CYCLING Preview: Valente starts on her second dozen as U.S. Track Cycling Nationals underway in Carson

U.S. track superstar Jennifer Valente (Photo: Felt Bicycles)

For the third year in a row, the USA Cycling National Track Championships are being held at the VELO Sports Center velodrome at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, with a lengthy program of events in divisions including 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18, Junior and Senior divisions.

The big winner in 2018 was Jennifer Valente – still just 24 – who won four events to give her 12 national titles on the track and seven at the VELO Sports Center in 2017-18. She’s entered in at least the Points Race and the Madison. The defending champions:

Men:
Sprint: Sandor Delgado
1 km Time Trial: John Croom ~ also in 2017
Indiv. Pursuit: Ashton Lambie ~ also in 2017
Keirin: Joe Christiansen
Points: Daniel Holloway
Scratch: Justin Butsavage
Omnium: Daniel Holloway
Madison: Adrian Hegyvary/Daniel Holloway

Women:
Sprint: Madalyn Godby
500 m Time Trial: Mandy Marquardt ~ also in 2017
Indiv. Pursuit: Jennifer Wheeler
Keirin: Madalyn Godby ~ also in 2017
Points: Jennifer Valente ~ also in 2017
Scratch: Jennifer Valente ~ also in 2017
Omnium: Jennifer Valente ~ also in 2017
Madison: Christina Birch/Jennifer Valente

Triple winner Holloway is also back on the men’s side and five riders are going for three-year sweeps in Carson. Look for results here.