San Diego's Jennifer Valente Wins Gold at Junior Track World Championships
8/21/11 - Jennifer Valente (San Diego, CA/Adams Avenue Bicycles-G S) was the first American to ascend to the top of the podium at the Union Cycliste Internationale’s Junior Track World Championships. Valente earned a gold medal in the scratch race Friday at the Krylatskoe Velodrome in Moscow, Russia.
Valente rode a tactical and patient race and was in a good position with two laps remaining in the contest. At the sound of the bell, Valente attacked and led the race without competition, coasting to victory.
Contesting the women’s omnium for the United States of America is Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, CA/FLYING PIGS). Wilson earned a 13th-place finish in the flying lap and a 12th–place result in the points race.
Jennifer Valente (San Diego, CA/Adams Avenue Bicycles-G S) added a third medal Saturday to her personal total at the Union Cycliste Internationale’s Junior Track World Championships at the Krylatskoe Velodrome in Moscow, Russia.
Valente earned a bronze medal in the keirin after capturing a gold medal in the scratch race on Friday. Valente placed second in her initial heat to advance to the second round. Valente placed third in each of her two subsequent races, including the 1-6 finals, to earn the bronze medal. Chloe Chepigin (Chappaqua, N.Y./Young Medalists-Team Rothrock) also contested the women’s keirin and placed fourth in her opening round and advanced to the repechage. Chepigin did not advance through the repechage, finishing 17th.
“I think Jenn was a little surprised she made the final, but after watching replays of her races, she started to believe that she could do some damage in the final,” USA Cycling Sprint Program Director Jamie Staff said. “The keirin is relatively new to Jenn, due to the little opportunities available to race the event. She is a bike racer though and I told her to treat it like the last two laps of the scratch she won yesterday (Friday). Jenn fought for her place in the race, and basically made her way to the front half of the race. Thanks to her great speed endurance, she was able to finish a solid third place, which placed a solid smile on her face!”
In the second day of the women’s omnium, Kate Wilson (Los Angeles, CA/FLYING PIGS) finished 12th in the two-kilometer individual pursuit, 11th in the 7.5-kilometer scratch race and 13th in the 500-meter time trial to finished 13th overall.
