The Valley Preferred Cycling Center

Valley Preferred Cycling Center hosts the much-anticipated Michelob Ultra Fastest Man on Wheels this Friday night as the featured event on the World Series of Bicycling card.  The competition in T-town has been building all summer, and this is a great mid-season event to settle some scores.  So, just who is the Fastest Man on Wheels?  If you ask any of our sprinters, he’ll quickly tell you he is.  However, that’s just talk.  We’re putting these riders in the saddle and on the track.

In addition to Fastest Man on Wheels, Valley Preferred Cycling Center begs the question, “Who is the Fastest Woman on Wheels?”  Some of the world’s top female sprinters are gearing up to lay claim to that title on Friday night.

“It’s going to be an exciting event.,” said Marty Nothstein, executive director of Valley Preferred Cycling Center.  “We have so many incredibly talented cyclists in T-town this summer.  This Friday is a great opportunity to showcase the strongest and fastest cyclists, the heavyweights so to speak, going head-to-head in the sprint competition.  It’s really the only sprint-focused event of the year, so it’s a great night to come out to Valley Preferred Cycling Center.”

Poll Position: Here are a list of contenders for the Michelob Ultra Fastest Man on Wheels and Fastest Woman on Wheels titles.  We’d like our fans’ help in setting the early favorites.  Pick who you think will be Fastest Man on Wheels and Fastest Woman on Wheels:

The Long Road: This Friday’s event will also feature some of the best cyclists in the medium- and long-distance disciplines.  A variety of scratch races will favor the likes of T-town regular Jame Carney, who returns to Valley Preferred Cycling Center after a few weeks racing in the Northwest, and local favorite Shane Kline of Bally.  San Diego’s Iggy Silva, who rides for the Trek-LIVESTRONG team, will also contend, as will New Tripoli’s Jackie Simes, who recently returned from racing in Italy.

American Pride: Carney, Kline, Silva and Simes, along with Andy Lakatosh in the sprint event, lead U.S. riders hoping to put a dent in the foreign dominance at Valley Preferred Cycling Center this season.  They join Americans Colleen Hayduck, Shelbe Eck and Colleen Gulick, who are gunning to represent the U.S. as winner of the Fastest Woman on Wheels title.

Hot Pursuit: Valley Preferred Cycling Center has a long tradition of attracting the top international cyclists to T-town.  This season, the New Zealand women’s Team Pursuit squad is at the velodrome to race and train in the picturesque western Lehigh Valley.  The squad is a former World Champion and current World Record holder.  Their presence in T-town this summer is further proof that this area is a hotbed for cyclists.

Beer Special:  Michelob Ultra, title sponsor of the Fastest Man on Wheels event, is providing some savings to T-town fans this Friday night. Michelob Ultra will be sold on special for $1.00 off.

The partnership with Valley Preferred Cycling Center is a good fit for Michelob Ultra, which has been a strong supporter of the sport of cycling since 2004. As part of its Race to the Ultra series, the brand sponsors more than 40 major running and cycling events annually across the United States. Last fall, Michelob Ultra entered into a three-year deal with Lance Armstrong for the seven-time Tour de France winner to become the brand’s new spokesperson and ambassador. The relationship with Armstrong has positioned cycling as a significant theme in Michelob Ultra’s television, print and outdoor advertising, as well as in digital marketing programs, product packaging and point-of-sale placement.

You Pick ‘Em: The You Pick ‘Em Contest will return this Friday at Valley Preferred Cycling Center.  The contest was popular during last Friday night’s Keirin Cup XXV.  This week, we’re putting fans to task to predict the winners of the Fastest Man on Wheels and Fastest Woman on Wheels.   Fans that correctly predict will be entered into a drawing to win a free hat, free t-shirt and 4 free premium tickets to a future event. 

As Keirin Cup XXV proved, it is not easy to pick.  Only 3% of respondents correctly predicted the winners - Eddie Dawkins and Willy Kanis.  So take a look at the polls above and devise a scouting report of your own if you wish.  You Pick ‘Em entry forms will be available at the gate on Friday night.

Fastest Man on Wheels Details: Racing starts at 7:30.  With tickets starting at just $5.00 and kids 12 and under getting in FREE, this event will be a fun night out for the entire family.  Fans can also take advantage of great all-organic food at the Breakaway Café concession stand.  Gates open at 5:30, with a live band from the Mayfair Music Series presented by Lehigh Valley Grand Prix. 

Photo by Anthony Skorochod of Cycling Captured