KNBT Festival of Speed

The KNBT Festival of Speed at Lehigh Valley Velodrome in the USA saw history being made. The event marked an historic date in the history of the velodrome as a new corporate title sponsor was unveiled.

For the first time in the velodrome’s history, the Lehigh Valley Velodrome will hold a corporate title (Valley Preferred Cycling Center) allowing for the additional revenue and marketing potential brought forth by this level of sponsorship to positively impact this incredible sports facility

"We're trying to build the quality of racing world-wide," Hartwell said. The new title sponsor is one of the first steps in the velodrome's five year plan. "The long term goal is an Olympic-style development center," he said. "The sky's the limit. There's no reason T-Town can't be the world leader in cycling."

Jason Kenny made the trip across the Atlantic

The KNBT Festival of Speed saw Australia’s Ryan Bayley, Shane Kelly, Mark French and the Meares Sisters compete against Tim Veldt and Teun Mulder of Holland and Italy's Roberto Chiappa. Our very own Jason Kenny and Matt Crampton have also made the trip across the Atlantic to compete.

Team Momentum Cycling shall also be present in the form of Malaysian Star Josiah Ng and the USA’s Adam Duvendeck. Andy Lakatosh, Ben Barczewski, and Ryan Nelman who recently won the Fuji Bikes Golden Wheel Race.

Ryan Nelman rode on his home track

"I don't think Mary [Nothstein] and I have been more excited about the quality of racing we're going to see over the three-week, four UCI event stretch," velodrome director Erin Hartwell said. "It's absolutely amazing to have the reigning Olympic champions in Ryan Bayley and Anna Meares…to have Roberto Chiappa back, who's absolutely on fire…It is the strongest sprint field I've ever seen in Trexlertown."

In comparison to other International Sprint Grand Prix’ T-Town can consistently proudly boast about having high quality riders fighting it out in their events. Surely this is a message to the British Domestic racing scene that if tracks put on well organized international events, the world’s leading riders will turn up. The current lack of British ‘Open Events’ has seen two of Britain’s leading riders Jason Kenny and Matt Crampton travel to Eastern Pennsylvania seeking much needed Summer racing.

"They know it's an awesome environment," Hartwell said. "Crowds fill the stands, there's a great prize list and we extend the riders as much hospitality as we can, so most of the riders have a great experience."

Friday’s KNBT Festival of Speed showcased what Erin Hartwell, CEO of the track, described as the best competition the concrete crater has ever seen.  After the unveiling ceremony for the new name and title sponsor of the track, the Valley Preferred Cycling Center kicked off a truly awesome night of racing!

Australia's Mark French performed well stateside

The evening’s focus was the Keirin, but the endurance riders had their work cut out for them as well with a 25km Madison and 15km scratch race for the men and a 10km scratch race for the women.  The fields were strong and the sprinters were the best in the world, so the competition was at its fiercest.

  Italy’s Roberto Chiappa seemed to be a major contender for the Keirin finals along with 2006 Keirin World Champion Teun Mulder, not to mention Australia’s 2004 Olympic Champion Ryan Bayley and teammate Mark French. 

Despite finishing fourth in the semi-finals, it was Bayley who took home the win in the Keirin finals followed closely by teammate Jason Niblett and Olympian Roberto Chiappa. 

Bayley commented: "I'm really happy to win," Bayley said. "It was bloody difficult. Even just to get to the semi-finals was hard for me. I went into the final and said, I've got to give it everything I've got, put myself in a good position, just go and don't look back. So I did that, and it worked well."

Toyota United team rider Bobby Lea and partner Colby Pearce took the 25km Madison win in a grueling 75 lap race.  Canadians Ryan Mckenzie and Ryan Gilbert came in a close second to Lea and Pearce displaying a tough but exciting competition.

Anna and Kerrie Meares claimed a one-two in the Keirin

For the women, it was Australian Olympic team member Anna Meares that earned the win in the women’s Keirin with her sister Kerrie Meares close behind making for a very close race.  The U.S. women did not make it easy for the Aussies as Cindy Lakatosh, Jenny Reed, and Liz Reap finished third thru fifth respectively. 

This awesome night of racing gave the crowd a taste of what is yet to come for the final three races of the season.  These world class riders will be in town for this Tuesday’s International Sprint Grand Prix, along with the last two Fridays in the month of August.  Be sure to catch these riders in action before the 2007 Valley Preferred Professional Race Series is over!