Mudgway, Gulick victorious in inaugural T-town Showdown

TREXLERTOWN, Pa. – The T-town Showdown was touted as “the ultimate fan experience,” and it lived up it its billing.

With fans picking the races with the riders on the wall waiting the selection, the T-town Showdown was a big hit with the T-town Faithful as the riders put on a great display, despite many admitting they were extremely tired.

A fan in attendance on Friday night picked the race out of a helmet and then shot the starter’s gun for that selected race for 11 of the 12 events in the program. The final event, the feature for the pro men, was decided by voting on a Twitter poll, which was open all Friday afternoon and closed when the riders got to the wall for the finale.

Following opening ceremonies, which included a moment of silence for those affected by the shootings in Dallas as well as the honoring of seven Hometown Heroes, the men led off the evening with a 5 mile scratch which was won by Stephen Hall with Luke Mudgway taking second.

Mudgway, of New Zealand, got the last laugh though as he won the men’s 25 lap points race and the Twitterverse-selected 10 lap motor scratch. All told, Mudgway placed in the top six in all five events for the men, which earned him the men’s omnium victory with 25 points. Matt Rotherham finished second with 18 points.

The four events for the women were elimination, 2km scratch, 18 lap points race, 12 lap point-a-lap, and it seemed to be the right combination for Collen Gulick. The California resident placed in all four events, including a victory in the 2km scratch race and a second place finish in the 12 lap point-a-lap, which secured her the women’s omnium victory with 20 points. New Zealand’s Alysha Keith finished second with 15 omnium points.

Another new wrinkle on Friday night was the stagiaires racing under the bright World Series of Bicycling lights. Evan Thomson won the stagiaires omnium with 14 points with Justin Butsavage took second with 13 points. Jeff Meyer finished in third with 11 points.

Service Electric’s broadcast of the T-town Showdown can be seen on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The World Series of Bicycling continues next week with the Golden Wheel Race, the final WSB event before the 2016 USA Cycling Junior and Elite National Championships. In addition to the Golden Wheel Race on the track it is Bolt’s Birthday Bash. VPCC’s mascot, Bolt, is turning one year old and he will be joined by several of his mascot friends from around the Lehigh Valley to celebrate the night with birthday festivities and Olympic-caliber bike racing. Also, Trixie’s Treats food truck will be in the plaza.

Tickets for the Golden Wheel Race start at $5. Children 12 years and under are free with a paying adult.

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