USA Cycling’s 2012 Elite Track National Championships will be held in Carson, Calif., at the VELO Sports Center later this week. As part of the 125-acre Home Depot Center, the VELO Sports Center is the only permanent indoor velodrome in North America. It has hosted numerous international events, including the 2012 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships this past February.
The 2012 Elite Track National Championships run September 27 through September 30. The event will feature the nation’s top track athletes competing for a coveted Stars-and-Stripes jersey, and fans may see members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team competing on home soil less than two months after going for gold in London.
“We’re thrilled to welcome back the USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships to the VELO Sports Center at The Home Depot Center,” said VELO Sports Center Manager Adam Duvendeck. “We’re proud to be the training home to so many of American’s best track cyclists and to host their annual nationwide championship on our track. Last year, we saw record numbers in participation and spectatorship, and together with USA Cycling we look forward to building upon this event’s success, starting with this year’s nationals in September and through the next quadrennial.”
The track at the VELO Sports Center measures 250 meters in circumference and seven meters in width, inclines at 45 degrees on both ends, and is surrounded by 2,450 seats. Spectator-friendly programming is again planned for the national championships, providing an exciting atmosphere of competition and fun for the whole family.
Twenty three national titles are on the line as the 2012 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships kick off this week at the Home Depot Center’s VELO Sports Center in Carson, Calif. National titles will also be up for grabs in the para-cycling events.
The event, which is slated for September 27-30, will attract the nation’s top track cyclists, including a couple of 2012 Olympians and Paralympians.
OLYMPIANS ON THE ROSTER
Among the big names on the roster is Lauren Tamayo (Asheville, N.C./Exergy TWENTY 12), a member of the silver medal women’s team pursuit squad at this summer’s Olympic Games in London. Tamayo will lead her own team of ladies in the team pursuit in Carson on Friday. Tamayo will be joined in competition in Carson by fellow 2012 Olympian Bobby Lea (Mertztown, Pa./Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA), who finished 12th in the Olympic men’s omnium, and by 2004 and 2008 Olympian Giddeon Massie (Cypress, Calif./Bike Religion)
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECTATORS
Although not planning to compete at Elite Track Nationals, 2012 Olympians Dotsie Bausch (Lexington, Ky./OUCH Pro Cycling) and Jennie Reed (Kirkland, Wash./OUCH Pro Cycling) will join up with Tamayo and Lea in Carson for a little fan interaction. The foursome will be on hand to sign autographs and take pictures with their fans on Friday and Saturday nights.
In addition to meeting 2012 Olympians, spectators will have the chance to win big in the FELT Cruiser Bike Giveaway on both Friday and Saturday nights!
Fans also have the opportunity to enjoy great food and beverage options from the VELO Sport Center’s – Back Door BBQ, and participate in a “Future Olympian Search,” which will be held with the goal of identifying young riders who might be a good fit for a track cycling career. To see if you have what it takes to be America’s next superstar on the track, stop by the USA Cycling Future Olympic Booth during the Friday or Saturday evening sessions.
STACKED FIELDS AND FULL SCHEDULES
In addition to the Olympians, the fields will be stacked with strong talent like Danny Robertson (Rolling Meadows, Ill./WDT-Allvoi International Cycling Team ), Madalyn Godby (Louisville, Colo./enCompass Racing), and Matthew Baranoski (Perkasie, Pa./Pure Energy Cycling-ProAirHFA ) – all three having just come off very strong performances at Collegiate Track Nationals in Frisco, Texas.
Also on the roster are powerhouse riders like Kevin Mansker (Long Beach, Calif./Rubicon Cycling), Giddeon Massie (Cypress, Calif./Bike Religion), Kimberly Geist (Emmaus, Pa./Chester County Cycling Foundation), Cari Higgins (Boulder, Colo./Exergy Twenty12 ), Jennifer Valente (San Diego, Calif./Exergy TWENTY12), Tela Crane (Sammamish, Wash./Broadmark Capital/Lake Washington Velo), Cristin Walker (Houston, Texas/Momentum Coaching Group p/b Atomic), and so many others!
All in all, 23 elite national titles will be awarded over the four days.
FOLLOW THE EVENT FROM HOME
You can watch the event LIVE! Just visit www.2012nationals.com during competition to see the live webcast each day. Additionally, you can follow the event on twitter using hashtag #TrackNats or you can visit www.usacycling.org each night to read the post-race reports.
WANT TO WATCH IN PERSON?
USA Cycling members get $5 off the cost of admission for each session. Just visit the Home Depot Center box office before the event, or the day of, and show your USA Cycling license. You can also show proof of license with the “My USAC” app on your iPhone or Android. Click here to purchase your tickets online.
For more details about the 2012 USA Cycling Elite Track National Championships and the event schedule please go to the event website 2012nationals.com.
