TREXLERTOWN, Pa. – Opening weekend commenced Friday night to begin the 2017 World Series of Bicycling season at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center with the UCI U.S. Sprint Gran Prix.
With the sprints taking the spotlight, the crowd cheered for all the different countries who competed. For the women, Mandy Marquardt, of Allentown, who took second in this event a year ago, defeated Kate O’Brien of Canada in straight rides to claim the overall sprint victory. For the men, it took three rides to crown a victor and that was Jair Tjon En Fa of Suriname.
For the first time, the international omnium was completed during a World Series of Bicycling event. Four total events completed between the morning session and the evening session, collectively was for UCI points. There was an omnium for both the men and the women. For the women, Olympic silver medalist Jen Valente of the U.S. was victorious. For the men’s competition, it was another American, Roger Ainslie, who took home the win by a narrow three-point margin.
Impressively, the men’s omnium field featured riders from over one dozen countries, showcasing the large contingent of riders from all over the world that is in T-Town to compete during the entire month of June.
Click here to view the official results from Friday’s action.
The Opening Weekend of the 2017 World Series of Bicycling season continues on Saturday night with the UCI Red Robin All-Stars. The night features keirin racing as well as the all-stars from the spring season of the Red Robin Marty Nothstein Bicycling Racing League competing. Racing begins at 3:30 p.m. with heats for the keirin tournament. The evening session of racing begins at 7:30 p.m.The afternoon session is ticketed with gates opening at 3:30 p.m. and remain through until the evening session. Click here to view the full schedule of events for Saturday’s action.
Off the track on Saturday, the Schools Out Band performs in the plaza while Kona Ice is serving dessert items in the plaza. Stick around all night long to see the Post-race Fireworks Extravaganza, presented by the Schmoyer Funeral Home, the Trexler Funeral Home, and the J.S. Burkholder Funeral Home, right after the final event of the night.
Tickets are on sale now on thevelodrome.com and will be sold at the box office on the night of the event.
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Information Provided By:
Tyler Trumbauer
PR/Communications Assistant
Valley Preferred Cycling Center
