the Year Laura McCaughey, an Australian racing for Salamander Racing, after splitting wins throughout the night. McCaughey took the 15-Lap Point A Lap and the 5-Mile Final and Hayduk responded each time with a win in the Flying Mile and the Elimination – breaking a 24-point tie with McCaughey for the overall win.

For complete results, click here.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is the nation’s foremost velodrome and the only one in North America to offer a full season of professional, Olympic-caliber competition through its World Series of Bicycling events every Friday night from June 18 through Aug. 27. In addition, the 24-7 Fitness Clubs Pro-Am Series on Tuesday night showcases the rising talent of riders from throughout the United States and other nations and often features the Friday night pros who frequently use the Pro-Am races for training.

The velodrome opened in 1975 and is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2010. Bob Rodale donated the facility to Lehigh County shortly after its construction and it is operated by the non-profit Velodrome Fund. As a county park, the track and the Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park across the street are open to cyclists when not in use for training or racing.

For more information, visit us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.