The Valley Preferred Cycling Center

 T-Town riders once again put the Lehigh Valley on the map with a commanding performance at USA Cycling’s Elite National Championships in Carson, Calif. this past weekend. Out of the 13 national titles awarded, local riders brought home eight of them.

Team Pure Energy/Pro-Air HFA dominated the competition. 20-year-old Matt Baranoski claimed elite titles in the kilometer time trial and sprints to add to his collegiate victories in the same events. He also took home a silver medal in the team sprint behind teammate Andy Lakatosh. Lakatosh also scored silver medals in the sprints and keirin.

On the endurance side, Bobby Lea continued the dominance he showed all summer at the World Series of Bicycling. He won the individual pursuit by seven seconds and lapped the field for the win in the points race. He teamed up with Jackie Simes to take another title in the Madison.

Air Products Developmental Cycling Program graduate Giddeon Massie won a national title in the team sprint, where he teamed up with Lakatosh and California’s TJ Mathieson. His second title came in the keirin. He added two bronze medals to his tally in the sprints and kilometer time trial.

Kutztown, Pa.’s Zack Noonan won his first elite national championship in the team pursuit with Dan Holt, Joe Eldridge, and T-Town fan-favorite Zak Kovalcik. Also mixing it up in the medals was Junior World Medalist, Kim Geist with silver in the individual pursuit an Dana Feiss with a silver in the Team Sprint with Missy Erickson.

More information and complete results can be found on USA Cycling’s website.

Photo courtesy of Erika Fulk.